Emery has finally been sacked…This reflects very poorly on a board that just backed him up two weeks ago, that said:
– the last 2 performances and the team’s form over the past few months,
– Tottenham’s decisiveness in changing their Head coach,
– the fans discontent,
– the pressure from former players and the media all kind of force their hand to go ahead with the chop.
The board says they are looking for a new Headcoach and that Freddie is in charge until the search for a new coach is over.
So what now? What will Freddie do and what are his options?
Luiz is out, Mustafi is out too and I don’t know how Freddie felt about Xhaka but we know he likes his young players, he likes pace, aggression and we also know that he likes to play in a 451 set up so what will he do?
I could see the following set up:
Leno
Bellerin, Holding, Sokratis, Tierney
Douzi, Chambers
Pepe, Laca, Saka
Auba
against Norwich but who knows…
Over to you fellow Gunners ………………….
I wish Freddie the best but also can’t wait to get our new headcoach appointed asap..
RC78
Arsenal News 24/7
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No doubt Emery had to go, but we now face the very real prospect of being 1 poor management choice away from mediocrity and mid table abyss. We cannot afford to waste another 2 years watching a coach fumble around looking for a winning formula whilst those around us strengthen and improve. For that reason, I’d be happy with an interim coach like Freddie to stay until the summer if it means that we get someone who can do the job correctly. I’d be shocked if Poch or Allegri would be willing to take the job, so that probably means we are looking at someone in current employment and it might take time and require patience to get ‘the one’.
Leno
A M-N(reluctantly), Holding, Chambers, Tierney
Torreira
Willock , Guendouzi Smith-Rowe
Martinelli Lacazette
Torreira told not to cross half way line. Middle three coached on Sat continuously to drop as a line to Torreira when opposition win ball and press relentlessly as opposition come into their quadrant. In attack when Willock goes forward Smith-Rowe holds and squeezes to three, and vica versa. Laca and Martinelli told to play close and on last defenders centrally.
If significant space appears wide, Tierney or AM-N attack to byline, BUT when one goes forward the other stays and centre backs adjust to side left empty.
Allegri would bring possibly two Italian centre backs with him if he were to come in summer.
Cant find any comment on Mavrapanos on sites. Saliba is the business but young. Needs hardened centre backs/defenders to learn the Premier League ways. Holding is still capable of being a centre back to our level. Chambers is a journeyman holding midfielder and should be kept.
Dump Mustafi, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Xhaka and, sorry Bellerin. Aubang will leave. Promote Martinelli now. He is the future with Eddie N.
Nelson and Pepe for that matter, need/deserve another season to assess how far they will go at our level.
FGG – I agree with you about the need to get someone and to get it right. I also believe that we need a “quick fix” that can turn the players, the fans, the mood and results around 🙂 As such, I am really inclined to get Heynckes (he acted brilliantly as a fireman for Bayern) on board until the end of the season or to give…Ancelotti a go but with a short contract of 18 months. I think both of these brillant coaches can help groom some of our current coaching staff like BFG and Ljungberg.
I think Heynckes (although he is not a fan of Auba) is the man of the hour and I wish that I could somehow make a case for him in front of Arsenal board.
We need a coach that has won smt because the coach needs to have credibility. Ancelotti won the league with Chelsea and also had good credentials at Milano and PSG and is doing rather well at Napoli.
Allegri will be an improved version of Emery and he would need more time to settle.
Let Ljungberg work under the tutelage of Heynckes and hopefully, he can then compete for the job next summer.
LBG – your team is full of youth and engagement but may lack a bit of defensive understanding/maturity. What do you think? And I am not sure to trust ESR as a starter in the EPL, just yet.
If I was Freddie…
(chance would be a fine thing)
First thing I would do is book a private room at a nice discreet Italian restaurant somewhere in north London and invite the following group to lunch:
Martin Keown, Tony Adams, Stevie Bould, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, David Seaman, Jens Lehmann, Sol Campbell, the BFG.
I would say: right, help me sort out my defence. Which players should be first choices at the back and how should I drill them so we can start the Arsenal revival by shutting up shop in front of our own goal?
If one or two of the lunch crowd have to be taken on temporarily in coaching roles to help instil new defensive discipline, so be it. We already have a head start with Bouldie and the BFG in the club.
Stop giving up 8 million chances on goal per game and build from there.
Thank you.
FGG
I’m in total agreement with your logic about holding out for the right person.
