Firstly, it is important to say Mr David Wagner has not kicked the bucket, he has not shuffled off this mortal coil, nor has he run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. No, he has “chosen” to leave his club.
Wagner seems a good chap; honest, passionate. hard working and highly intelligent. Importantly, when he talks he is understandable – could one of our problems lie in the awful English spoken by Emery? I don’t understand him so why should the players?
His departure highlights just how difficult and pressurised a job being a PL manager is, it also highlights just how resilient Mr. Wenger is/was. Wagner has been the most successful manager of Huddersfield Town since Herbert Chapman (almost), yet he clearly feels he is failing his team and club.
If you massively over-achieve in your first season, as keeping H’field in the PL must be considered, when you are unable to repeat this miracle should you leave “by mutual consent”? Surely it makes sense to set yourself and your team reasonable and achievable goals. Competing with teams who have a bigger budget, fanbase, squad etc etc.is inevitably difficult, there are always 3 losers.
Will bringing in one of the usual candidates – Fat Sam, Pulis, Moyes, Hughes etc etc – help? No, it won’t. H’field are doomed.
Has Wagner received a better offer? A mid-table club in Spain/Germany who need a mid-season boost? It seems unlikely because he seems to be an honourable man, as such it must be the pressure. I cannot imagine how one copes. A PL manager must be obsessive, totally focussed, committed to a 24/7 working week, have a strong constitution added, of course, to the necessary football and man-management requirements.
Why am I writing this on an Arsenal blog? Because the loss of Wagner takes away one of our recent in-house jokes, though he may return!
Also, it gives an insight into the pressures Mr. Emery must suffer on a daily basis. Mr. Emery must know that millions of fans around the globe question his relationship with Mr. Mesut Ozil, do you think it is easy for him?
David Wagner, I hope you return to the PL, in the meantime, I wish you well and thanks for the jokes.
written by BR
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Ahhhh, an eeyor’ish post on a very sad and gloomy day for all at AA.
A lovely tribute, Erik, thank you
Lovely footbally post, BR.
Such a shame that a man of such integrity has to quit when those of lesser morals always wait to be pushed for the big compo payouts.
In other news, Helmet has announced he’s retiring at the end of the season.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/468758
Without helmet
Hope the guys send him of with a winners medal
Is David Wagner fred in disguise?
5 “captains” named by Emery:
Čech – retiring at the end of season 2018/2019.
Koscielny – not extending contract, leaving at the end of 2019/2020 season (if not earlier).
Ramsey – very likely to leave for free at the end of 2018/2019 season (if not earlier).
Özil – not trusted by Emery to play in selected matches for “tactical” reasons, uncertainty of stay in the club beyond this season. (contracted till the end of 2020/2021 season)
Xhaka – could be the only “captain” left at the end of season.
Of course, no-one cares but, for once Big Sham says no!
Not enough free pies?
JM – good point and thanks for brining to our attention
To be fair, none of them really left a footprint on the team as a captain. In our current crop of players, I think that:
– Mustafi, Sokratis, Torreira, Kola have the personality to be captains.
A captain must lead by example, lead by mobilizing troops and cheering his partners and being the Coach’s first soldier on the ground. I think that Torreira can fit the bill PLUS he is a fan favorite so he d have my vote for next year.
As for Wagner – it is good he leaves. Allardyce has refused to apply for the job. I think that Huddelsfield should just give a chance to a young coach with a big personality and experience in the EPL and tie him up for 3 years. Joe Edwards or Ben Garner maybe?
In other news; le grove reporting Sven is out. Don’t know if I believe it, but he has been around a while, but reading some of the posts- they descend into utter madness.
If true, are the Arsenal revolving chairs on the Titanic?
Going to be an interesting January- change will be coming either straight up or down would be my guess.
Also great read on 7am, no not advertising, on post titled “Ole Wenger Solskjaer” and find the input from Dr. Gooner on money spent by teams, and a statistical analysis on manager effectiveness.
What I generally expected, but nonetheless still an interesting perspective.
RC
Amazed at your selection of possible Captains!!
Aaron. Many of us started out on Le Grove and left when the mad people took over. Without LG this site wouldn’t exist.
Off to read the 7 a.m. post
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