Daily Bits and Bobs

Monaco scars to motivate Arsene? Wenger move to Bayern blocked….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

A little bit about Arsene Wenger and his old club Monaco ahead of our fixture on Wednesday….

Nice manager, Claude Puel knows all about our manager and he should do from his Monaco playing days, he’s been reminiscing about their time together and how life for Arsene came to a bitter end in France.

In what is an interesting article in The Guardian, he says:

He left an impression. He was respected and admired. No other manager can match the seven years he spent in charge there, a longevity that showed he realised the importance of building up the whole club and not just offering the team a quick fix.

Arsene hasn’t changed in that respect has he? He won’t just go and sign a player for a quick fix, he waits, sometimes too long and then makes his move. Saying that, he was pretty quick to snap up Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and David Ospina in the summer. Mind you, we needed all and none were really a quick fix.

But then the signing of Mesut Ozil might go against the ‘quick fix’ philosophy to please the fans but then if stories are true, he was an Arsenal signing rather than an Arsene Wenger signing but once on board with the idea, he made sure Ozil knew he was wanted.

Ooooerrrr...
Ooooerrrr…

Puel goes on to suggest that not all was rosy though:

But, of course, what happened did scar him.

Bribery, corruption and match fixing is of course what Puel is alluding to:

It scarred Arsène. It scarred all of us. You have your own pure view of football, of what it means and how you fight for your team-mates and defend your colours.

Who, unless involved in such wrong doings could live and manage through such things? Clearly Arsene Wenger couldn’t and who could blame him. He was playing fair whilst others around him were cheating in any which way they could and getting away with it. At least for a while.

Arsene wanted out, Bayern Munich desperately wanted him to become their manager but Monaco put their foot down and said no and Puel believes that hurt our manager:

He was rightly disappointed with the way it all ended, particularly given how much he would have liked to have gone to Bayern. That was an extraordinary opportunity for someone who spoke German and had grown up loving the Bundesliga. It would have been perfect.

But he was denied that chance and then sacked a few months later. That hurt him. But time has passed.

He should be cherished at that club for everything he did and the imprint he made there. I will always think of him as ‘my coach’ and that was where he made his name.

We Arsenal fans should be thankful that he never ended up in Germany as who knows, he may have still been there to this day and we’d have never have seen so many of the great footballers we have been privileged to see in an Arsenal shirt.

Bayern’s loss was eventually our gain and the stuff in France had at last been exposed and Arsene Wenger was a long away from all but he knew for a long time something was dreadfully wrong within the French game.

He confirmed that in 2006:

I wanted to warn people, make it public but I couldn’t prove anything definitively. At that time corruption and doping were big things and there was nothing worse than knowing the cards were stacked against us from the beginning.

He couldn’t prove anything back then just as nothing can be proved today although we all suspect that too many things go against us for it to be a coincidence. Kick-off times, referee appointments, double standards when yellow and red cards are dished out and of course, we aren’t allowed to foul the opposition but they can kick us to pieces for fun….

Just like back then in France, Arsene Wenger carries on regardless but I bet deep down the powers that be will always make sure that other than an odd domestic cup, he and Arsenal will win bugger all..

So when Jose Mourinho uses Sky Sports or any other organisation to moan about the way his team are being treated by the officials, perhaps he should stop and think about what’s been happening to Arsenal over the years.

Then maybe he’d understand why we haven’t won the Premier League for a long time and he wouldn’t have to talk about it to all and sundry and from the outside, it appears he has enough going on at his own club and shouldn’t be worrying about ours……..

That’s it for Monday….

rico

98 thoughts on “Monaco scars to motivate Arsene? Wenger move to Bayern blocked….”

  1. bripriuk says:

    Hi Rico
    Interesting post as usual.
    Excellent weekend as far as results go, we even had a bit of luck for once.
    Your photo reminded me of the headline on the back page of The Sun – ‘Frogs Jump For Hoddle’
    Brian

  3. Joe says:

    Morning all
    I posted the following at the end of your last post Rico sorry if I am repeating myself but I felt it fitted in with your very good current post this morning.
    Here’s the thing on Mourinho he got the platform to do what a lot of people want Wenger to do is go to the media and point out the refereeing bias against Arsenal.
    Now look at the reaction a different media platform provides the opportunity for a celebrity fan to have a pop at Mourinho but the fact is who’s team is benefitting from Chelsea,s run of dreadful refereeing dicissions Man city.