RC
Heynckes – what’s his English like?
I don’t think a ‘quick fix’ is needed as this season is pretty much gone and I’ve absolutely no doubt that there will be an upturn in form even if it’s Freddie that gets the job until the summer. Drastic changes in shape and personnel are not required, it just needs someone to come in who has the ability to talk to the players, express what they want them to do, and motivate them. The players will produce and are good enough if we get those things from a coach. Hopefully Freddie will do that until the permanent manager is brought in.
Freddie Ljungberg only has a UEFA ‘A’ Licence (with a max. 12 weeks/3 months as interim coach/caretaker), not the UEFA Pro Licence (requirement for the top level coaching). This counts for both domestic league and cup competitions and European competitions.
So we shall still be getting a new coach latest sometime before the end of February 2020. The clock is still ticking for our club management to select the best longer term candidate.
Rocky – I back your idea.
Thanks for that piece of information JM.
Really interesting.
In that case I would imagine the club would want someone in place in time to make moves in the January transfer window.
Emery’s record at Arsenal in the EPL
51 games / 25 wins,13 draws and 13 losses / 91 goals for and 70 against -> 88 points or 1.72 ppg
Major achievement: Europa League final (lost to Chelsea)
Positives: gave a chance to Douzi, Saka, Willock, Martinelli
Negatives: record, playing style, team set-up and management
That said, we wish him the best and he should learn from his experiences at AFC and PSG. He is a good coach for teams like Sevilla and Valencia so maybe he can go to a top team in Portugal or a Top 8 team in Spain or Italy but he is not well suited to the demands and expectations of bigger clubs yet.
RC
“Defensive understanding and maturity”…. from which players in the current squad?
Luiz, Kola, Bellerin, have never been able to defend. Sokratis and Mustafi are no more than Champioship level defenders- accidents waiting to happen.
Smith-Rowe is playing international games and scoring. Tony Adam’s made his debut at 17. Give him the chance now, stick with him, encourage throughout the team and management continually. Any mistakes are part of learning. Patience from teammates, management and crowd.
Heynckes English…not sure.
RC
I would not want another manager with no (or very limited) English. Communication was one of the big failings of the Emery regime – both with the fans and, it seems, with the players.
I know we have a squad of players from all corners of the globe, but the business of a club is typically run in the language of its home country.
Watching Emery struggle with English during his inevitably humiliating post-match press chat last night I could only feel sympathy for a decent man out of his depth: struggling but nevertheless drowning.
To build bridges our next coach must be able to communicate comfortably with the fans.
This weekend against Norwich:
Last heard/known either carrying injury or recovering and uncertainties: Bellerín, Holding, Kolašinac, Luiz, Mustafi.
So, starting:
Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Mavropanos, Tierney; Chambers, Willock, Özil; Martinelli, Pépé, Lacazette
Bench:
Emiliano, Torreira, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Saka, Nelson, Aubameyang
*Xhaka & Guendouzi are both each on 4 yellow cards and another yellow shall give them an automatic 1 league match ban.
I am also in favour of someone who speaks English properly…and I am hopipng that Heynckes does but if not, then Ancelotti would be my preferred option but we should give him an 18 months contract with an automatic extension clause for 6 months based on performance.
Germans often have excellent English.
Ancelloti could be a good caretaker until the end of the season.
Rumour has it that Nuno is the favourite…I am not convinced to be honest. I think the players need a coach with a high pedigree, a proven winner. What has Nuno achieved?
Argh!! All these names being thrown around!! I wonder who will be the chosen one!!
Just out of interest, how long is that course for Freddie to get his A licence?
@sue 12:08pm
UEFA Pro Licence (or the FA Level 5) course is for 18 months (1 1/2 year).
So funny the pundits opinion…
One says Allegri, the other says Arteta, the other says Pochetinno and another says Rodgers…
We have to be realistic – chances of getting Pochetinno and Rodgers are very slim. Arteta and Allegri are more likely. Allegri comes with a good pedigree but I am not sure he can turn the ship quick enough. Giving the job to Arteta would be difficult for Ljungberg to swallow I think so…I think we need a caretaker and stay with my Heynckes or Ancelotti solutions and if Heynckes’ English is poor, then go for Ancelotti.
