Morning all.
Food for thought this morning as Potter poses the question, has much changed at the club, barring expectation?
Had a long talk with my son today as our boat meandered from pub to pub on the broads and he described to me what he called the Emperor’s new clothes. He has always felt that Arsene Wenger got a raw deal but agreed that it was time to go a couple of years ago.
However he said just imagine that Wenger was still with us and his first move was to bring in Lichtsteiner old and on a free? Immediate comparisons with Sylvestre would have been made, with headlines about him losing the plot.
Then in comes Sokratis a 30 year old centre back for 17 and a half million. Comparisons to Van Dyke would be out there, with Sokratis seen as a cheap option, or even an expensive waste of money for an ageing defender. And Bernd Leno for £20 million after the Scousers paid an arm and a leg for their keeper and Wenger would be penny pinching again. Adding Torriera, a 5 foot nothing defensive midfielder and a teenage French second division kid, the pair on paper would hardly be inspiring .
Altogether a spend of 67 million on 5 players. He added that should Ramsey leave for say £40 million and Ospina for around £10 million, we would have a nett spend of about £17 million.
The club is continuing on it’s self sustaining course, so apart from expectation, What has changed he said? Last year we just about made it into the Europa League coming 6th in the league, some 12 points from Champions League. If we finish the same or just one place higher Wenger would have failed again whereas Emery, well what would he have achieved?
Very good points made above by Potters son and he’s right isn’t he? Well, here’s my thoughts and I hope you guys will offer yours in the comments.
Arsenal are still penny pinching but as well as expectation, for me it’s about control too and getting rid of the complacency within the club. As much as the signings so far have hardly hit the big figures as far as finances go, what Emery has done, certainly on paper, is to plug the gaping holes within the team which have been there for years. He’s ditched the zonal marking, a tactic which let us down time and time again.
It’s highly unlikely that he’ll sit in his seat watching the game go by relying on his watch alarm to determine when changes are to be made, instead he’ll be proactive, making changes as and when the game requires. I can’t see him leaving players who are having a bad game on the pitch either, nor can I see him selecting players who he likes rather than those who can do the job he wants them to do.
I don’t think he’s spoken words are empty ones either as when he speaks it all seems real. No false hope offered, just honesty and what he truly believes he and his team will do over the next few weeks and months. He wants to please the fans, not appease us and he certainly wants to entertain us.
Yes, the club are still penny pinching but surely it’s about who we buy and what they bring to the team, rather than the price they cost?
The reason Arsene Wenger got a lot of stick imo is because season after season, transfer window after transfer window, the bargains he signed were really bad ones. He learned nothing from the mistakes he was making in the transfer window.
What about the younger players he’s signed, who really improved under his management? The academy players we are seeing in this preseason seem so much more confident already than they were during last season. The experienced players had problems too as their own game soon regressed.
For five years at least, I’ve been waiting for this. A new beginning, a new manager, a new coaching team, new ideas and different football, exciting football. Funny enough, my expections as far as what we win goes this coming season aren’t really that high because Unai Emery has so much to change. From the way we train, the way the team plays, the way he integrates the new players, right through to instilling self belief into the squad which is perhaps the toughest job of all.
A great question posed Potter jnr, over to you guys…..
Enjoy the game later, if you’re lucky enough to be able to watch it…
Good morning all,
Attitude they say is everything, that’s what I can see already changing, there is nothing wrong in being smart in the transfer market, its just a matter of fixing the problems the team had.. in less than a month emery already fixed 80% of the teams problems something that would take a Wenger ages to admit. We can only hope for the best.. I just want us back in the top four and playing with all discipline and seriousness then we can start talks on how to improve the quality and depth of the team… And I have this feeling that from now on young prospects in the team would actually grow to be club legends and not just fade off due to managerial recklessness…
Mexy, I now have great hope for our youngsters, not just the ones we’re seeing now but those coming through the academy too. If things go well for all, if they have the talent and the right attitude, we might finally get to see a team like we did years ago when the club ran through their veins. Not knocking oversea signings but you can’t beat having a few locals in the team too…
Morning Rico and the House.
