Morning all.
Not sure what happened yesterday but please, let’s not start fighting amongst ourselves or flinging mud at each other just because we don’t agree. As for the AKB name calling, jeeze, that’s so old now and to be honest, quite boring.
The ‘thanks for the memories’ banner – is it such a big deal?
We live in a land of free speech, so that’s exactly what a few fans did at Hull. It’s funny really because so many of us here have said it would be wrong for fans to vent their feelings during a game, preferring such action to take place after the final whistle, when we’ve lost our Bet365 online offers, and that’s exactly what the group of fans did so where is the problem?
I’m sure we’d all prefer not to see banners waved around during any match but the owner, board and manager are all culpable for leading the club to the place it sits right now….
Anyway, today is a new day…..
Thank goodness the manager gave us all a bit of good news yesterday and no, I don’t mean Aaron Ramsey being out for quite a while. I mean Gabriel and Mertesacker being fit for the weekend and Laurent Koscielny should be back for the next match. Both Santi and Jack are close to returning too, very close apparently and the home league fixture against Watford is rumoured to be the game which is on April 2nd and that’s not too far away. Just three games more…..
The return of the little Spaniard will be a huge boost, it really will as the team have seriously missed him, especially Coquelin. Jack Wilshere will be out to prove himself too as no doubt his mind will firmly be set on proving his fitness to Roy Hodgson ahead of the Euros this summer.
In other news, Thierry Henry has his UEFA A licence, allowing him to manage in any league, barring the top division but once he completes his pro licence, he can be let loose in the Premier League.
So could he be the next Arsenal manager?
Very few players go on to manage the club they played for but perhaps the most successful has been Pep Guardiola who having played for Barcelona, went on to lift many a trophy with his old club as a manager. He was just 37 years old when he stepped into management on one of the biggest stages in football.
Thierry Henry is 38 years old, so could he be the one being groomed to step into Arsene Wenger’s shoes in the summer of 2017? It worked for Pep, it could work for Thierry and after listening to him sat in the pundits chair for Sky Sports, surely he’d be foolish not to address the squads needs having told viewers who and in what positions it’s lacking…
But would you be happy if one of the best players Arsenal have ever had became the clubs manager?
Nice post rico…. Mr Henry then.. interseting could he be a pep yes very possible he certainly has the the passion and he seems to be frustrated like the rest of us.
Did pep manage anyone before barca? I don’t know.
I don’t think so Kel, Barca was his first…
After Barca B that is…
Will someone please punch that little ginger tosser Scholes VERY HARD!
Morning all.
Interesting post Rico.
I think Pep did a bit of an apprenticeship in one of the lower Spanish leagues before he was snuffled up by Barca, but I can’t remember where! (Too lazy to google it!)
Henry would be wise to do the same before reaching the hallowed Emirates turf. Iron out and sharpen the little strategies that make the ‘difference’ between good and bad. We don’t want another McLaren scenario at our clip we want a polished diamond not a rough uncut one! Henry? Will he make the grade? He has a chance. He talks a good game, seems quite astute and is sufficiently bright to mould himself into ‘his own man’ when in charge, I think. The only criticism I have is that he is too much covered in ink!
Just another ex player who thinks he knows everything Iceman….
Just maybe rico he is the answer, I’m a bit undecided on that tbh. I can see the possibilities with Henry as you say he talks about what this team needs quite often so I’m sure he’ll spend lol.
I think Stan wood be worried though his cash cow might go through a few yrs of transition with an inexperienced manager. I think he’d go for an established name imo.
I checked Wavy, he only managed the Barca B team before the first team. Maybe Henry will manage the under 21’s next season whilst waiting for AW’s contract to expire…
I bet Stan doesn’t have a clue who to sign up Kel, no doubt someone else will have to make the decision…
If we had to stick or twist this Summer with wenger or Henry. How would yous feel?
That’s a tough call . It’s too early imo for Henry, but too late for Wenger…
Rico – ‘everything’ + ex players = diddly squat. Amazing how so many great footballers turn out to be complete arsewipes…Platini, Scholes, Thompson – oh shit, sorry, I meant great, not grating!
