Morning all.
Well that party atmosphere didn’t last long did it? Back to Earth with a bang yesterday evening with yet another beating away from home and if we don’t manage to win on Sunday, we’ll end the season having not won a single league game in this calendar year. Not something to be proud of I know, nor is being beaten by Leicester City for the first time ever.
But I’m not surprised at all and if Arsène Wenger had been scratching his head wondering why the club no longer thinks he’s the man to take us forward, there’s the reason why. Well, one of them. I know it’s not his fault that Mavropanos got sent off, just as he’s not to blame for the penalty decision but a loss is a loss and that falls firmly on his shoulders, just like it does at any other club in football.
Anyway, as I said after the game, there’s one game to go after which everything changes. For the better hopefully and when one considers how the ten months have gone, it’s hard to believe anything other than better is likely.
Arsene Wenger’s comments during his pre match press conference has given me great hope that we’ll all be put out of our misery real soon. He said the announcement about his replacement should be sooner rather than later and he’s right. People do need to prepare for the future and not just the club. Fans want to know if Ivan and co are going to appoint someone good, someone to give us a belief that the club is serious about next season and the future in general. The Emirates, prior to Arsene Wenger’s announcement of him leaving was becoming more and more empty by the day. The club need those fans back, the players need them back to as it can’t be good walking out to see a half empty stadium. The 12th man plays an important role for any club and I’d imagine there’s nothing quite like having 55,000 odd fans in full voice right behind you.
On the other side, there’s nothing worse than 55,000 odd fans against you either but it’s important too. Anfield, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and even just down the road, are all noisy places to go to, other stadiums too especially across Europe. Highbury used to be like that but The Emirates, unless it’s a North London Derby, is too often a quiet place to be. There’s probably a few reasons for that, obviously the football which putting it mildly, hasn’t been great, the ‘type’ of fan and by that I mean different to years gone gone by and certainly before the ticket prices inflated or perhaps it’s more simple and obvious than that. Each summer transfer comes and goes and more often than not we’ve begun the season talking about how we believe the squad is short in a number of positions which straight away results in a lack of confidence as the new campaign gets underway. Then, as has been the case for a few years now, we start with a depleted side, drop points and were already playing catch-up. From then on, our season goes downhill, the occasional ray of hope emerges before the all so similar pattern unfolds. Christmas arrives and we’re already too far behind the leading pack and we’re left with a domestic cup to play for.
Really, is that something to get the Arsenal fans off their feet and excited about? Is that the kind of goings on which even the most hardcore of fans would give up their time for? For years and years, they have but last season, enough was enough and the much vacated stadium seemed to finally get the message home to the board.
Often in life we hear or read the saying ‘he, she, or they are at a crossroads in life’ and imo, that’s exactly where Arsenal are today. They either take another risk when picking Arsène’s successor as they did when David Dein finally got his man, or they go big, bold and show ambition. Employing someone like Allegri, Jardim, Enrique, Guardiola etc, doesn’t guarantee success in England as the Premier League is very different to any other league but what they have a history of doing is assembling a strong and balanced squad and the know how to challenge for the big prizes. Some with a bottomless pit to fall back on, others, well, not so much but what they are given, they use wisely.
Poch and Klopp have won nothing since coming to England, although that might soon change for the German, but what they have done is got their teams playing really good football, and yes, it pains me greatly to write that. We however have been playing a lot of dreadful football during the last few years and as much as the FA Cup victories have been great, only one was achieved by conquering a tricky draw and by performing really well in the final. By playing well I don’t mean always winning 5-0 with ease I mean coming up against a really good team, outwitting them, out thinking them, out battling them whilst coming away with hard earned victory. That for me is equally, if not more important as beating a mid table team with ease and imo, that’s the kind of football which will get the good feelings back. That’s what the top experienced managers are good at and just what Arsenal FC are crying out for. Again, in my opinion.
The club could take a risk but what that risk appointment wouldn’t be doing, unlike Arsène did, is taking over a squad/team of leaders and men. He won’t have an already made top notch keeper, he won’t have a strong, determined and well balanced back four and he won’t have Wrighty or Dennis Bergkamp either, although I must say, up front we have some top top players.
