Morning all.
It’s been confirmed at last, Freddie and Steve Bould are swapping job roles which I’d imagine is good for both of our old players. For the current and future players too as Freddie will be there to help those he did so well with last season, progress into the first team. He’ll know what each individual younger player can bring to the first team. If anything at this stage of their career. On the training pitch, he’ll bring a wealth of knowledge and experience too as he knows what it’s like to have lifted the Premier League trophy, something not one of our players has done. For Bouldy, well he’ll work closely with Per Mertesacker as they continue to improve our academy.
I loved those two players. They caused havoc on the pitch, switching roles, scoring goals and causing problems for any and every opposition. So many happy memories. Anyway, let’s hope he can bring a bit of magic back to the first team as he did all those years ago.
Same goes for Edu, one of many Arsenal players who over the years has left the club for free or on the very cheap as Gilberto did, yet more often than not at their time of departing, they’d been crucial to our team and they way it performed. Ramsey hopefully being the last.
What a contrast to today though when it seems we can’t give our players away. Not literally of course although in some cases I wouldn’t care if we did but football doesn’t work that way, especially in Arsenal’s case as they can’t afford to. An odd thing to type really as Welbeck and Ramsey have done just that meaning we’ve lost £60-70 million. Nothing the club could have done about Cech really as his career simply came to an end.
Ozil, Mustafi, Koscielny, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan and Ospina are among those the club are reportedly hoping to move on. That’s a lot of potential income there if they go and a lot of money removed from the wages bill. Money which if reinvested smartly, could turn us into a very different looking side. That’s without the younger group of players being considered. I know we’d all like the club to get on with things rapidly and by doing so, showing the fans they are serious this summer but when money is sparse, it’s probably not that easy. We have to be patient but it’s hard when being patient has ended in disappointment for so many summers before.
Not always is spending money the solution to a football clubs problems on the pitch, not when it appears that a squad is balanced and full of good players but in my opinion, this Arsenal squad doesn’t look that way. It’s unbalanced and short of having the right players in key positions. We can’t afford two top players for every position, not many clubs can I’d have thought but this is where the younger players come in. Use them though, don’t let them get bored. When circumstances allow, bring them off the bench, or start them. Put faith in them if they’ve shown they deserve it.
The players were being linked to suggest the club aren’t going for the quick fix. They are young and potentially exciting players who’ll bring with them energy, excitement and a bit of passion hopefully. A different mindset too as they’re at the ‘no fear’ stage. Guendouzi might sometimes look like a headless chicken, but he’s young, enthusiastic and considering he came from the French second tier, I think he did pretty well in his first season. Signing him wasn’t a bad move I’ve come to realise, but relying on him was and it’ll no doubt be similar for any other younger players we sign or promote. One or two might hit the ground running and make an instant impact, others though might take six months or a season to grown into their new role. AMN, Torreira, Guendouzi, Holding and even Eddie, had bad days, but they had good ones too and perhaps those are the days we as fans need to focus on rather than the bad. Look for the best in a player instead of worst when they’re young or not experienced at this level or this league.
We’re not going to win the Premier League this coming season, nor any season soon in my opinion but what Emery, his coaches, Raul, Edu if he’s coming and the rest can do is assemble a young squad together, let it grow together, with further tweaks along the way and then in three, four or even five years time, be in a position to really go for the league title, the Champions League too.
Until then though, the focus has to be on returning to the top stage in Europe by way of the league, take the money and build. Get Arsenal back where Arsene Wenger kept the club for twenty odd years on the trot only this time around, compete for the trophies rather than simply take part.
Yep, I’m having a glass full kind of morning….
A thought provoking post Rico. Nice one.
Whoever thought of promoting Freddie deserves a medal as I’ve never been a fan of Bould.
Like you mentioned, I DO feel he’ll be doing more pushing to get the youngsters involved which is no bad thing.
I always wondered how someone like Patrick Vieira escaped our attention for consideration as a coach, and he “escaped” to ManCity?
Would you know?
