WHO ARE YA? ARSENAL MAD OR JUST MAD?

April 10, 2013

Arsenal Arsenal Isometric Test: Don’t cheat!  Be brutally honest about yourself!

The test is pretty accurate and it only takes a few minutes.

There are 10 Simple questions, so grab a pencil and paper.  Record your letter answers to each question and then compare with the answer table.

1. When  do you feel at your best?…
A)   in the morning
B)  during  the afternoon and early evening
C)  late at night
2.   You usually  walk?….
A)   fairly fast, with long steps
B)   fairly fast, with little steps
C)   less fast head up, looking the world in  the face
D)  less fast, head  down
E)  very slowly
3.  When talking to people you?…
A)   stand with your arms folded
B)   have your hands clasped
C)   have one or both your hands on your  hips
D)  touch or push the person  to whom you are talking
E)    play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth  your hair
4.  When relaxing, you sit with?..
A)  your knees bent with your legs neatly side by  side
B)  your legs  crossed
C)  your legs stretched  out or straight
D)  one leg curled  under you
5. Something really amuses you, you react with?…
A)  big appreciative laugh
B)  a laugh, but not a loud one
C)  a quiet chuckle
D)  a sheepish smile
6.   When  you go to a party or social gathering  you?…
A)  make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
B)  make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
C)  make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed
7.  You’re  working very hard, concentrating hard and you’re interrupted, you?…
A)   welcome the break

B)   feel extremely irritated
C)   vary between these two extremes
8.   Which of the following colors do you like most….
A)   Red or orange
B)   black
C)  yellow or light  blue
D)  green
E)  dark blue or purple
F)  white
G) brown or gray
9.   When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are…..
A)   stretched out on your back
B)   stretched out face down on your  stomach
C)   on your side, slightly curled
D)   with your head on one arm
E)   with your head under the covers
10.  You often dream that you are…
A)   falling
B)   fighting or struggling
C)   searching for something or somebody
D)   flying or floating
E)   you usually have dreamless sleep
F)   your dreams are always pleasant

SCORING POINTS: 
1.   (a) 2     (b) 4      (c) 6
2.  (a) 6     (b)  4     (c) 7     (d)  2   (e) 1
3.   (a) 4     (b) 2      (c) 5     (d) 7   (e)  6
4.  (a) 4     (b) 6      (c) 2     (d)  1
5.  (a) 6     (b) 4      (c) 3     (d) 5    (e) 2
6.  (a) 6     (b)  4     (c) 2
7.  (a) 6      (b) 2     (c)  4
8.   (a) 6     (b) 7      (c) 5     (d) 4    (e) 3      (f) 2     (g)  1
9.  (a) 7     (b) 6      (c) 4     (d) 2     (e ) 1
10 (a) 4     (b)  2     (c) 3     (d) 5      (e) 6     (f)  1

Now add up your total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS:   Other bloggers see you as someone they should “handle with care.”  You’re seen as vain, self-centred and extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you but don’t always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS:  Fellow bloggers see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality, a natural leader who’s quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones.  They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once, someone, who takes chances and enjoys an adventure.  They enjoy being in your blogging company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS:   Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who’s constantly the centre of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head.  They also see you as kind, considerate and understanding; someone who’ll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS:  Other AAers see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted or talented but modest.  Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who’s extremely loyal to friends you do make, and who expects the same loyalty in return.  Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS:  Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy.  They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder.  It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS:    People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn’t want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don’t exist.  Some people think you’re boring.  Only those who know you well know that you aren’t.

Right – now that you have worked out what your scores/attributes are, can you put fellow bloggers into categories where you think they belong?

Written by Red Arse

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Posted by Rasp

Arsenal’s Keeper Teaser and Teeming Midfield

April 9, 2013

I heard on a reputable podcast that Arsenal have made a bid for Asmir Begovic, Stoke’s much-in-demand goalkeeper. The claim was made by a well-informed journalist who went on to say that Chelsea have already made two bids and that Begovic will move there in summer, if true, this raises a few talking points:

Why are Arsenal looking at a new GK?

Why are AFC playing Fabianksi when his contract is running down and there is no talk of a renewal?

Given that Begovic is just 25, it would indicate that AW has little confidence in Szczesny and sees him as a No.2. Why?

And lastly, if true, why do the Chavs always steal our transfer targets??