I believe that Pep looked after the Barca youth team. I can remember an interview with him where he said that he spoke to LaPorta when Rijkaard was leaving and dared him to give him the opportunity. He did and it all worked out rather well. He should have been the next Arsenal manager really.
Ivan will be primarily in charge of finding and appointing the new manager but I would think he will take advice too. I cannot believe that he hasn’t got a shortlist including a few young foreign coaches. Teuchel perhaps? I can’t see any reason why Stan would get involved.
TH could be just the injection of modernity the club needs but he would have to curb his massive ego somewhat.
You only have to watch SS’s to see that Iceman. It’s full of them..
Tony Cascerino (spelling) has just made some sense though. Talking about Arsenal’s hash of winning the PL this season, he said, it’s not just about Arsenal, many other clubs should be wondering why they aren’t in with a shout of winning it…
Yes Adam, Barca B as said above…
McClaren sacked. Rafa replacing him which is a odd one….
Hope TH hasn’t learned too much from AW Adam… lol
Yes Adam Tuchel is a very good shout looks a very good manager I also agree with what you said about Henry needing to curb his ego lol..
I think Rafa is a great appointment for Newcastle.
Rico. Henry has been vocal in his criticism of Arsenal and Wenger. I suppose it might work but there are other candidates. BVB have done rather well since Klopp left and should have beaten Spurs by six goals last night. Whether you could prise Teuchel away though is another matter.
What about your favourite Roberto Martinez? 🙂
Morning, I still favour Bergkamp at this moment in time, has learned from people like Van gaal, Cryuff, Wenger and currently no 2 to de boer, is going in the right direction. Bergkamp understands Arsenal. He knows what it means to represent the club and wear the cannon on his chest. has a winning mentality, playing along side Adams Keown, Viera.
he could be the natural successor.
Bad spelling. Kel’s is better. It is Tuchel.
Dublin. But he doesn’t fly. Surely that makes him a non-starter?
Could be good for us too as he might get Newcastle up for Monday night when they play Leicester…
It’s quite rare that a great player, an icon, goes on to become a great manager, especially a great manager at their old club…
Frank McLintock and Tony Adams were two, who many Arsenal fans thought would one day be a successful manager, and hopefully at Arsenal, but both failed…
George Graham is one, George Swindin, Jack Crayston and of course Tom Whittaker, all ex-players who managed Arsenal…
He has Adam, it’ll be interesting to see where the club go really. Just hope they sort it in the summer but I fear it’ll be same old same old next season…
Or de Boer and Dennis Dublin?
I will not tolerate bad spelling…
Be careful Kev or I will ring you using my Haary Kane voice. 🙂
Could do, Rico, It could hinder but I don’t believe Bergkamp’s aviophobia should rule him out from a managerial role at a top European club. As a player he was able to travel by car to most away games in the Champions League and repeatedly stated it did not impact his performance on the pitch.
Therefore long distance drives should certainly not be a problem as manager.
???
Kev, a bit like the Academy, one’s got to be good one day… 😉
I’d love to see him at Arsenal in the dugout Dublin, in any capacity…
Comedy genius McLaren has left the building.
Very likeable hard working, Rico, could adapt to different styles as a player, im sure could it as a manager, especially in England, and would never bring the club into disrepute
Watched a bit of United last night, how the f**k did that team beat us,
Crises talks within the club, seriously the players need to have a good look at themselves, and be up for every single game from now till season end, no more bullshit.
Good Afternoon Chips and Chops.
To manage or not to manage?? That is Gazidis plugging away a daisy flower when he mulls over a Chicken Stew, a glass of wine and the question whether TH14 is fit to take over after AW.
Aye Rico….you set the question and we thank you for it.
Imo……the answer is no. There is a very big difference between playing and being a legend to doing a Uefa ‘A’ course and passing it successfully, to actually managing a group of players in a club. Doing a technical;/tactical exercise with a tutor on the training grounds with a group of under21 players is totally different to managing a team where there is a firebrand similar to Cantona, Keane or Ibrahimovic whose ego is bigger than TH to the power of 10.