Ancelotti finished with a record of 67 wins, 20 draws and 22 losses in 109 matches in the EPL (3rd best in EPL History apparently). He won the League with a scoring record in 2010, finished second in 2011 and won the FA Cup and Charity Shield . He likes London, he knows the EPL and is open to leave a toxic Napoli environment…Fingers crossed…Ancelotti likes to play in a 4321 or 4312
Remember that the Emery appointment came out of Le Bleu… we were all waiting for Arteta to be announced, all the press were agreed that he was The Man… then the club announced a name that had been on no-one’s radar… Not dissimilar to the Wenger announcement all those years ago (although sadly without the happy ending).
Which is a long winded way of saying the pundits know nothing.
LBG – defensive maturity. you have a point.
RC
I like the Ancelotti idea. The only nagging worry I have is this: he’s getting on a bit and I would worry that, like Wenger, he’ll suddenly reach a point where he just can’t recapture the magic he once had…
I don’t follow Italian football closely so I don’t know what the toxic atmosphere is, but Napoli have been having a decidedly average season so far.
Oops… sorry Carlo, I take it back.
You’re not an oldie – you’re the same age as me 😳
Ignore my last comment RC: Carlo is clearly young and vigorous enough to do the job!
(I always thought he was older)
Rocky,
Your suggestion that Freddie should enlist the help/support of ex-players to improve the team defence makes a lot of sense.
My only concern is that if he is not careful he will end up managing by committee, as there is no guarantee the list of past masters will all agree, one with the other. But the principle is fine.
As to whether this current squad is OK, or not, [I would ditch a number of them[ it is best left for the moment, as the incoming manager will select those to go, and those he wants as replacements.
What he [I suppose I should also say ‘she’ as well, in this age of equality – and you never know] must immediately pay attention to where our problems have arisen for some years now — is to start at the back — get the defence sorted and that includes midfield cover, then the rest will follow.
Look at ‘Pool — pretty average at the start of Klip Klop’s era, but buying a first class GK and then a first class CB, and the good times started to roll for them.
No need to worry about copying them — all managers do that at some time or other.
I have it on good authority, that Arteta was the ‘almost’ chosen one, 18 months ago, — but the club then bottled it, because of the adage that a #2 can never be a #1 and went for the one with more experience — and proved that a #1 can be crap too, or should that be #2??
After all, where do great managers start? The Gladiola’s, the Klop’s, the Ancelloti’s all needed a break to get them started — #1’s don’t grow on trees — they all start life in football as underlings.
A number two never be a number one?
What rot! Whoever would propose nonsense like that?
😳
There is a rift between the players and the board of Napoli.
Napoli definitely struggling this season but many players are not putting a shift in the Serie A because of the rift with the board. Fans are getting crazy and basically intruding players’ homes and frightening their families. The board is saying that Koulibaly, Allan, Mertens could be sold this winter – things really out of hand there…so let us be opportunists and get Ancelotti, Koulibaly and Allan. We can send Sokratis the other way together with Xhaka and try to get a good deal…
Napoli frustrated Liverpool a couple of nights ago and not many teams could do that so I am not so worried about Ancelotti’s coaching magic 🙂
OK RC, you have reassured me. Especially now I know Carlo is just a young slip of a thing.
Also – how would you feel if Grealish joined Arsenal? Could he be our next Ramsey?
If Poch, Allegri or Simeone we’re announced then I would be ecstatic. The only language needed in football is wins, and I think all 3 of them could deliver results, however, I don’t expect us to get any of them and so my next choice would be Arteta with Merteesacker promoted to a coach. Those 2 got on really well when playing together and I like the idea of a fresh manager with a modern approach taking this club forward. It’s the two opposite ends of the scale in terms of experience and history, but one thing I really don’t want to see is someone brought in from a lower club who’s done ok and is seen as deserving a chance ie Howe, Santo etc. Also, I don’t want Southgate as I can’t stand how boring he is!
Not asking for much…
Poch is not a proven winner but can help “re-build” the squad but I doubt he ll join us now – the timing is wrong…
Simeone would be hard to get from Atletico now but maybe in the symmer
So the one from your list that is feasible according to me is Allegri
I also agree with you that we don’t want coaches like Howe, Santo…
RC.. I would love Grealish (& Mings!)
Cheers, JM… Let’s hope Freddie has already started it 👍
Rafa would be an interesting one. There’s still the likes of Löw and Southgate at international level. People keep saying Rodgers but I don’t think he’d leave Leicester anytime soon. Ten Hag and Nagelsmann stand out in Europe.