After last nights thunder storm (lasted for 1 hour) its a lot cooler where i am.
I will be watching the PSG and Chelsea games live and we will also
be able to watch the Lazio game on the player.
I thought we were good against A/m and ESM & Reiss had very good games.
ESM is 18 today would love to see him score another bender.
I gather Ozil Elneny and Iwobi will all get playing time today.
Just 1 hour to kickoff
I often wonder how many ‘might have beens’ we have had..
Morning Rick, all was still here overnight but we’ve got the rain now..
I too was impressed with Smith-Rowe and Nelson and there’s certainly something different in the latter. Thankfully I’ve just found an app which is showing today’s game..
By the way, thank you Potter, and your son. Certainly food for thought and a very poignant and good question to ask.
My views are in the post but put simply, the difference between what Wenger did and what Emery is doing now is the addressing of our constant failings in the transfer windows. One is plugging the holes which the other left wide open.
There’s a difference too imo between signing players like silvestre and Lichtsteiner as the latter remains a good player for his country, a leader too. Guendouzi is a player on the rise whereas Wenger just opted for cheap regardless.
Morning Rico. That’s way too negative for me. Wenger’s extended tenure is to blame I imagine. After all, one of his greatest tricks was to reduce expectations.
We have to wait and see.
Todays Team,
Leno, Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustaffi, Kolo, Guendouze, Elneny, Ozil CAPT, Mikky, Iwobi, auba.
Change is good. Never be afraid of detracting from the ‘norm’. When AW arrived, he changed the training, the style and the players – many of whom were not household names like Anelka and to some extent Vieira, who’d languished on the bench in Italy. Football has changed dramatically in the last 7 years. High press, high energy and intensity and rotation. Let’s give Emery a chance, and not expect miracles over night. It’s clear already that the squad appear more motivated and harmonious. I sense good things around the corner.
Morning Adam.
But as far as spending money goes, little has changed. Although as you and all probably know by now, what a players costs means nothing to me.
Thanks Rick, looking forward to seeing Sokratis, he looks so strong physically..
Db, spot on. As football changed, Wenger didn’t and that’s his biggest failing. As Adam said, he stayed too long and those who allowed that to happen are to blame for us regressing.
Still, onwards and upwards now, this is a new beginning for Arsenal.
1-0 Ozil playing some good football
Nice to see Ozil playing a, more freely and b, with a smile on his face..
Arsenal currently destroying psg … Lets see how the press title this one..
How, in such a small period of time, can my fear of conceding a goal every time the opposition attack, disappear?
I’m sure there’s more work to be done but even with the changes, PSG didn’t look like troubling us in open play.
Really enjoyed that match…
If our esteem colleague LC is right, Stan will never put his own money into Arsenal. So with that in mind, we have to accept the “penny pitching” approach. However, Wenger’s final years was not about how much money was spent, but rather the players/ areas it was spent on…..
Certain players are can’t miss: Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette, PEA etc…. but quite simply the complimentary players AW bought couldn’t play anymore, he bought players and changed their positions or playing styles, and did not coach them. The difference between Sokratis, Lichtsteiner and Squallaci, Syvesteri is Squallaci, Syvesteri should not be taken even on a free transfer; 75m for Van Dyke not withstanding, I doubt Lichtsteiner will be pushed around as much as Van Dyke or be that clumsy – watch Van Dyke in Europe, hes horrible – or Allison is 40m better than Leno.
Torreira may be a “5 foot” DM but so is Makelele, Kente and Lahm. Guendouze was not playing in the 2nd tier because of talent. It was because PSG deemed him as having a “bad attitude” and most accounts say he has a reputation. Emery obviously knew the kid from his time at PSG so he was not just buying a player from the 2nd tier.
The approach between Emery and the transfer team is better even given limited funds, they are addressing needs, and not just buying blindly. These are all players that can play. The coaching and training is also better which is a great equalizer for not having a large budget….look at Mustafi’s body now, huge difference.