Another area for discussion is how the team will line up on Saturday for the game against Norwich. AW intimated that both Theo and Little Jack Wilshire will be playing. Given the excellence of Rosicky and Ramsey at WBA, should they be dropped?

I cannot see an easy solution to our midfield combinations. Arteta and Cazorla are certain starters in every game (unless fatigued) which assuming a 4-4-3 means there is just one midfield place available with 3 very good players vying for it. Wilshire has to be the front-runner for the shirt; he is a brilliant player and adds much to the team, but we have looked better without him! And then there is Coquelin, who will surely leave in summer if he does’t get more pitch time – 2 minutes at WBA will not satisfy his ambitions – or will Coquelin inherit Arteta’s position?

Unknown

Is Wilshere tall enough to do this?

We have been winning playing a 4-4-2 with Gervinho regularly moving across the attack. His unpredictability adds some much needed “chaos” to the more prosaic work of Giroud. In my opinion, we have missed Walcott, our top scorer and a much improved contributor to the team. Not often mentioned is how TW works much harder tracking back and tackling, he tends to be attacking from deeper as a result.

Rosicky is one of our favourite players. I only know one fan who doesn’t love this guy (you know who you are!), and why? Because this is another player who plays with a smile on his face, and he has the drive necessary to propel his team. Whenever TR7 gets the ball he moves forward – none of the tick-tacky for Tomacz, he wants to get the ball into the box as quickly as possible. Mr Wenger said the other day that “

“He’s (TR7) such an important player who turns the game forward, brings movement into the game, makes a game look simple and you feel when he has the ball that something can always happen. Not many players have that in their locker.

“Before he played too far away from the box. I always played him wide but I put him in a position where he is more central now. He’s more dangerous to score.”

But will Rosicky start on Saturday? I doubt it.

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Form Guide For The Run-In: Chelsea Our Real Challenger?

April 8, 2013

There has been a theme running through the comments section of Arsenal Arsenal recently to the effect that in our pursuit of a top four place we are more likely to overtake Chelsea than the Spuds. I fear that might be wrong.

The Chavs, so the argument goes, are in a state of backroom disarray, with a manager who is hated by the supporters, unloved by the owner and who knows he’s leaving at the end of the season.

They are also still in two cup competitions (the FA Cup and the No-hoper Cup) and it’s possible that Rafa Benitez – who is undoubtedly thinking hard about his next job – cares more about getting one of those cups on his CV rather than scraping fourth in the league.

To cap it all, it’s worth remembering that the Chavs were only the sixth best team in the EPL last season (even though they claimed the dubious honour of becoming the worst team ever to win the Champions League).

The Spuds, on the other hand, are generally agreed to have put together a decent squad and look to have a sense of purpose under Andre Villas-Boas. And with Gareth Bale they have a player who can get them out of trouble when things are not clicking.

True, their talismanic simian is out with an injured paw, but it seems he may be back in time for their next league fixture.

Concensus conclusion: if we can keep our form going we have a better chance of overtaking the Chavs than the Spuds.

However, that theory does not take recent form into account.

The form table for the Premier League for the last six games looks like this:

chart 3

Despite Chelsea’s apparent problems behind the scenes and a couple of embarrassing defeats, they are clearly on a decent run of form. Crucially, when they don’t lose they tend to win rather than draw.

The Spuds, meanwhile, are 10th in the Form Table behind clubs including Southampton and Wigan. They have the same points haul from the last six games as four of the teams above them – but the “goals for and against” drops them to 10th – and that is also relevant for the run-in: they are scoring fewer and letting in more than the teams around them in the form table.

If you want to be brutal, you would say that all the signs are in place for the ancient N17 springtime tradition known as “the late season choke.”  I don’t necessarily buy into that theory, but I do feel the Spuds have the harder challenge.

What the Form Table suggests to me is that the Chavs have more momentum than the Spuds and will continue to stay ahead of them. I expect them to narrowly beat the Lily-Livereds when the two teams get round to playing their postponed fixture.

Therefore I think it will be harder for us to overtake our Blue rivals than our White ones.

Of course it’s going to require a hell of a lot of consistency and focus from Arsenal to overtake either in the run-in.

And while it’s gratifying to see us in second place in the Form Table, the table also highlights some cause for concern: Fulham are on a fine run and one of our remaining away games is at the Cottage; and Wigan – a team that only ever seem to be galvanised by an end of season relegation battle – are also doing well and are yet to come to the Emirates.

