Morning all.
A short post. Just one to get us thinking.
I still can’t make up my mind over Unai Emery which speaks volumes in itself really. This season produced nothing we haven’t seen before. Good performances, dire performances, mini good runs followed by bad. Dreadful on the road, better at home when it came to playing the so called better sides. Mind you, Chelsea and Utd aren’t two teams to compare ourselves too really as it’s Liverpool and City who stand alone in the league.
The managerial change hasn’t brought with it what we’d hoped has it?
Emery has another year on his contract but do Arsenal move now, now before we fall further behind those above us? Would change bring improvement with it? Who knows until we try.
Allegri is available. Leave it too long and he won’t be. This is Arsenal’s one golden opportunity to employ a manager who could really challenge Klopp and Pep.
What would you do?
I’m not sure he would come to Arsenal, ‘perhaps’ if we had CL he ‘might’ have but unlikely now
But don’t we want the kind of manager with the drive to take us there? A guy who relishes that kind of challenge?
Perhaps that’s half the problem. If Arsenal as a club want CL football, settling for a manager who wants everything on a plate, is the right guy.
Stop dreaming of a big manager it isn’t going to happen not with the squad we have or the budget. The only thing we can hope for is giving a new manager a chance or someone up and coming maybe Naglesman, Howe, Arteta or Vieira. Naglesman being my first choice because of his youth philosophy and style of play. Emery is a good coach its not all down to him, he’s done the best he could with what he’s got. The signings he made bar Lichstiener have performed well. The previous administration and players he inherited have let us down and our so called major players have let us down. Only Laca PEA and Ramsey has shown any quality from the Wenger days and were losing Ramsey thanks to that twit Gazidis who going to do his best to destroy Milan. This was a long term project and we knew it and have to stick with it. The new coaching team would have learned a lot this season and hopefully we will see big changes in the first team squad
Off topic but I think we need a new defensive coach too. I liked Steve Bould as a player, but he has not been a good coach for us, his body language tells me he is going and I do hope that’s right
James, it’s not a dream. It’s simply a question put out there to see what readers think.
This is our first summer with all of the old regime gone, Gazidis was still around last year. Kroenke is the owner, Raul has spoken and now it’s their chance to prove they want the club to move forward. I’m not convinced Emery is the right manager, but I’m not convinced he isn’t either.
Come the end of this transfer window, many questions running through my mind will be answered. I’m sure it’s similar for a lot of Arsenal fans.
I think he’ll leave too Sohara.
Morning Rico. Unai was tasked with getting the club back into the CL. He has blown it. The capitulation in the league for even more shocking than the absolute crap the team dished up in the final. His interview recently made clear that he has far less pressure on him than at PSG and this is disturbing, to me at least. He has failed in his objectives. Yes, you can certainly point at the players, the board and the absolutely chronically appalling Kroenke clan, but he is the manager and surely he must carry the can in such a competitive environment.
Who knows if Allegri would come or whether he would see us for what we are, a club in serious decline and perhaps view that as an opportunity. Would he demand more from Stan and the rather odd and unimpressive duo of Raul and Vinai who seem to strategise on paper on not in the real world that we inhabit? That can only be a good thing surely because, under this regime, we are on the road to nowhere. Our failures tell you as much. While we are pissing around, other decently financed teams are laying out their plans for next season. If we don’t change how we expect change?
With the path we are on and the ridiculous contracts we have handed out, I say we are on the edge of irrelevance, but I’ve been saying that for years and not much has convinced me I am wrong.
Morning Adam. Good comment, certainly the bit about Emery and less pressure on him than in France. Perhaps it matters not who the manager is then because if there is no ambition from above, what’s the point.
