Daily Bits and Bobs

French defender heading to Arsenal for free? Ray Parlour picks next Arsenal manager….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Don’t you just love the media. Just a few weeks into the new season and the Arsenal back pages remain in overdrive. Players are still being linked to the club despite the transfer window being long shut!

Well, I guess that’s what happens when players are out of contract and looking for a new club. Old boy Bendtner has joined Nottingham Forest where he’ll join up with fans favourite Henri Lansbury, Flamini is expected to join Crystal Palace and some 32 year old defender wants to play in the Premier League. He’s French so of course that means he wants to join up with Arsene Wenger. Michaël Ciani is his name and no, I’ve never heard of him.

Next is the ‘who will replace Arsene Wenger’ next summer. Firstly, I’m not convinced the Frenchman is ready to retire, not yet but if by some miracle Arsenal win the Premier League, he might just think about leaving on a high, just as Fergie did. Eddie Howe seems to be the favourite for the job but Diego Simeone is the man Ray Parlour hopes will take Arsenal forward.

Simeone, whether he would want to move from La Liga we don’t know, but I’m sure he would like to test himself in the Premier League against the likes of Guardiola, Mourinho, Klopp and managers like that.

He would be the favourite if it came to Arsenal changing the manager at the end of the season.

That would be some battle among the managers wouldn’t it, especially as Simeone, Guardiola and Mourinho have gone head to head many times before in Spain. I’m sure our defending would soon improve with him at the helm. We might finally get to sign Antoine Griezmann too as the player has recently said that he’d only leave Atletico if Simeone left.

But it’s all just a pipe dream imo as I’m convinced we will see Wenger in the dugout again next season, especially after his big spending this summer and bringing in players for the future because as we’ve said before, why would they sign for Arsenal if they weren’t sure the man who believes in them, won’t be around?

One of those players is Japan’s Takuma Asano, a player Wenger rates highly:

What I see in him is the quality of his runs, his pace, his body strength and he is quite aggressive. You do not find many players today who go behind the defenders at every opportunity.

That is one of his strengths. I must say, I’m personally a strong believer in him, because by coincidence I met the national coach of Japan and he is absolutely convinced by him.

We won’t see him for a while of course as he’s out on loan at Stuttgart but again, why would Arsene Wenger sign him knowing that a new manager might just sell him before he even dons an Arsenal shirt?

Have a good Thursday guys and gals…..

rico

72 thoughts on “French defender heading to Arsenal for free? Ray Parlour picks next Arsenal manager….”

  6. Wavy says:

    Will he stay, or will he go……next summer?
    It all depends on where the Arsenal finish in the League and or the Cup. If either are won by the silver haired chef then, I think maybe he’ll pack up his pens (for tactical explanations!) and his puffer jacket and ship out. Perhaps he’ll go upstairs perhaps he won’t. That also will depend upon whether he feels that his life’s work has been completed or not!
    If he leaves who will replace him? Probably, Gazitis et al will have drawn up a list of candidates, will have rank ordered them and will then try to entice them to the club. If they are as successful in fulfilling their remit as they have when pursuing transfer targets then we’ll end up with ghost of Brian Clough!
    Sadly, who ever arrives and makes himself comfortable in Wenger’s chair will almost certainly not last long. Following a long term and relatively successful manager who has been held in very high esteem, for a while at least, will be a hard act follow. And these new appointments never last long, it would seem. Just look at manure!
    The list of possibles will be quite long and we’ll be playing fantasy manager feverishly for months! Wish list??? Not a clue.
    Watch this space!

    Morning all.

  7. kelsey says:

    Ray Parlour thinks Diego Simeone would be better suited to succeeding Arsene Wenger.(I agree with that)

    Recent reports have suggested Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe could replace the Frenchman at the Emirates.

    Wenger has one year left to run on his contract.

    And Parlour thinks Atletico Madrid boss Simeone would be the best person to step into the Gunners dugout next.
    Arsenal’s ins and outs of the summer transfer window

    “Simeone, whether he would want to move from La Liga we don’t know, but I’m sure he would like to test himself in the Premier League against the likes of Guardiola, Mourinho, Klopp and managers like that,” Parlour told talkSPORT.

    “He would be the favourite if it came to Arsenal changing the manager at the end of the season.”

    Actually this report is not quite true as Wenger is in his last season on his present contract and was offered months ago a two year extension at the end of this season,which he is sitting on.My belief unless there is a catastrophe this season, finishing say below 6th he will stay although many like myself are seeking a change.If he stepped down at that time I personally wouldn’t want him to go upstairs.

  8. Marshall says:

    Hi Rico. Am already fantasizing us being impenetrable with Simeone. That would drive the pygmy mad! How do I wish!