The more I think about the (possibly) available options, the more I’m coming round to Ancelotti.
Proven winner – check
Experience of EPL – check
Winner in EPL – check
Good command of English – check
Rocky
No doubt about Ancelotti’s record, but personally I’d like to see us bring in a coach who could make big changes to how we play and put a real stamp on the side with some fresh ideas about modern football. I’m not sure bringing in a 60 year old would get me excited about the future direction of the club.
The only slight surprise I have is that the club acted decisively … but I’m pleased they have and it is only sensible to take time to get the right replacement. If it is true that Freddie cannot get the requisite badges quickly enough to see us through to the end of the season then we may need an alternative interim manager.
Possible interim managers till the rest of the season or 18 months – Rafa or Ancelotti.
By the summer Poch’s head may be in the right place, or we won’t have to steal another manager from a club mid season. I still fancy Nagelsmann … but don’t profess enough knowledge to make an informed choice – let’s hope our Board do!
They’re saying that Allegri will shore up the defence but that he is not the manager to promote exciting attacking football.
I am going left field with Giovanni van Bronckhorst, formerly Arsenal player (played with Edu and Freddie) and previously coaching and winning at Feyenoord. He stepped down on his own accord at the end of last season and is currently “learning and apprenticing at a higher level of coaching” at Man. City.
van Bronckhorst (44) is close to the age of both Edu (41) and Freddie (42) and he definitely speaks fluent English. He has also either played or worked under the likes of Wenger, van Gaal, Advocaat, Rijkaard and Koeman at various playing and managing levels.
Personally, I believe our board and club management would not want to be paying more compensation to another club to take away their coach, after dismissing Emery and his fellow staff. So coaches currently unattached should likely be their 1st picks in consideration before anyone else.
The excitement on match day and enjoying watching Arsenal play is all I ever want! Not been the case for a while…..
I’m buzzing right now at the thought of having it back!!
The stabbings and knifeman shot dead by police at London Bridge was right outside my son’s office. He’s trapped inside … the place is full of police and there are many terrified people fleeing the scene 😱
My reading of the situation is that we need someone that can have an instant impact with the squad and with the fans.
I think that having a proven winner would be a good start and although I am always keen to take a gamble on Nagelsmann, Ragelnik, Ten Haag, Pochetinno, Favre…
At this stage, I think we need someone with a proven pedigree. That’s why my eyes are focusing on Ancelotti, Heynckes and eventually Allegri. The issue I have with Allegri is that it will take him time to get the team right, to understand the league…I think that Heynckes would want to work with the team in place so that could help him quickly settle in whereas Allegri would come with his backroom staff….
Now the more I think about it, Ancelotti would be the best choice for the next 18 months but we would have to request that he works closely with BFG, Ljungberg and we should ask Lehmann and Anelka to join the coaching team as well.
Leno – Bellerin, KOULIBALY, Luiz, Tierney – Douzi, Torreira, ALLAN – Pepe, Auba – Laca
I think Ancelotti could bring in Allan and potentially Koulibaly with him from Napoli so for me that adds to his appeal as our Headcoach and even if they don’t come, he s the best coach for us at the moment. It would be easier to also attract players with him as our headcoach so I could imagine that someone like Grealish would want to work with him.
Leno – Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney – Douzi, Torreira, GREALISH – Pepe, Auba – Laca
Anyways – let us hope we don’t get Moyes, Nuno, Howe or even Arteta.
Hi Rasp – sorry to hear…is your son ok?
Yes, thanks RC … it just brings it home to you … no one is ever completely safe
good to hear about your son…
That’s terrible news, Rasp. Knife crime is out of control in this country……
Rasp- good to hear son is ok!
Sue- it got to be the knives right?
Great news for the Arsenal!
emery will get paid well for his time, and find another home.
Appointments:
RC78- Heynckes too old to take up this project, 74, he was worn out by the time he stepped down at Munich.
Poch and Rodgers? Really not the way to start a new brand of Arsenal futbol isn’t it? Not getting them anyway.
Allegri will need to much money and not really an offensive minded genius.
NES- please, not even good enough for Everton.