I think he will feel the pressure this coming season. He is on the last year of his contract, hopefully they won’t renew it until we see how he goes next year. But he will know the pressure is ON , he cannot slip below his position this year, and ideally get into 4th, but with the pressure that will now come from, Everton, Leics, Watford, Wolves even Newcastle even coming 5th again won’t be easy. And Man United are in the Europa league and they will spend big. So Emery will be under BIG PRESSURE next year, whatever he said in his article .and if Ozil stays because we can’t sell/loan him, he HAS to sort that problem out too
What I don’t understand though is how can Raul not be ambitious after being at Barcelona …
Rico. I am convinced that the fans will eventually have a huge role to play in this debacle. It seems as if the Kroenkes don’t really care. If that’s the case, why should the fans? Arsenal are boring to watch, rudderless and there is little pressure on the manager to actually achieve something. Going to the Emirates is insanely expensive and for what? So people like Ozil can stroll around swearing and smirking at the manager while considering the sheer lunacy of what he is earning. The club, at the moment, is a void of negativity. While up in the boardroom a little rotund Spaniard and a bean counter quaff champagne with millionaires while talking bollocks about what they are going to do. Just like Gazidis did in fact.
He should have felt it this season though. He blew it big time after throwing all his CL eggs in the Europa basket. A first season is usually when a new manager has the biggest impact on the players he inherits. Now he has to get rid of those who haven’t performed and personally, I don’t care if the youth players replace them as long as the club tell that’s what we’re doing.
If we start the season with the likes of Ozil, Xhaka, Elneny, Jenks etc on the payroll, next season will be more of the same I think.
Rico. As for Raul. He’s not with Barcelona any more is he? 😃
They/we’ll have to Adam if big changes are what they/we want. I’ve always suggested that only when Wenger leaves will we see where the real problem with8n the club is. That’s the only reason imo, this summer is key. If little changes in the way we act this transfer window, then it’s clear kroenke needs to go…
Adam, and they’re not doing so well are they? 😜
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico.
Morning Kev.
Why does Kroenke have to go Rico, I don’t get it mate?
His investment is still growing in value, we still have money in the bank, money we can’t spend because of FFP.
TV revenues are still strong, shirts sales, other stuff, the cash is still rolling in.
For Kroenke it’s the perfect scenario, he’s sitting on his goldmine and he doesn’t give a flying fcuk what we think.
It is what it is, even if we stopped going and there were rows of empty seats, Kroenke will just sack Emery or Raul or whomever, but he isn’t shifting…
I read somewhere that it cost nigh on £ 20 million to pay off Wenger and his entourage and I can’t see them falling for that again albeit less. We gave him 2 years, he’s had 1. Now is when we find out what he is made of . He knows what he’s got and knows what he needs. It’s too early to throw the baby out with the water ,as I remember most of us accepted that it would take time to rectify all the problems .Emery’s mistake was getting us too close too early.Had we qualified we still would not be ready he needs time.
If he is no closer at the end of next season then get rid by all means but if you do it now it’s back to square one again.
I blame Hill Wood, Fiszman, Dein, Lady Nina, Friar, et al…
They sold out and we’re stuck with Enos, and stuck with him and his son for a long long time.
Good morning all.
I doubt that an amalgam of Guardiola, Klopp, Allegri and Uncle Tom Cobley could have done much more than Emery with the squad bequeathed to him by Wenger. Even the addition of Sokratis, Torreira, Guendouzi and the ill fated Lichtsteiner proved insufficient to overcome the malaise left by him.
It would be senseless to swap managers now, Emery must be given a second season in which to correct the imbalance in the squad and clear out, at least some of, the worst performers.
Go back to the start of the season and consider how you would have felt if we were promised fifth position in the league and a place in the Europa League final. Remember, if we had not lost to Crystal Palace we would be celebrating a fairly successful season.
Even if Kroenke was willing to sell Arsenal would you be happier with a financially doped club owned by an oil rich arab, as is the case with Man City? Or a Russian oligarch who cannot get a UK residence permit? I know that I wouldn’t.