And actually getting your ideas across as a player is totally different to getting your ideas across as a manager. And being an idol/legend doing what the manager tells you is totally different than being a manager and getting your message across.
Geddit???
I still feel that TH14 needs to manage a smaller club first. He might be employed on reputation alone. And that is not enough the in the day to day bread and butter.
Why not go for someone like Tuchel? Or Koeman?
Look at Pocchettino. He managed Southampton then off to the spuddies.
And at the end of the day…….PV04 worked under tactical managers. TH14 worked the majority of his career under AW and PG…..two managers who do not do much tactics.
Still can’t believe we lost either….
DG….the moment that Theo opened his mouth and talked about crisis talks between the players of which AW KNEW NOTHING……told me everything I wanted to know.
That at the end of the day THERE IS a schism between manager and players. I am sorry but a team near the top of the league, fighting to win and they tell me that the senior players needed to meet secretly to gee themselves up??? Bollocks. That confirms that AW has no motivation or no contact with the team.
Did it honestly need 4 senior pros, two of which are not even playing to gee everyone up to put their mind on the task??
Pleeeeeeeaaaassseeeee!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not a fan of Koeman, he’s not done that well at Southampton Devil…
Good point Devil
Reading vs Crystal Palace, this evening, you supporting the local team Rico?
Well said Rico, “the return of the little Spaniard will be a huge boost” … but more so for Ozil because Santi amazingly controls the ball which allows Ozil to move into space and he delivers the ball much quicker than the rest; thus, teams cannot mark Ozil effectively making the attack much better…..What about PV04 as the manager with Bergkamp as his #2, since Dennis doesn’t fly….then again he does walk on water………
I certainly am Kev. Another semi-final against them would be good… 😉
Can’t wait for his return Obi…
Yes Rico, that would be good, and Everton in the Final…
Or the other way around Kev… Lol
Catch up tomorrow guys..
Yeah Rico me too. Even if he’s at 75%, he’s a lot better than most.
Apologies if I mentioned this before but a good mate of mine met Thierry last September at a bank conference , he was the guest speaker on the day, came across as a very nice bloke with interesting things to say on life in general, he spoke about management, doing his badges & his assistant role as coach for the Arsenal U-18’s, still had many ambitions he wanted to fulfil, who know’s what the future holds, the funny thing is I’m sure Thierry would jump at the chance of sitting in the dug-out for a few games between now and the end of the season if the olive branch was offered but I guess he’ll just have to slum it out in the posh seats for now…………lifes a bitch eh !
Where’s our resident Straylian today ! You keeping your powder dry for Watford Scott !
Watford first… next, Reading impossible now
Jm, I’d take Custard Palace all day long ! Really think we’re gonna blow Watford away !
Time for my bunk…..nite Gooners.
So Stan is brining the LA Rams to London then you’d have to assume the Emirates.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-los-angeles-rams-international-games-20160311-story.html
I can’t wait Kel.. 😉
Oh joy.
Morning Rico, Kel and all.
How rude of me… lol
Morning Kel, Adam and all…
morning adam, rico. ..
Yeah can’t wait myself lol 🙂 its probably a good thing though to help the Arsenal brand in the states, the weakest part of Arsenal’s financial’s was commercial.
I think the spuds previously announced something about Nfl games in their new stadium.
And Arsenal are off to ‘Ramland’ in the summer aren’t they?
Little bit frustrating to read former Arsenal shareholder farhad moshiri is wanting to back martinez in the transfer market.
Pity he couldn’t invest in us..
Yeah rico it looks like they are, I do think Arsenal should have been going to the states a long time ago they missed a trick there imo. Utd, Chelsea, Real, Barca seen the opportunity yrs ago and cashed in.
Shame Usmanov doesn’t Kel….
I read somewhere that AW was never keen to go too far during the pre-season so maybe that’s why the club have never been to the States. Someone clearly convinced him otherwise recently…
I think he preferred the Austrian training camp if memory serves me right I’m sure he had his reasons tho.
New post up now..
Let’s be honest, travelling where they do hardly offers strong opposition, it’s all about commercial stuff and money making I guess…