This is not meant as a “prediction piece”. The only thing I will predict with confidence is that there will be many more surprise results and twists and turns before the thing is done.

I feel we have a chance of getting third, but – if we qualify for next year’s Champions League – it is more likely to be in fourth place at the expense of one of our London competitors. And I believe that it’s more likely that the team to slip to fifth in those circumstances would be the Spuds, not the Chavs.

What do you think?

RockyLives

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Posted by RockyLives

Boing Boing : Rosicky Wins It

April 7, 2013

Away at the Hawthorns was never looking like a comfortable ride, Arsenal were liking to make it three wins aim a row in the Premier Legue and put ourselves 4th and breathing down the necks of Spurs.

Wenger named an unnamed side, which given the performance at home to Reading seemed a fair thing to do.

The thing I like most about this midfield is its fluidity, Gervinho, Cazorla and Rosicky take themselves across the pitch, which means that even an organised defence like WBA’s has trouble tracking runs.

ros 3

The first goal being a case in point, Arteta floated a perfectly weighted pass into the penalty area, Gervinho had run from inside right to the left side if the penalty area to collect unchallenged despite 4/5 defenders being close by and only Giroud for company, not one for rushing Gervinho waited for support finally cutting back and aiming a cross come shot to the fat post, Rosicky had joined the attack and arrived unmarked to head home from the 6 yard box.

This wasn’t Rosicky’s first action of the half having earlier cleared off the line with a very good header. In truth the Arsenal goal had come against the run of play, Fabianski had already been called into action but generally the new found defensive strength was holding strong.

We did seem to apply the handbrake after the goal and attacks were infrequent, Gervinho forcing Foster to save well with his feet and after fantastic interplay round the box by Santi and Giroud, Ramsey missed when it seemed easier to score. His recent performances have deserved a goal.

Half time 1-0 up and half job done.

Soon after the restart Rosicky had doubled the advantage, collecting a ball by Ramsey to fire a shot that Foster saved well, Rosicky followed in his own shot and fired low and hard past Foster. The celebration said it all.

Seemingly coasting to the win this wouldn’t be Arsenal unless they put us through the mill a bit, and this they did when the BFG found himself out of position for the first time in the afternoon and lunged to prevent Long collecting and going through on goal unchallenged. Red card and penalty, it is easy to argue that Per should have let Long continue but that’s a big ask of even the most calm of defenders.

A fraught half hour or so followed as WBA with crowd full of support bombarded the box in search of an equaliser. We managed to hold firm and the backslapping at the final whistle showed how important this game was.

Ratings

Fabianski 6.5 – some good shot stops, but a bit weak on crosses and kicking was weak this afternoon.

Sagna 6.5 – crossing poor, slightly out of position when BFG forced to bring down Long

Koscielny – 8 solid performance

Mertesacker – 6.5 losing 1 point for not staying in his feet

Monreal 7 – starting to settle in PL

Arteta 7 – quiet and efficient performance

Ransey – 8 another solid showing and a goal sure to come soon

Rosicky – 8.5 MotM two goals, one goal line clearance.

Cazorla – 7.5 quieter day for the Spanish magician

Gervinho – 8 stretched WBA with his pace and movement

Giroud – 7 quiet day for the big man, worked hard as ever.

Subs

Gibbs – 7 steady

Vermaelen – 7.5 held firm for last thirty minutes

Coquelin – 6.5 quiet

Written by Gooner in Exile

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Posted by Gööner In Exile

Wishing and Hoping. WBA away.

April 6, 2013

Have you noticed a spring in the Gooners step since winning in Munich? Suddenly this new Arsenal is not the shoddy bunch of lazy artisans just trotting around and picking up money for nothing (and chicks for free), No, this is a team focussed and able to get a Top 4 spot – possibly even top 3.

images-1

The 4th Place Trophy. Currently residing  in N.17 😀

But let’s hold hard a second. Nothing has changed  – or has it? Has our defence tightened up with the dropping of TV and the addition of Monreal? Has our midfield improved with the loss of Wilshere and the injury to Diaby? Are we better without Theo?

Time will tell.

So, today we take on the mighty WBA ably led by Braniac Steve Clarke. Roy Hodgson took WBA to 10th, Clarke has taken them up to 8th, which for a small club is a job well done. IF WBA win today it will be their most victories in a season in the PL. WBA’s home record is just one point worse than ours, only 4 teams have won at the Hawthorns and as such I have concerns about this game. That said, they have won just 3 of their last 12 games. A draw seems likely.