I heard an Emery interview and he said his contract is for 3 years and that seems logical, it’s what clubs usually do when they hire a manager. Although I’ve heard alternatively that it’s 2 years with a 1 year option.
One thing is for sure, Enos is not a hasty man, he is slow, deliberate and plays the long game so Emery will do a second year for sure, whatever we may think or hope for.
I don’t know if that’s the right decision but it’s what I expect.
Rico. Well they won their league for a mere 11 points so I suppose they’re not doing too well without him I agree. They might even want him back.
Is FFP really the only reason Kev? If it is then I’m wrong. I guess the CL money means only that we can spend more after earning more.
Potter, I think that’s where I am too re Emery. Wise spending, rid the passengers and see what happens.
I fully expect Emery to remain too. He needs backing though.
I was being cheeky Adam after their CL departure..
Sokratis, Lichtsteiner, Guendouzi, Torreira, Leno and lets not forget Dennis Suarez. That’s where we are with this set-up. Possibly Torreira and Leno might be good enough and I’m not even sure of that after this awful season.
Barca have their problems. I’ve no doubt of that Rico.
Can someone explain to me…
Fans want Kroenke to invest his own money on the squad, but he can’t right, because we’d breach FFP?
The club have lots of money in the bank, but they can’t spend it because of FFP? Why though, when it’s money the club has earned over the years?
If we as a club are hamstrung through FFP, how can Emery ‘demand’ funds for top class players when FFP won’t allow us to do so.
I realise that the club can clear out players to generate its own money etc etc, but if the club are cash rich, what stops us spending?
It doesn’t add up to me, not one bit..
I ask as I feel like my brain and thoughts on Arsenal go round in circles…
Rico. Do what Man City have done. Form a company called Stan’s Syrups and sponsor Arsenal to the tune of £100 mill a year for a small emblem on the shirt sleeves.. That should give us greater latitude.
Also, and I know this is just one example but Ramsey. The club withdrew is contract offer because he wanted a huge pay rise which clearly did fit with the way the club will now be run. This has been heavily criticised, despite what has happened with Ozil.
Yes we could have given him a new contract and then sold him but then we’d be stuck again as who would pay him the same amount of money? Not many pubs, if any I’d say, not on top of a big transfer fee.
A lot of the mess were in isn’t down to the current regime, it’s down to the idiots before who were happy to dish out big money deals because that’s the only reason players would sign for us.
Surely, isn’t what Raul and Vinai are doing, something which should have been done a long time ago? What many of us on here admire Toots for doing.
The way I see it. Until the last of our big earning players have left, it could be a rough road. Although it should get less bumpy as they go.
😂😂 Adam. Legally I mean…
Morning Rico and all….
Great post Rico;
I’ve run the same question through my head many times and still can’t make my mind up regarding Emery.
I also struggle with the Allegri option…
If Guendouzi really does have a valuation of £50m, sell him. If Barca offer big money for Lacazette or Aubameyang, sell them too.
Take the money, reinvest and bring through the youngsters. Clear out the negativity and serial bottlers.
Rico. Legally?
Sell Guendouzi for a ludicrous sum. Pay off Ozil and kick him out, get HM out and the rest of the dross. Get a properly ambitious manager in and create a highly competitive environment based on achievement and not reputation. Pay incentive-laden wages. Refuse to tolerate complacency. Become a sports club and not a social-media based kindergarten. Get the supporters back on side by treating them as people and not cash cows. Be honest. Make the club proud again.
Morning Bt. Thanks.
It’s a weird one for me.. I think Potter made so much sense earlier..
Adam, I certainly expecting the clear out part.
Good luck with that Rico. 😃
Good day Rico. Questions like this will dominat our thoughts now that the season is ended and we can at lest say a few things about our not so new manager.
Starting with Alegri’s availability, do we employ him and still saddle him with the misfits we have in our club? Two clear things Emery said when he came in were; applying the press and playing with intensity. On his team’s ability to do these, I found them totally unable to translate Emery’s oft spoken desire. But the question is, did he have the right tools?