    As for future buys, AW will always be thinking about the future of the club, even on his last day. It’s unquestionable if he left he’d also want to leave the club and the 599 employees in a strong position in all aspects not like Fergie who left utd in shambles.

  10. potter says:

    He would need to leave the club altogether . He is too powerful in his current position and any new incumbent would never be able to work under his shadow. Apart from finding a successor Gazidis other job will be to lay out exactly what a new person’s responsibilities would be and exactly what would be expected of them. If the club is to continue with it’s fiscal policies I would like to see a new manager being told that his job is to manage and coach the team , no more no less apart from input on players coming through the ranks. I don’t want a quasi director ,possibly dictator like we have at present. This would lead to different people taking different responsibilities which might just shake up the demographics of the board.

  14. kelsey says:

    It is a fact Rico.he was given the contract in March.

    I think whoever and whenever replaces him we might dip for a while but the same could be said for all the new top flight managers that have come to the PL this season, as they can’t all win and ae on a lot more pressure than Wenger to win trophies.

    That leads me to kroenke. I firmly believe he is the worst thing to happen to our club for decades.If a new manager was appointed he would want to know what funds are really available and spend or would there again be restrictions by kroenke. We don’t know as yet.

    I was reading an article about Usmanov today and didn’t realise his wealth and diverse range of interests and how powerful he is.I will post a link.

  19. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Buongiorno Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Ciani for Arsenal??? 😀 😀 😀 lollllllll

    he is a free agent. 32 years old. past his sell by date. last season he played a magnificent total of 3 games for Espanyol.

    can anyone tell the papers that there are a couple of zimmer frame wielding free agents writing on this blog. 😛

  21. Dublingunner says:

    Morning, although he denied a new 2 year extension back in may, cIaiming it was “absolutely false”, I think we all know there is one. He also went on to say ” what happens next season will determine whether i stays beyond 2017″

    Rico regarding my comment yesterday, I do think the panic buy fears are well grounded, but whether he was a panic buy or back up plan, the fact they had watched him before and as recently as last season or his time in Greece, as he states himself, certainly reassures us that they have not just brought in a player they have not done their homework on, and have no idea who they are bringing in, for me the panic element was in the fact that, it was well reported, by some knowledgable people that the club had already indicated Perez was not a top-level striker, and that we were initially reluctant to spend money on a player who some at the club doubted was up to the level of competing in the Champions League and for the Premier League title.” yet working through their increasingly small list of targets he appeared to be the only one available. I suppose in that respect, with the window close to shutting, and the “doomsday scenario” of not bringing in a recognised striker fast approaching, they had to make a quick decision and make an approach for a player, who initially they felt, might just be below Arsenal level.

  22. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Afternoon to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Scott with a lot o say, but not sharing. Now, that is a first!

  23. rico says:

    Dublin, I see where you are coming from and when deals are done so late, they certainly appear to be a panic signing but with Mustafi, talks were ongoing for a long time according to reports and Ballague (spelling) suggested Arsenal had Perez in their plans early in the summer.

    Maybe had both signed at a similar time as Xhaka, the panic fears would not be in place…

    I still think we are a striker and defender short and even a winger, but you never know, Akpom might just take his chance if he gets it…. At the back though, one injury is always a concern and most seasons….

  25. Hell Raising Devil says:

    at the back we need two players for each position plus one defender/midfielder like Grimandi who can slot anywhere when needed. A squad player who can play RB/LB/CB and DM. A player who can do a sound job for 10-15 minutes a game or the odd game here and there. And we need another similar type player who can play AM/F on the flanks as well. but on the same level job of 15 mins per game or fit in here and there. These squad players are needed and imo very important since they do a job tidily but not set any houses on fire. With the plethora of talent that AW has assembled in the forward positions this is not required, but at the back we do need a player like the one mentioned above.

  26. potter says:

    I suppose he would argue that Monreal is covered by Gibbs and could play in the middle and the same for Debuchy to cover on the right and middle . With Le Coq , Elneny and Xakha we have DMs so it’s not as bad as it has been in previous years.

  27. Canadian Gooner says:

    If Arsenal finish in the top four, I don’t see Arsene leaving next July. However, if he does leave the manager’s position, I don’t see him moving upstairs to a Director of Football position. He may be invited to sit on the Board of Directors, but I doubt he would accept it. He is too much of a hands on type to take a back seat position like that.

  28. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – Have you been toying with the avatars? I seem to have lost my usual square rusty raspberry character.

  32. potter says:

    I got a new one too ,thought it might be the fault of Brexit ( everything else is ) if I knew how to get a pretty picture on , I might just change it.

  36. Marshall says:

    Haha Rico we all have flaws. Currently Sanogo is one big one from Wenger.

    Sure, Arsene moving upstairs means the club negotiating deals as we are now which obviously we’d do better. I assume he would be largely involved with the monies, which is why he should leave altogether. Hope he’s picking up hobbies already.