Good morning all from a warm and sunny Namibia. We’re stranded in Windhoek at the moment, the luggage trailer can’t cope with the baggage of a ten people group. Our driver guide has gone off to get a larger one. Namibia sir has been great, really friendly and helpful people. Excellent hotel and a great meal last night at Joes Beer House. Google it.
So no news of our squad restructuring, travelogue updates latter just to fill the void. 😉
I’m really happy about Freddie, but not so sure about Bould. I loved him as a player but I don’t feel he has done anything for our defence especially since he came in. I’m surprised he is still there actually. Did you notice that when our last goal went in v Valencia ALL the bench jumped up in pleasure hugging and joyful, but Bould just sat there with a long face on as usual through our games, so I thought he was being let go. I hope he does well with the U 21 we need someone good there especially as in the coming years our Academy will provide us with the players we need to supplement our 1st team due to our budget restrictions. I wish we had approached Bergkamp he is looking for a job, or Pires he is always hanging around London Colney . Anyway I think the club will save money as I believe Bould was on a big wage and he will be on a smaller one as U 21 coach . Freddie will not be on the same large wage as Bould was, . So that’s good I suppose
I’m excited to see how Freddie does as assistant coach , I feel sure he will be great.
Perhaps Bould might help the young defenders..
Thanks Andorra, I think the answer to that question re Vieira is Wenger.
Morning Rico and all. Perhaps Freddie would become our interim manager if things went south for Unai.
BFG will sort the youngsters-born coach!!
Morning all.
Michael Platini has been arrested over the handing of the 2020 World a cup to Qatar.
As if anyone actually thought they were worthy of it!
Morning Adam. That went through my mind too, as did him eventually replacing Emery.
Merts doesn’t coach does he Scott? He overseas the academy.
He still obviously has massive input, Rico.
The man is a leader of men and just such a natural mentor, I’d be amazed if he isn’t having a huge influence on individuals.
Not sure I’d stick him on that high a pedestal Scott.. lol
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, have you got over the disappointment of missing out on Sherbert yet?
Afternoon Kev, I have thanks. In fact I was surprised how quickly I recovered… lol
That’s you Rico, resilience is your middle name, or is it Amanda, I can’t remember?
My middle name is Herbert
Rico, I’m not sure if you’ve seen him live on the training park.
I have, he’s born to it.
You can just tell he loves coaching, teaching.
Eddie Nketiah could be going on loan to Charlton Athletic then?
I guess if we go and sign Martinelli and Claude Maurice, that that makes sense.
Doesn’t mean that his Arsenal career is over and a season in the Championship would sharpen him right up – and increase his value….
Scott is your middle name Ned…?
😂 Kev.
Can you believe, I’ve been reprimanded by NN for misleading headlines, two spelling mistakes and not including where ‘reports’ originate from.
I’m sure he’s good Scott, but as yet, no end result has been proved. I’m just being rational I guess.
Yeah true, Rico, I’m just putting it out there so I look half smart down the track hahahahahaha
Just plain old Ed, Kev 🙂
Or an idiot Scott…. 😜😜
50/50 chance-I’ll take it hahahaha
Touché….
Great stuff again.
Freddie and Bouldie changing jobs is an interesting one,feels like Freddie is being lined up to take over from Emery.The fans love him already.
I’m watching England pummeling Afghanistan,carnage.
Me too Limey, great from Morgan..
Feel sorry for the Afghanistan bowlers,I’ve never seen Rashid Khan destroyed like that.Amazing.
Isn’t the Qatar World Cup Final being played the week before Christmas, Platini deserves to be locked up lol.
120 millions for João Felix (ex-Benfica) to At. Madrid. – 19 years old.
This is a crazy world!
Summer surely Micko. When it’s really really hot. Lol
It sure is Jm.
Brown paper bag job rico, good to see England taking Qatar 2022 seriously, as from next season the premiership will be taking a winter break as well.
A good few barren years ahead it is Gooners, might as well make yourselves comfy.
rIco, playing a World Cup in November / December is plain unfair on us guys, just puts more pressure on us, unlike you we don’t get all our Christmas shopping done by the end of September lol.
September Micko? I’ve finished mine already… lol
Morning guys, new post up now.