We all know about the new “Drogba”, Lukaku, who is going to be a major star over the coming years; can BFG and Kos handle him? I hope so.

But as always, it is not how WBA play, it is how Arsenal do. The optimism created over the last couple of months has been grounded in improved teamwork and application. In Raddy’s opinion, the 4-4-2 is allowing Santi  the space he requires to influence any game he plays in – he has become an essential player in this team, which is remarkable considering this is his first season. A brilliant buy by Mr.Wenger.

This is the type of game which Ramsey will enjoy –  a midfield battle. I cannot see WBA parking the bus, nor can I see them being gung ho, what I expect is a tough game with us controlling the ball. Gervinho’s unpredictability, both in his possession and his positioning, was important against Reading, he will cause anyone problems should he repeat his performance – but will he? Who knows? Not Gervinho, not his team-mates, not the fans, nor his manager.

My Team:

brom v arse

I am assuming Wilshere, Monreal and Walcott are not quite ready to start but even if they were I would go with the above team (perhaps JW for TR7). I would love to see Podolski get more starts but Rosicky is the better midfielder and in an away fixture he has to be the safer bet.

Today’s English Explorer: Frederick Lugard, later Baron Lugard (1858 – 1945) soldier, mercenary, African explorer and administrator. Fred was a different type of explorer to those we have read about this this season, basically he was a soldier who went through Africa freeing slaves and kicking two colours out of anyone in his path, setting up Britain as the pre-eminent colonial power in Africa. It should be recalled that Britain’s great wealth wasn’t just created by brave fellows going out alone with a knapsack and a compass, it was also built through the gun and violence – Freddie was an expert.

Unknown

Iron fist in a Velvet glove – Harder than PV4

Following a stellar military career he became the first Governor of Hong Kong where he founded the University of Hong Kong, then Governor of Nigeria where he attempted to put an end to the slave trade between the African nations (it being abolished in Europe). Highly decorated as a soldier Lugard was first knighted and then became a Baron. He died childless at the age of 87.

This is another huge game, not just because of the 3 points but also because of the rising level of hope and expectation surrounding the team.

And as we all know ….. it is the Hope that hurts .

COYRRG

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Short Term Form and Knee Jerk Criticism

April 5, 2013

During our poor start to the season and generally throughout the season Arsène Wenger has faced many criticisms, one regular complaint is about players we should’ve or could’ve signed.

I myself don’t mind a bit of “I’d like to see him in an Arsenal shirt” chat from time to time…..but unlike Arsène I only have MotD highlights, and media hype to go by.

Remember when we drew with Fulham at home and Arsène received much ridicule for claiming not to know Berbatov was available? I’m sure you do everyone was laughing, everyone ignored Gary Neville’s article on the subject supporting Arsene’s answer.

Anyway at that stage Berbatov was setting Fulham alight and earning all the plaudits in the press…”if only we had signed him” came the cries from the disenchanted. 5 goals, 3 assists in 7 games, Fulham had a bargain, what has been largely ignored is since then he has amassed a grand total of 8 goals and 0 assists from 20 games, and for the 7 games immediately after their trip to the Emirates he managed 0 goals and 0 assists. It should also be noted that apart from his first appearance of the season he has started every game he has appeared in.

Have a glance to the stats on the right and look at Olivier Giroud, 10 goals and 3 assists in the PL from 29 appearances, only 17 of which have been starting appearances. Should Arsene have bought a 32 year old known to be lazy centre forward or a keen and willing 26 year old?

On the stats and looking further ahead than the end of summer of 2012 I’d say he probably made the right decision.

I’m sure if I did a bit of digging through the stats of other players I would find similar dips in form, but I ask all those that moaned about us not signing Berbatov, do you think the criticism was justified? And do you still want him now?

Gooner in Exile

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Posted by Gööner In Exile

The Ideal Arsenal Owner

April 4, 2013

Barely a day passes in the comments section without mention of our owner, Stan Kroenke.

Arsenal began life as a Mutually Owned Club under the name of Royal Arsenal. Our first sole owner was Henry Norris who engineered the move to Highbury in 1913. As we know, the poor fella had to quit to “spend more time with his family” as a result of some minor financial irregularities.