    Flamini is trying to live a normal like, so he’s at palace. Can he buy Stan’s shares?

  38. rico says:

    Agree Marshall, a clean exit and let Ivan and co get on with their jobs…

    Welcome Elias, he’s been mentioned before here, good choice I’d say..

  39. ScottfromOz says:

    CG, it was a momentary lapse 🙂
    Peter Schmeichel labels Pep overrated and unproven.
    Either he’s dumb, or I’m smart-time will tell 🙂 🙂

  44. frednerk says:

    Evening All
    Looking at the tweets today
    One tweet got me thinking.
    Now our season starts…It said.

    We have three new signing’s
    a new spine…..Just what we wanted.

    Lets see if the new guys are the real deal.

    It’s all common knowledge we had these in the
    bag yonks ago..Even the metro knew it.

    We paid the going rate..Not cheaper Aye.
    So why the drawn out saga…
    Game 4 this weekend..so here go’s then.

  46. Le Coq Monster says:

    Evening all !.

    Paralympics have started and one thing that I`m curious about is the doping side, I mean there must be plenty of these athletes that have actually been prescribed drugs, must be a minefield sorting whats ok and what is not !..
    They are top athletes in their own right, but there are some strange events, for a start the Dementia Marathon has been held up due to the fact that some of the competitors still haven`t finished the London 2012 Marathon !.
    The Conjoined Twins Wrestling has just finished and it was a too close to call tight finish, so they tried a split decission but couldn`t seperate them .
    The 10M Schizo Sychronised Diving Gold medal winner Ivor Lotovsides and himself also got Silver and Bronze !……probably helped by the fact that he thinks he`s a swimming pool !……………………..BREAKING NEWS !………………….he just won the 4x400M Relay………some great baton changing with himself !.
    Cant wait for the Blind Javelin…..Archery and Clay Shooting……….could be like a snuff movie !.

    I`m slightly Dyslexic and today I got refused entry into an exercise class………..Pilates of Penzance………….because I was dressed as a pirate !.

  49. Le Coq Monster says:

    I know it`s cruel Rico !………..the pirates costume was expensive ! 🙂
    Then again, health and safety rules…………..I could have done some serious damage with the hook and wooden leg !

  50. frednerk says:

    Been involved with clubs for donkeys years.
    all run by the FA…….Essex FA/London FA
    all paid into the FA…..same rules as guidence
    to all it say’s.
    Sign a player I month wait before first game if the season
    has started.
    Never understood our window games,
    Just wish The FA applied the rules across all the club’s
    That would stop the poker player’s.

  55. Tempus Fugit says:

    Evening Rico, good post,
    a 32 year old French centre-back who is out of contract, who happens to mention that he’s a bit of a fan of Arsenal suddenly morphs into our next signing, but only in the tiny vacant mind of some moronic journo…

    Roll on the January Window, not….

  57. tsgh says:

    Bj- I am with you on Karanka… I wont mind Tuchel or Emery but if he does well at Psg we wont get him…

    For a sturdy hand it surely has to be Carlito or maybe Southgate… 🙂

  61. kelsey says:

    Morning,

    So another book is launced.”The Wenger Revolution” by Amy lawrence, I like Amy lawrence always have done and she is careful with her words and it seems the time of year where so many ex footballers,managers and current journalists are advertising their new boos to coincide with Xmas

    Amy gets slated aswell and she has suggested more than once in the past two months that Wenger and Gazidis have fallen out which Tim Peyton has seconded.Again who knows but i still feel ths is a make or break season for Wenger.I will now go for my daily walk with the fairies 🙂

  62. allezkev says:

    Morning All
    Morning Rico

    Holding or Mustafi for the Southampton game?
    Alexis or Giroud, ditto?
    AOC or Perez, ditto ditto?

    Those seem to be the major considerations for the team this weekend.

  67. rico says:

    That’s what I was thinking Kelsey, especially in defence. After all, didn’t Gabriel have a problem with ‘communication’ according to AW…

  68. kelsey says:

    I am not trying to make gossip but the implications are what exactly ?

    is it about spending money, who actually employs who ?

    Didn’t Wenger appoint Gazidis who is technically his boss ? I love a good conspiracy 😉

  69. potter says:

    Is it the case that instead of the club having a decision making board of directors we in fact have a dictatorship. If they have fallen out then we have another Dein / Fiszman situation on our hands except in this one it is over football matters rather than outside business ,albeit both involving personal pride. Perhaps Gazidis joined thinking that Wenger would retire at some stage but has got fed up of waiting for the board to start doing it’s proper job . It certainly seems that the easy route for the board is to keep things the same , they give the impression of being complacent when it comes to football.” Fiddling whilst Rome burned” , comes to mind

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