    Now I dislike Mourinho as much as the next person but I am starting to think he has a point. After watching Chelsea games some in their entirety and highlights of others the has been a change to the way Chelsea games have been officiated. They now seem to be officiated the same way Arsenal has for years.
    Like I said yesterday he went on GOS and used half truths to make he’s point. But as someone who has for along time thought that the is something very wrong with the way games are officiated in England it’s good to see someone anyone even Mourinho shine a light on the issue.

  7. Joe says:

    Tsgh just seen your comment on the last post your right Arsenal are in a different league when it comes to being on the wrong end of officiating.
    Now I could be wrong but over the last couple of months things have changed for Chelsea and they don’t like it because they know how important it is to keep on the good side of the FA and PGMOL if they are to have any chances of winning things.

  8. Tai says:

    So, why is Mou’s team being tossed about? Perhaps going the way of Wenger. Right now only Cahill plays for England from the Chelsea fold…and currently being benched!

    If so, Arsenal should benefit much more now with Wilshere, Gibbs, Chambers, Welbeck, Ox, Walcott all full England internationals!

    Welcome to reality, Mou! When you had Terry, Lampard, Cole, et al in your team you were The Special One…now, you’ll truly understand where you’re earning your living!

  9. rico says:

    Thanks Joe, I saw it and yes, he has a point, a very good one, but perhaps now he’ll see what we have suffered over the years.

    Thanks Tai.

  12. Tai says:

    When Man U had Ferdinand, Nevile, Scholes, Beckham, Rooney…they couldn’t do any wrong…when we had Wright, Adams, Keown, Seaman, Dixon…we couldn’t do much wrong either. Wenger understood, very late…that’s why he announced he was going to give England six regulars by 2018 World Cup. Let’s hope it works~

  13. rico says:

    But it shouldn’t have to work. It doesn’t matter where players are born, football opened their arms to welcome oversea players, the FA and it’s sidekicks should be fair throughout…

    Chelsea have appealed the Matic red card, that should be interesting..

  14. Wavy says:

    The chavs haveappealedMatic’s sending off. If you attack another player, and he did, it is a mandatory red card. Pardon the pun but, he hasn’t got a leg to stand on! Further more I’m far from convinced that Barnes’ tackle was in anyway deliberate. He went for, and got the ball, Matic’s lurch for the all was honest enough, but it seemed as if, when he planted his leg, having had the ball taken off his toe, his leg felt the full force of the tacklers follow through. Sure the impact could have wrecked Matic’s season and perhaps even his career, but these things happen. His response was understandable but a little disproportionate. I might add that he has been kicking lumps out of opponents all season! You know, live by the sword, die by the sword. For what it’s worth I think Matic’s is one of this seasons best buys. When he doesn’t play the chavs often don’t win. Says it all.
    I wish them joy with their appeal, I don’t think it will get them very far, an extra game for making a flippant request? Also if the moron is right and there is a conspiracy trying to do Chelsea down then they really do not have a prayer, do they?

    Nice article Rico, a different and quite reverential look at our aging manager and his rise up the slippery pole of world football.

  15. joe says:

    Having as many England players as possible and an England captain would be a great benefit to Arsenal.
    But we also need to look where all the refs are from its up north enough said.

  16. Tai says:

    Rico,

    You’re talking about the ideal world…and I’m talking about the League I’ve followed for some time…how many English internationals you have in your team helps a great deal in England…and many times win you matches. An English international will practically commit murder to get a send-off!

    But it shouldn’t be so. Level-playing field makes the game beautiful.

  17. rico says:

    Thanks Wavy. I hope Matic gets an extra game ban for a frivolous appeal as as you say, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on…

    Joe, Jack is tipped to be that man….

  19. Tai says:

    Jack has to quit this recurrent pipe smoking first…then learn to play safe and stay fit…otherwise, he could ruin all the potentials. I pray it never comes to that.

  20. tsgh says:

    Top top Post Rico…

    Hi tai.. long time.

    Joe, you make an interesting observation but I still think it is only because they are not being given any preferential privileges…

  22. rico says:

    Does he though Tai? Roy has said that Jacks off field stuff is no big deal for him so all the time he’s manager, Jack will be a golden boy. Also, for England he seems to do quite well…

    Thanks Ts..