As we can see from the last years of Wenger, these players appear irredeemable. The are spineless, gutless and seem rather overawed by occasions. They were on course for third position, they bottled it. They had another chance via the Europa, they embarrassed themselves. You just can’t bank on this players.
We can genuinely rate Emery if we give him the kind of players to match his brand of football. Not this Wenger team of so many no 10s when Emery Peter to attack from the side area.
That’s how I understand it Rico, as we are we can only increase our wage bill by 7% pa…
So until we move on that wanker Ozil, the equally useless Mkhitarayan, the defensive shambles that is Kolasinac and maybe a few others, then we’re buggered.
There are other ways of providing finance, through sponsorship etc, but Enos is too busy riding the range to worry about such minor matters and Josh is whatever he is.
But the reported £200m we have in the bank is great leverage that KSE can use In eliciting loans for their priority, the LA Rams, and that’s how it’ll remain for the foreseeable future.
When Emery prefers to attack from the wide areas
Morning all.
It’s never dull 🙂 🙂
Lets not be ridiculous & give Emery a chance because it doesn’t matter who we bring in, if we are not going to back them with a decent amount of transfer money.
We all know most of the players need shipping out & new players with more grit need bringing in.
I don’t think any manager in the world could do to much with the players we have & their shitty attitudes.
We need a completely new back four, a creative midfielder & a winger & that’s just to start,
but how long will it take to get them in place if we only offer our manager £45M to spend.
The club is a total joke, they charge top prices to their fans but don’t ever pay top prices for top players.
Sorry you were stuck in moderation Bryan..
It’s has to happen surely Adam, certainly some of them..
Hi Daniel, I see it more of a player problem too. The complacency has been around so long, any guy would struggle to get them out of it.
Thanks Kev. So Kroenke couldn’t drop £200 m on the squad even if he wanted to..?
Just why we need the clear out.
That’s how I understand it Rico, it isn’t that we can’t spend, it’s our wage bill…
Agree on the clear out, but the players we have, who have a value are the ones we want to keep. The ones we want to sell have a minimal value in transfer terms.
If Edu comes in I think we could well look to the South American market for value and signing players who we can develop and sell on, imo a bit like Atletico Madrid.
We are a big club but our owner has no ambition for Arsenal and no interest in us beyond the bottom line, KSE are only interested in the LA Rams and real estate, KSE aren’t that interested in their other franchises as well, it’s all about the NFL…
Rumours are Kev, we’re after three South American players do you could be right. I don’t mind that, usually they have a bit about them
As long as we can get them work permits then I’d vote for that Rico.
As you say ‘they’ have something about them, an edge, a winning mentality and we certainly need a lot of that in our squad.
Good point re the permits Kev, we seldom do well applying for those.
I blame Hill Wood, Fiszman, Dein, Lady Nina, Friar, et al…
They sold out and we’re stuck with Enos, and stuck with him and his son for a long long time.
I too blame the ex board but Fiszman and Dein had the falling out and we kept the wrong one and I wholehearteadly blame Hill-Wood for that..
One day we will have to write a series of posts “”Without Prejudice “” stating all the things we were told over that period and before and see if we can come to a conclusion on the blame.
Ha ha Potter.
I’d love to know what Fiz and Dein fell out about..
I think Potter made so much sense earlier.
Bloody hell ! I must look up the brand of tea I was drinking earlier .
There was one rumour that was prevalent around the ground at the time but putting it in print might be considered libellous.
Even all and thanks Rico for the short but interesting post and to answer …………..I have no idea what we do .
Some great comments and especially Adam again, but also agree with Kev on who is to blame in the old guard of share holders, they truly fcuked us for the rest of our Arsenal lifes for who they chose to sell to !
