Morning all.
I don’t understand all the fuss being made about Ralf Rangnick’s arrival at Manchester Utd. Actually, he hasn’t arrived yet as he has Visa issues so won’t be in the dugout on Thursday night.
VfB Stuttgart U19 – Under 19 Bundesliga: 1990–91
Ulm 1846 – Regionalliga Süd: 1997–98
VfB Stuttgart – UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000
Hannover 96 – Bundesliga: 2001–02
Schalke 04 – DFB-Pokal: 2010–11; runner-up: 2004–05
DFL-Supercup: 2011, DFL-Ligapokal: 2005
RBLeipzig – DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2018–19
The above is his managerial history and all he’s achieved. No Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, either Milan clubs or PSG and until now, he’s never stepped foot in England as far as managing/coaching a club goes. Not even Chelsea have employed him yet and they change managers more often than I change my socks!
He’s a really good man and an outstanding coach. He’s a really experienced manager and famously built two clubs from nowhere to proper forces in Germany – Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig. He’s done a lot of different jobs in football, but his first concern was always being a coach, being a manager, and that’s what his best skill is. Fellow German Jurgen Klopp told the BBC.
Klopp added that Rangnick will turn Man Utd into a much more organised team which is bad news for other clubs.
Rangnick is reported to be the kind of manager who likes to build young teams with players he can coach his ideas to but seeing as he’s only in his role until the end of this season, he’s stuck with what he’s got, at least until January. Poor old Ronaldo eh!
On a serious note, isn’t Mikel Arteta trying to do the same at Arsenal? He’s certainly made us more organised defensively than we’ve been for a good number of years and once he’s had another transfer window or two, the midfield and striker problems should be resolved. Because that’s what’s lacking, a tough and mobile midfielder, a strong and mobile striker. Oh, and a back-up right-back.
Of course, Rangnick has more experience than Mikel Arteta but technically, so does Solskjær but we know how his career at a so called big club went. The same way as his previous managerial job. If we’re to look at the League table right now, Arteta is currently doing better than 15 other club managers, all of whom could be classed as more experienced. I’m not suggesting Mikel Arteta is perfect but it does seem like he’s taking Arsenal in the right direction. He and Edu together, seem to have forged a good partnership too, certainly as far as transfers go.
But, as good as it is to be in fifth place, level on points with fourth place West Ham, nothing is won in December. (I know I’m one day early) A season is about ten months, not four. On paper, our young team should only improve with time and other players who the club sign during the transfer window or promote from the academy will hopefully help us to get to the next level. A level where we can actually compete with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City instead of surrendering to them with ease.
I’d absolutely love for Arsenal to return to playing Champions League football but as the squad looks at the moment, I don’t think we’d cope with it very well. Certainly not after the group stages if we got that far but financially, it would do the club the world of good and of course, either European football competitions give Mikel Arteta more opportunities to play a few of the younger players who are on the cusp of making the step up to the first team. If that’s in the Europa League next season then so be it.
Going back to Rangnick and all football managers really, they can only be as good as the team/squad they assemble allows. Hard work goes only so far, but without it, a manager is likely to fail regardless of the quality in his squad and likewise, a manager can have all the talent there is on offer in his squad but if those players couldn’t care less whether the team win or lose, that manager will struggle. He won’t last long either.
Thankfully, barring the odd one or two, Arsenal no longer have players who aren’t prepared to work hard but the squad could certainly do with a bit more talent.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico and everyone.
I do share your sentiments and it seem the media are doing a very going job at trying to hype the Man U squad and fan base.. all it takes to bring them back to earth is us whooping their ass on Thursday at the theatre of suffering( like my friend love to call it).
Concerning our team and Arteta I’m sure it’s clear to most of the fan base now that Arteta though not perfect knows what he is doing and he has indeed been either very lucky or spot on with transfers.
As your rightly stated our defense is quite decent for now, we just need to beef up our midfield and then replace our strike force. We have more players willing to fight for the badge than ever in a long time which gives us hope.
I would really love us to push for the league title next season and also make top 4 which I feel is within our reach… let’s sit back and see how things play out.
Morning Mexzy, I think next season might be a bit early to challenge the clubs who’ve either had more money or more time. I just hope we don’t get a sudden spate of injuries so we can get into Europe.
Yea it’s quite early to challenge but a man can dream 😃😃😃😃😃
But I think we have a decent fan base that will definitely appreciate constant allround improvement of the club. Also let’s not forget wear and tear of the other clubs too, remember that’s what gave Leicester the league title, I just want us to be ready enough to capitalise if the so called “bigboys” flop.
Ha ha, for sure.
I agree that Arteta and Edu seem to have a plan and it is showing signs of working although just how far it can take us is moot.
To compete at the very top we do need to enhance our standing in the game we have a name which is well known but recent events have tarnished it a little . Getting back to European football is the first step to rebuild both the reputation and the coefficient and that is going to take consistent investment . We cannot continue with the letting players go for nothing or isolating them as their contracts decline as players chat amongst themselves and are possibly off put from joining if they hear that things are awry at Arsenal.