  23. Tai says:

    I’ve always been a fan of Jack’s and will forever wish him well…but from what I’ve seen this season, Ox-Chamberlain may steal the show from all English players in our fold. The lad just modeled his game after Alexis in never giving an inch. Little wonder we caved in against Spurs simply because Alexis and the Ox were missing. Against Man City, they were unplayable!

  27. andrewh1313 says:

    NIce post rico. Thought provoking. Not sure I think its such a conspiracy as suggested, but cant argue we don’t get the rub of the green. I think part of it is our players are more skilful (and honest) than other teams and refs just don’t get it 😉

  28. potter says:

    There is something going on in the PGMO world , too many people are beginning to creep out of the woodwork , I think Riley’s days are numbered and like all despots he will withdraw into his bunker. Mourinho has used his publicity to bring things into the mainstream and now it’s being openly discussed it needs someone from within now to come out and the whole thing will fall like a pack of cards.

    The article in the Guardian about the problems in France were exposed by none other than Boro Primorac , maybe this explains Wenger’s loyalty to the man that stood up . We need to find that man within the Riley administration.

  29. Bob John says:

    Hi all
    On a similar theme regarding how the press and pundits can influence. Can anyone tell me the difference between Arsenal’s ‘one of our own’ Harry Kane feeling a touch and going down in the box and the incident in the Southampton Dippers game when Djuricic went over. As far as I could see they were identical yet Kane was ‘entitled to go down’ and Djuricic went down too easily! Oh wait a minute……..one’s a foreigner!!!!

  30. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All

    Afternoon Rico, good post…

    Coach, if you look at the remaining fixtures, Soton, Spuds, Sousers and Mancs all have some really tough point-dropping games…

    Arsenal should really finish 3rd, but we’ll need to beat the Scousers at home and take at least a point from the Chavs n Mancs to make sure…

  31. tsgh says:

    Totally agree with ”The article in the Guardian about the problems in France were exposed by none other than Boro Primorac , maybe this explains Wenger’s loyalty to the man that stood up . We need to find that man within the Riley administration.”

  34. allezkev says:

    Rico, isn’t interesting to see how the attitude of the English Press had changed, in it’s dealings with Mourinho, as opposed to the sickening arse-licking we saw during his first spell at Gazprom…

    You can never rely on your average football Journo to show too much insight, but recently they seem to be showing a surprising amount of clear-headed thinking… It’s quite amazing.

  42. Wavy says:

    Thanks Rico. I’ve read it all now. I knew a little about the Marseille corruption and remember the outcome, but at that time AW and Nice meant nothing to me, oh D…I digress. To our managers credit he had a plan, a very cunning plan right from the beginning of his managerial career, and it would seem he fulfilled some of his ideas or rather honed them before he arrived at Highbury our shower of old public schoolboys and their fags, allowed him to see out his dream and build two new ones, London Colney and The Emirates.
    Given all that has been suggested here, today, strangely in support of The Moronic ones comments, added to some really quite bizarre refereeing decisions or lack of them in some cases, you have to wonder if there is something rotten in the golden egg of the Premier league and its pursuit of munnee wealth, power and position. Especially as we all know, ‘power corrupts’ and “absolute power corrupts absolutely”! The EPL presently has absolute power over all dominions and seeks world domination via its Sky SS platform!
    No matter which way I look at it “there is something rotten in the state of Football” with apologies to the Bard!

  44. Wavy says:

    We need a credible whistle blower if there is something bent is going on.
    Maybe Channel 4 could organise a ‘sting’operation!

  50. Joe says:

    Evening all, You know your clubs in trouble with the PMGO and the FA when leg breaking tackles are let go unpunished I wonder which club that’s been happening for years. 🙂

  53. Joe says:

    Yep how many times have we heard that but that is a ridiculous rule if the ref is inept or curupt unpunished dreadful fouls need to be acted on wheather the officials have seen it or not.

  55. allezkev says:

    So if the referee sees Paul Davis chinning Glenn Cockerill, and for some obscure reason, just books him, that’s OK then, under FA rules…

    Yeah right!!!

  56. allezkev says:

    Rico, the FA can do whatever they like within a football context.
    They just choose not to…
    Call it the easy option or having no bottle, it’s the same thing….

  57. allezkev says:

    Alan Shearer gets away with smashing Neil Lennon in the face, because he is England capt (see Rooney).
    Paul Davis gets, what was it, a 9 game ban?