I think my boy’s comments were not aimed so much at the players and their abilities more so at the perception . If you read around the various sites many are already critical and calling for big names , big prices. Not so much here because I believe this to be a more rational forum but they have their preconceptions and the press that craves for headlines pander to them.
Good comment Obi.
I for one didn’t take them that way Potter, I got the impression your son was comparing Wenger and his approach to the transfer window and the way it is now which is in money terms very similar, but as Obi said, and I in the post, right now we are getting the right players for what the squad needs. Wenger imo, just went for who was cheap regardless of what they were actually doing elsewhere.
Letting fellow players cheering on Stepanovs as a joke be the reason for him signing said it all really..
Hi Folks. There is another difference. The new guys have all come in early in the window. This, in my mind does three things:
* it gives the players time to settle before the season starts
* it shows the fans that something is happening and alleviates a lot of anxiety and desperation
* it shows that these are not last minute bargain buys but planned acquisitions
Maybe it also goes to show what was causing the problem previously: one Arsene Wenger (that’s not the opening line of a chant).
Good performance against a much weakened PSG. Nice to see that Guendouzi didn’t make the same mistakes again and moved the ball quicker. The subs came on and got right on with it. Emery must be quietly pleased .
5-1 doesn’t flatter Arsenal, PSG were awful, but we put them to the sword and that has to be promising.
Just as it wasn’t sensible to judge Emery’s work after the Atletico game it’s not rational to read too much into this result, likewise our next two matches vs Chelsea and Lazio.
I don’t know what is said or posted by the extreme wing of the Arsenal fanbase on Twitter and Facebook, nor do I care. We have a media industry quite able to dredge up a negative spin on their own without the help of those two deranged outlets.
We have to be and remain patient and realistic, this is a new era and a work in progress. So I’m optimistic.
Onion platzels are really very good.
Agree there Billyboy.
I’d imagine Emery is over the moon, especially with the players attitude. Did we ever see dancing on the bench before, or Lacazette smiling from ear to ear?
No. This time it seems we really do have a very happy camp and long may that remain..
Kev. Agree there. 🙂
Afternoon all and thank you Rico and Potter.
Have not seen the game and have recorded it for early morning, so will watch tomorrow at some time, but without knowing I will still think along the lines that it is just a friendly where Dick is experiamenting and getting to know the qualities(or not) of the squad win or lose it doesn`t matter as the only game which will count is the CFG opener.
When watching tomorrow I will look to see if we are pressing as Dick has intended us to do albeit against a PSG team minus most of their stars !………………………who were we missing ?……………………….Danny………….Granit………….Nacho………..Toreira…………Small Country…………any other global stars ? 🙂
If I read it right then I`m with Potter Jnr in that Wenger would have been lamblasted from every quarter with the same purchases so far Dick has made and thats even if it was on the same level as people are implying that Dick has been filling the holes………………..Wenger could filled the same holes with same players and we would be furious !……………………..I have made it quite clear I am not overwhelmed by the purchases apart from the young one for the future Guendouzi from what I`ve seen so far, he looks good potential and actually looks (atm) capable of being for now not just future.
The greek who was bullied at school for having a short name looks a bruiser, so without tempting my house to be broken into with all my crockery smashed I`ll say nothing !
Need to get Nelson tied up, hate to see a potential talent leave for nowt !……………………………….anyone have news of his contract ?
True Obi…………………………..I am esteemed 🙂
and if Kroenke ever puts his hand in his own pocket I will eat my dog and then take up Korean citizenship !
🙂
So are onion bagels….
And Onion Bhajis………………….
Delicious Rico. 🙂
I knew you would agree Adam 😀
Of course a large bosh of tea in a decorative cup finishes it off…
The simple pleasures eh Kev? 🙂
I made some once Adam, a bit of a faff, but very nice..
Good company and good food Adam… 🙂
Morning Rico and all. I bet your bagels were scrumptious. 🙂
Ramsey to Chelsea?
Morning Adam.
They were. 😇
Not for £30m I’d have thought.
New post up now, we’ll take Ramsey over there Adam… lol