Identifying, signing and coaching defensive players has proved to be Wenger’s Achilles heel and as Tony Adams said, it was he who taught Ashley Cole, not the Frenchman. Arsène Wenger has always been about the ‘beautiful’ game. Well sometimes, the beautiful needs to be thrown out the window and the dirty defensive game brought in because a balance of both is what’ll win us the Premier League again and I’m not sure a rookie manager would be able to do that.
I don’t think the likes of Ivan, Sven or Raul will think so either…
Morning Rico and everyone.
SSN have been suggesting, again that Allegri is in the frame for us whilst Enrique seems to want too much cash, greedy? Who we haven’t heard from recently is Ornstein, he seems to have his finger on the pulse of Arsenal! It would be helpful if he’d chirp up.
I hope you are right about the appointment will be announced soon after the final game in West Yorkshire. I feel it’s possible that some of the old boys may well be employed to coach etc the age group teams but I can’t see any of them sitting on the touchline as second or even first in command, well, not yet at least.
Still Allegri for me. Just look at his last few years managing Juve, it is outstanding. He will, I’m sure, bring his own team of coaches etc with him so present incumbents may not be under consideration. Anyhow, I hope we learn who our new man will be sooner than later. The suspense is nearly killing me, however, I love surprises especially when they satisfy what I really really want!
Sunny intervals here and not so warm. A good gardening day.
Morning Wavy. I think Ornstein said something similar a few days ago. I hope Sky Sports are right and if he does leave Juve, he doesn’t opt for Chelsea. I don’t think there’s much between them and Arsenal these days, just one club has class…
Afternoon Rico. Last night was a silly, unnecessary loss as so many before it, from what I saw.
Whoever the new man is, I would really like a tactician who, when he saw something wrong, addressed it immediately rather than let it slide for game after game or as with Arsene, season after season. Someone who thinks on their feet and is able to make dynamic tactical changes and substitutions in real-time rather than simply impose a footballing ethos. And of course some who really understands how to defend and hates seeing his team positionally stretched every game,
Not a lot to ask is it? 🙂
It’s overcast in Amsterdam. I’m in a coffee shop.
Afternoon Adam, couldn’t agree more. Things could have been so different over the past few years if Arsene had done something about the continual and glaring problems on the pitch. If he didn’t know how to, seeking help would have been the way but I think he sees that as a weakness whereas, I see it as a strength.
How’s the Amsterdam cake which goes with the coffee? 😉
Afternoon Adam.
Can’t argue with any of the above post, many a discussion with friends has covered the exact same ground.
Enjoy your coffee, i’m sure they’re some exotic blends…..lol
Ive just heard that a major punch up has kicked off in an Amsterdam coffee shop….
Afternoon all. I’ve just got back to the hotel and am recovering by laying on the bed. No cake today Rico although Mrs Adam had a delicious slice of Lemon sponge cake which was very light, rather like my head. Hey BT and Kev. 🙂
🙂 Adam, I can’t think why…
Mrs.A. has good taste, i’m partial to a slice of lemon cake myself Adam.
Evening all and thanks Rico.
I`m glad `uddersfield is the last away game as we will destroy them in a goal fest frenzy ! 😆
I may laugh but I`m serious !
Lots of cake talk……………..I`m your man, as I deliver all sorts of cake, had one last Saturday for the BBQ……………Chocolate and Salted Caramel Torte…………….microwave for 20/30secs for a melt in the mouth slice of heaven !
None of that dodgy “dutch” stuff that Adam probably got as an energy booster after a “red light” crawl !
😆
Hmm lemon drizzle cake, delicious.
Mrs A has impeccable taste.
Rooney off to the US then, yawn……
One of your best posts rico! Let’s hope we get news next week.
Thanks Andrew..
All the talk about shortlist’s etc are poppycock imo. I’m convinced Wenger knows who’s replacing him already..
Evening Rico and All
Good read Rico.
Not sure if it’s been covered before?
Juve have offered 50 million euro for Bellerin.
La Vecchia Signora have been linked with Bellerin since 2017 and if he is to join the Bianconeri this summer he will join Emre Can in being the second Premier League Player to leave England for Italy in the summer.
Evening Fred, thanks.
That’s a tough decision to make for someone re Bellerin. I read the other day that’s hes really happy at Arsenal and the only other club he cares about is Barca. If true, I guess he won’t be banging the door down fo4 a move to Italy..
Night guys.
New post up.