    Of course, playing for Arsenal makes it easier for the FA to hammer the club, as Arsenal Boards have a habit of laying back and taking it like wossies…

  58. rico says:

    Kev, but can they? The ‘so called’ rules say that if the ref has dealt with the incident it can’t be reviewed…

    A stupid rule of course…

  59. Joe says:

    Atkinson has been dropped for the weekend he is 4th official for the man utd game Friend has been dropped as well and how bad was he yesterday.

  62. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the house.
    Having trouble with keyboard again Rico, have been trying to post all afternoon.
    Very good post today and I will comment shortly.
    First the youth team are at last playing the cup game and are not doing very well.
    One down after 17mins they are under a lot of pressure and are still down after 25.

    Expected to see Beilick play tonight but he is not in the squad. Heard the rumour
    Registration problem???

  63. Joe says:

    It’s strange or is it that the two teams to benefit from some dreadful referring on the weekend just happen to be from the north-east of England where most of the refs come from.
    But then again I am like the guy who wears tinfoil on my head. 🙂
    But until there is some transparency from PMGO and the FA I will keep wearing the tinfoil.

  70. Rick says:

    After I read the Guardian article it dawned on me that I had seen something similar a few years ago.
    I had been given the book Arsene Wenger The Biography .
    It is writen by Xavier Rivoire and published by Aurum Press and the version I have is a translation from french to english.

    It logs Arsene’s career up to 2007 and gives a very good description of the troubles he had at Monico with Tapie of Marseille . I think the Guardian article
    was taken from this book.

  76. tsgh says:

    All gone?

    well, I wonder if Manchester United paying a £6m loan fee for Falcao’s services, and taking on 100 per cent of his £346,000 a week wages was ever worth it?

  80. Joe says:

    Tsgh the Falco fee works out about 20m that’s a lot for a player on loan Wenger could have bought a whole team for that 😉

  83. tsgh says:

    😀 Joe re party.

    Indeed Joe re falcao… i don’t any media outlet saying was right to stay away from Falcao when they thought he would have taken us to the next level….

  84. Joe says:

    But is Falco’s problem LVG I mean Rooney is not scoring unless from penalties earned from diving and RVP is not setting the world on fire.

  85. tsgh says:

    don’t = doubt*

    lol Joe… Nah; Falcao is too one dimensional unlike Cavani who can also play on the flanks…
    Wooney and RvP were on the downward spiral when Moyes was there and Wooney in the last part of Sir Fergie’s reign was as toothless as one of his grannies. 😉

  87. potter says:

    I saw that report on Mourinho’s hypocrisy last night , laughed so much that I couldn’t get to sleep and then got up late this morning. One of the benefits / problems with our new electronic media is that once it’s out there you can’t get it back. A salutary message for the young players with Twitter , Instagram etc . Now it seems that politicians , commentators and pundits, are being hung by their own petards and now football managers are getting caught as well. Brings back a few great parential comments :- 1 , If you can’t say anything nice – Don’t say anything. 2 – Don’t leave Sh1t on your own doorstep ,3 – Be nice to people on your way up because they will kick you on the way down , and lastly from me , put your brain in gear before you open your mouth.

    I am sure you all have many others.

  89. tsgh says:

    ha ha ha… well; I was assuming they were fickle and liked yanited because they were either scared of the old rednose mobster or they liked his scotch laced cups of tea he offered the journo’s who attended his press conferences. 🙂

  90. Joe says:

    On Falco it’s sad to say I have never seen enough of him playing to decide how good he is I know he had 2-3 good seasons at Atletico. But not sure how he did at Monaco but he is not doing well Manu is it due to injury or was it it was because he was happy at Atletico.

  92. allezkev says:

    Nice one Potter…

    Yes Mourinho is a quite appalling human being…
    He might win the EPL, but I doubt that too many outside of SW6 will celebrate…

    I wonder how long it will be before Abramovitch tires of the dwarf dragging Chelskis reputation, such as it is, through the mud?

  93. Joe says:

    Potter I’d just say the man’s a hypocrite but I am wondering will that press conference make it in to main steam media.

  96. allezkev says:

    Rick, when you think about it, both Borehamwood and Barnet are on the doorstep of London Colney. That, I think, is the reason the club play the stiffs and youths up that way…
    Convenience…

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