Then, along came the Hill-Woods (Samuel) and Bracewell Smiths (Sir, MP and Lord Mayor). In short, Samuel passed his stake down to Denis and then, he in turn, passed these on down to our current Chairman, Peter. Things got to their present state after Peter flogged his lot to the likes of Dein and Fiszman, and we end up where we are now with Kroenke on 66.76% and Usmanov on 29.9%.

So that’s a little history. So, what would we like right now from an owner?

It seems to me that there are two ways of going about this. The pie in sky fantasy approach, or the let’s face it, this is the real world we are talking about, and therefore the most likely. I can do both.

Being honest, that snake Norris did us proud didn’t he. Then again, the Hill-Wood Dynasty is what really turned the Club into the institution that it is today. They added The Marble Halls and gave us that aristocratic edge that has enabled us to look down our noses at absolutely everyone ever since. This may not sit comfortably with communists and revolutionaries, but it is a fact.

Alas, here we are in the modern era with The Kroenke “Sort”. I have to say, that I like the non-interfering type of owner, and whenever I hear the “couldn’t he just buy us two or three world class players”, I think, well where do you stop, why not sell out to someone you know will plough ego money into the place and be done with it.

Then, I think back to our roots and remember that we started out as a Mutually Owned Club, and think….Barca’ish? Fantasy. Naughty, but nice.

Doesn’t our present Chairman, Peter Hill-Wood, have a squillionaire Grandson? That’ll do me. Best of both worlds.

Written by MickyDidIt89

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Posted by Rasp

The next four games will define Arsenal’s season

April 3, 2013

Obviously in our current predicament and if we want to qualify for CL we must win a fair few of our last 8 games, many of us believe 7 wins would do it, that would see us on 74 points which should be enough for fourth, and possibly even third given the run ins of Spurs and Chelsea.

But for me the next four games hold the most important key to our success.

Here are the dates and respective fixtures for the three contenders for the remaining CL spots:

Sat 6th April
WBA v Arsenal
Sun 7th April
Spuds v Everton
Chavs v Sunderland
Saturday 13th April
Arsenal v Norwich
Tuesday 16th April
Arsenal v Everton
Wednesday 17th April
Fulham v Chavs
Saturday 20th April
Fulham v Arsenal
Sunday 21st April
Spuds v Northern Oilers
Dipper v Chavs

The change in the schedule has come from the FA Cup progression by Chelsea which has led to the postponement of their match against Spuds on 14th April.

So assuming everyone wins on 6th and 7th, we have the chance to narrow the gap to Spurs to 1 point when we play Norwich at home on the 13th and go 1 point above Chelsea, we will then have played same number of games as Spurs and one more than Chelsea.

Spurs P32 60
Arsenal P32 59
Chelsea P31 58

Then assuming we and Chelsea win on 16th and 17th we will be 2 points ahead of Spurs, and remain 1 ahead of Chelsea.

Arsenal P33 62
Chelsea P32 61
Spurs P32 60

If we can beat Fulham on 20th April, Chelsea and Spuds will go in to their tricky fixtures on 21st 4 and 5 points behind respectively, okay Spurs will both have two games in hand by then, but the pressure will have been transferred onto them as the chasers going into two difficult fixtures.

After 20th April

Arsenal P34 65
Chelsea P32 61
Spurs P32 60

So thats 4 must win games for us, and we will hear the squeaks from N17 to SW6 on 21st April. If neither win on the Sunday the game in hand is irrelevant and we will maintain 3rd even if they win their games in hand.

Written by Gooner in Exile

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Posted by Gööner In Exile

Arsène or DidIt’s Theory of Three.

April 2, 2013

Come in, sit down and listen in. I have a Theory.

If I was allowed to make only one criticism of Arsenal sides of recent seasons, it would be the lack of a stand out Leader. It strikes me that Arsene has a “we are all in it together” kind of approach, and that he believes in a collective sense of responsibility. Well, I don’t.

For me this “collective sense” might work if you have a red faced Ferguson type of Manager with bouts of extremely high blood pressure, but I have a feeling that Arsene is simply too nice, and that the worst that might happen on the back of a poor performance would be an extra long “chat” after the game.

Now, talking of “chats”, we all know that on the back of a recent poor performance, our Big F-F-F-Friendly German instigated a “chat” of his own. I imagine this included some defenders, and perhaps even the goalkeeper as well. In other words, those around him on the field of play.

It is easy to hide from a collective responsibility when at stake is the overall performance, whereas in reality, the game is made up of smaller elements. Usually groups of three.