Kroenke is the only owner in the top division ( and most of the Championship) who has never invested a penny in a club, all the other owners have invested money outside of self sufficiency. Arsenal are the only club with no outside investment other than sponsors.
I read something somewhere that we/Kroenke could invest money and navigate FFP. Just off the top of my head ……..couldn`t he buy a player outside of UEFA`s FFP juristriction like for his MLS Colerado Rapids and loan hyperthetical player to Arsenal ?
As said before his wife is richer than him with Walmart, why are they not sponsoring us ?………… and anyway whats to stop him spending billions on players like Mansour City have done and then getting a little slap on the wrist by UEFA with a 2 transfer window ban which would not be a problem if you have already got the worlds best players to cover the ban anyway !
As for Dick and any other manager………………..if they cant have funds for the players and it`s going to affect their team building who cares ?………………….not any manager who is going to be on £6m per year……………………..maybe they( the owners) should have put a low wage on for any manager and only give them high bonuses for winning a trophy !. Does anyone seriously think Dick is peeved with anything being on £6M ?………………..would you ?
Like others I said we were fcuked years ago when the board sold out to Kroenke and I get that some thought it would maybe change after Wenger went, but I knew otherwise and it has got worse now that Kroenke won his mind battle with Usmanov…………….fcuked completely is what we are and no manager whether Pep or Klopp or Allegri would make us any better with such an owner !
Only a “Leicester” season will ever win us a League or CL, but that is the same for all the other clubs apart from the money ones.
The EL was a one off game where we had a chance, but the real damage was getting only 4 points from the Leicester/Wolves/Palace/Burnley and Brighton games and that lays at the feet of Dick.
Best keep that one then… 😂
I don’t think Liverpool have Lc and Henry has said only today that they will remain self sufficient.
I saw a chart yesterday somewhere and they have spent money, spuds aswell !
One similar to this but upto date……..should have copied it when I saw it !………………….
If I get time tomorrow I will email you and you can see what you think.
Thanks Potter, I’ll delete it after reading… 😜
So have we though Lc, at some time. Prob pre FFP for most.
If as Kev said, which makes sense to me, Kroenke can’t throw his money around anyway. We’ve wasted too much on average players and on top of which, given them too much money each week.
Rico, i think Steve Bould’s contract ends this summer.
Amazing how we’ve gone from the club that never spends to the club who has spent too much.
Thanks Bt, good.
But in all the wrong areas and ways Adam.
Plus, no CL money…
Morning all.
Good Morning Scousers…
Good Morning Rico…
Calm down, calm down.
They do though don’t they…
Just off to get my curly perm… 🙂
You’ll never walk alone… 😁
Morning Kev.
I’m in a lose lose situation today. 🤨
I’m hearing that Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a motoring accident…. ☹️
Good morning
Bad news!
Jose Antonio Reys RIP today
Former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a car crash at the age of 35.
The Spaniard, who won the Premier League and FA Cup during his time with Arsenal, died in a traffic collision.
The news was confirmed by his former club Sevilla.
“We couldn’t be announcing any worse news. Our beloved former youth player Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a traffic accident. Rest in peace,” said a statement on Sevilla’s official Twitter account.
Arsenal posted on their official website:
” Our thoughts are with all his family, friends and team-mates. Jose, who was part of the Invincibles team, was a hugely popular figure at our club and will always hold a special place in our hearts. He represented the club on 110 occasions, scoring 23 times and made memorable contributions to our 49-game unbeaten run. Rest in peace, Jose.”
Reyes joined Arsenal from Sevilla in January 2004 for a fee of £10.5m.
RIP. Jose Antonio Reyes.
What horribly sad news..
RIP Jose…
RIP José.
Absolutely terrible news.
Such sad,sad news, so young.
RIP Jose.
RIP Jose, you will always be a legend part of the Invincibles something that git Neville can never be.
New post up now.
A tribute to José….
Very sad news.
RIP Jose.