And Rico talking of things going awry , if I suddenly started watching ladies football I think my wife who has put up with my addiction to football for 52 years might find it the final straw.
Agree, we really don’t know yet how far Arteta can take us and I also agree re players being left out for reasons other than playing football. That has to change if we’re to get into Europe. Why Eddie isn’t at least on the bench each week drives me bonkers, especially when our captain is really poor.
Ha ha Potter, best you steer clear of women’s football then..
Morning Rico and all
I agree the ladies would struggle against the men but the way Auba is playing he is struggling against everyone.
I am still not convinced by Arteta, yes we are making small moves forward but the season still has a long way to go and if you look at the ladder as much as I an happy sitting 5 it only takes a couple of losses and we back in the bottom half, I will hold my judgment until the end of the season.
Good morning all.
It appears that talks are ongoing about a move to Barcelona in January for Lacazette. Perhaps we could put a Laca mask on Aubameyang and send him to Barca instead. 😉
I’ve been watching more women’s football recently and am convinced it’s more entertaining than the men’s game, less simulation, far less whingeing at the refs, in fact far less fouling and a more continuous game without the myriad stoppages we see weekly in the Premiership. The only downside is the players failure to whip their shirts of after scoring a goal. Shame that. 😉
Morning Geoff, I can’t understand your scepticism and I kind of feel the same. Probably because of what’s gone on before and because of the way we crumble a bit too easily against teams who press hard from the front. We’ll see, hopefully we’ll both have to eat humble pie.
Thanks Rico, yeah I saw the Klopp interview when he was asked about Rangnick and if I’m being honest he didn’t looked too worried. Of course he’s going to big-up one of his German mates isn’t he, but besides Klopp has any German manager had sustained success in England?
It’s like Pep bigging up Arteta Kev. Morning to you.
If Eddie has made it clear that he’s leaving then Arteta is going to use alternative subs who are committed, I guess that Eddie will get a game in the League Cup, then again Arteta might go with Balogun?
True Rico, but I’m not sure if Klopp and Rangnick are mates or have worked together.
It’s amazing* to see the Brighton fans complaining about their team and Potter.
Some people are never happy unless they’re unhappy.
More than happy to eat a large slice of humble pie if it takes us forward for the next 5 to 10 years
Glad thats Potter with a capital P ,
I watched Colorado Rapids the other night losing in an MLS play off. They were technically the best team but had they had say Eddie or Balogun playing I am sure thast they would have won comfortably . As it was they went down to a scrambled corner in the dying minutes of injury time and lost 1 nil .
I thought that the standard was between Premier and our under 23 level and it should be an avenue to see if we can loan young players to gain experience because they would certainly play and pitting their skills against ageing internationals from South and central America would do them no harm. Better than sitting on the bench at some desolate championship side that’s only taken them for cover.
And which 19 year old wouldn’t fancy a year travelling America ? most of us would have certainly me.
He is the godfather of gegenpressing. This gegenpressing’s follower is Jurgen Klopp.
Ha ha Cicero.
But why though Kev, it’s in both parties interest for Eddie to play and play well.
Isn’t Rangnick some kind of hero to Klopp Kev?
Yes, Brighton fans are certainly fickle it would seem.
Good idea re the loans to America, very few loans to English clubs seem to work that well.
With a new manager, drawing with Chelsea and players fighting for their future and the transfer market just over a month away this could be a dangerous time to play Man U.
We will need a fast start and our strikers firing.
There’s talk of Pablo Mari, (remember him), heading back to Flamengo from where we signed him.
I always liked Mari. Underrated I thought.
He’s not there yet Geoff. Lol
RIP Ray Kennedy,
That’s sad. RIP Ray Kennedy. 70 is very young these days.
I guess it’s horses for courses Rico, in the EPL he has Martinelli and Pepe on the bench and in the last game Lacazette as well, but when Pepe and Aubameyang go to the ACoN then Eddie will get more game time.
I’d rather give the minutes to Martinelli if I’m honest.
I was level with him on the Shelf as he got that all important goal in 71 .He had a great understanding with John Radford their movements up front supplied by the late George Armstrong with scissor cross overs was something we could do with today.
RIP Ray and thanks.
I’m not sure if Rangnick is a hero to Klopp or not, I know the name but not much about him.
I think he falls into the same bracket as the guy at Leeds, all the Spanish and South American coaches respect him, but he never wins anything.
I imagine that Klopp is just blowing smoke up his backside so when he beats him he’ll be able to puff his chest out even further while simultaneously withdrawing his thin lips over his astonishing ‘ampsteads while charging down the touch line beating his chest.
Ray Kennedy was what, 19 when we won the Double in 1970/71, Charlie was only 20 I think?
I was at Secondary School in Tottenham, a great place to live at the time…
Doesn’t time fly…
Why not both though Kev? On the bench at least.
Nketiah has been on the bench Rico, he was on the bench vs Newcastle, at least I’m sure I saw him warming up.
England ladies 20 – Latvia ladies 0 I hope people didn’t have to pay to get in .
I stand corrected then Kev. 😂
New post up now