Before anyone gets shirty, I’m not talking about the little footballing tippy-tappy triangles of three, I am talking about Triangles of Accountability. This is where an individual player can be held directly responsible for a defensive or offensive breakdown by two others, not some Winger lurking in some distant corner of the ground.

For example, if Arteta is playing on the left side of a two man midfield with Ramsey, then much of his work on his left, will be with Gerv and Nacho (subject to team selection) and then to his right, with Ramsey and Santi going forwards, or Ramsey and Kos when defending centrally.

Overall what I’m getting at is not some kind of localized blame culture, but a system of responsibility broken down into much smaller groups. Of course there is fluidity in any Arsene side, but there is also structure, and within that I see these little patterns. Each player is a part of a number of threes depending on the period of play.

As I said, this is not about the football itself, rather managing leadership.

I will now read this back to myself and see whether or not there is any mileage in what I’m saying.

Mmmm, not sure really, but you could have a “chat” of your own about Leadership and Accountability if you want.

Written by MickyDidIt89

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Arsène and Martin: A Tale of Two Managers

April 1, 2013

There was widespread surprise yesterday when it was revealed that Martin O’Neill had been fired as manager of Sunderland with just seven games left in the season.

Surely losing away to the champions elect can’t have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, making the decision even odder.

I’ll admit to liking Martin O’Neill.  He learnt his trade under Brian Clough and has had a mostly successful career as a manager until recently. He is an engaging pundit when he does TV work and his passion for football is plain for all to see. I also liked his sense of priorities when he took a break from football to nurse his sick wife.

So it’s a shame that his career has, finally, been knifed in the back.

The question is, whose fingerprints are on the blade?

The simple answer is the Sunderland owner, Ellis Short. But I think we need to look beyond the obvious. The real culprit may well, in fact, be a certain lanky Frenchman with well-documented zipper issues.

Yes, Arsène Wenger – je t’accuse!

When Arsène arrived in English football (famously heralded as “Arsène Who?” by the London Evening Standard), Martin O’Neill was enjoying real success as manager of Leicester City, having already made his name at Wycombe Wanderers.

He was a “bright young thing” and was often mentioned as future manager of England – or of top clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal.

The problem for O’Neill was that Wenger’s arrival betokened the dawn of a new, technical style of football – not just for Arsenal, but for the English game as a whole.

The Irishman, however, was a standard bearer for the old style of English football – a style based on defensive solidity, hard work and direct play.

At the time, O’Neill’s approach was the prevailing one and the struggle between the styles was not even automatically obvious. But in the years since, helped by the increasing importance of the Champions League and the influx of “technical” players from abroad, the old style has become more and more obsolete.

I’m afraid to say that O’Neill, for all his qualities, has now become a creature out of time. A dodo in an age of swifts.

When he took over at Sunderland and we played them last season, it was immediately obvious that he had done what he always does: he got them working hard for each other, got them well organized at the back and made them – as pundits like to say – “hard to beat.”

The problem is, that’s not good enough any more in the Premier League. Arsene’s revolution has taken time, but his approach to how the game should be played is now reflected in a majority of EPL teams.

And it’s no surprise that the managers most associated with the “old” style of play are finding their fortunes on the slide.

Phil Brown has gone; Fat Sam is defying gravity for the time being at West Ham but for how long?; Tony Pulis and his Orcs are heading towards a relegation fight… and now Martin O’Neill is out, leaving his Sunderland team one point above the relegation zone.

Meanwhile the new generation of Premiership coaches – with the likes of Laudrup, Martinez, Hughton, Rogers and Clarke in the vanguard – is claiming the aesthetic as well as the results high ground.

Obviously this theory is a simplification, but it’s one that has truth in it, I feel.

O’Neill and Wenger – only three years apart in age – have both lived through a period of massive change in English football. Interestingly, both have been stubborn and refused to substantially change their styles.

The difference is that Wenger’s style was the way of the modern world game and he was at the forefront of implementing it here. O’Neill’s was the style that served the English domestic game well for a long time but saw us consistently fail at international level and gradually slip behind the rest of Europe at club level.

I’m not sure Arsène Wenger will ever fully get the credit he deserves for changing the English game. Perhaps one day.

As for O’Neill – I wish him well for the future. Where that future lies, who knows? Perhaps back in Scotland. Perhaps in the lower leagues in England. Perhaps this proud man will just decide that it’s time to step away from all the stress and make a comfortable living from television punditry.

RockyLives

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