Anceloti is a possibllity
Rafa a better choice
van Bronckhorst , Arteta, Nagelsman, Ten Hag etc some new open minded offensive talent with an eye on defense in championship games. A gamble that would be exciting and one for the future if it works out!
so summarizing the options are as below – please feel free to correct:
1st Tier: Ancelotti, Benitez, Allegri
2nd Tier: Pochetinno, Rodgers, Ten Hag, Rangelnik, Favre
3rd Tier: Blanc,Arteta, Nageslmann, VB, Nuno, Vieira,
4th Tier: Others…
Arturo Vidal may be available in December, would also be perfect to replace Xhaka for example…
Vidal is too old, RC, and I for one have had enough of fading ‘stars’ coming to Arsenal for a last big salary.
Sorry but NO — Absolument pas.
It is just a guess who will feature as possible replacements for Embers, so here goes.
1. Arteta — maybe – maybe not – but an intelligent, knowledgeable ex-Arsenal captain – and a rising star.
I would be happy.
2. Allegri — Perhaps — but like Embers has no experience of the EPL. Not for me.
3. Rodgers — Cannot believe he would walk away from Leics — but he has form for doing that. Not for me.
4. Vieira — Would very much like to see him applying and getting the job. Not too likely.
5. Poch — Hope not — Not too likely.
Whoever gets the job must have agreed the funds for transfers — because unlike some other bloggers – I think the defensive assets we have now are sadly limited. [Also refer to what LBG wrote earlier.]
Benitez for me, I think over the next 5 years will be his best years and with his experience it would be a golden opportunity for the Arse
The is the only manager in history to have won the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
According to the Sun, Benitez would cost 12mil a year as that is what the chinese club are paying him.
Betting agency has the following odds –
Allegri 6/4
Santo 5/2
Ljungberg 5/1
Poch 5/1
Arteta 5/1
Ancelotti 10/1
Howe 10/1
Benitez 12/1
Vieira 20/1
from Arsenal.com
The following is a message from Unai Emery:
It has been an honour to be the Arsenal head coach.
To all the fans, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping me to understand and feel the greatness of Arsenal. To all of you who have supported us from every corner of the globe, all of you who have come to the Emirates, all of you who have waited in the rain and cold just to greet me after a game. I want to tell all of you that I have worked with passion, with commitment and with effort.
I would have liked nothing more than to have achieved better results for you.
I also want to send a message of gratitude to all Arsenal employees for the way they have treated me. The greatness of Arsenal is in every director, executive, employee, assistant and volunteer.
In particular, I want to highlight Ivan Gazidis, who welcomed me to the club, and Raul Sanllehi, Edu and Vinai Venkatesham for their respect, companionship and help. Until the very last minute I have been treated with honour and honesty. And of course, I send my sincere gratitude to the Kroenke family, for their trust.
It has been a year and a half full of emotions, of great moments and some other more bitter ones, but not a single day has gone by without me stopping to think about how lucky I have been to work for this club with these players and their professional and personal qualities.
They have always honoured the shirt they wear. They deserve your support.
I had already experienced a lot in football, but I have enjoyed and learned a lot in England, in the Premier League, about respect for professionals and about the purity of football.
My best wishes always.
COYG
Copyright 2019 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
Classy message from a good guy
Classy is the perfect word RC. Well done Unai. It didn’t work out at Arsenal but best of luck for the future.
The PL managers have been classy too. Good to see the solidarity.
RA
Vieira will be ready at end of this season, with coaching back up from Freddie and a DB10 out of retirement.
I want Arsenal to the core, with a bit of nastiness and preparedness to clear out the deadwood and cultivate the saplings, andGod help anyone who doesn’t fall into line in that dressing room.
LBG – who s your deadwood?
Mustafi, Sok, Xhaka…
AMN, Chambers…
?
Total agreement LBG @ 8:32
There has to be some authority in whoever comes in and the players need a bit of a wake up call and maybe a stricter regime. We needed it following Wenger’s nicey nicey approach but it seems Emery was just as soft and even worse than Arsene at getting his point across.
Authority can come from different places though. It can be someone who is hard and won’t take any shit like a Simeone. Or it could be from someone who has done big things in the game and deserves respect like Allegri. Or it could be someone who has deep links with the club and understands what it takes to play and win in the shirt like Arteta or Vieira.
Whoever we choose though, they MUST get rid of this nice guy persona that the team has carried for years. We need ruthless killing machines if we are to get back any sort of glory to the Emirates.
As for Ljungberg and the side in the meantime….I’d like to see us play some attractive attacking football and let the players express themselves. Our defence is shocking, so let’s try and utilise our attack instead:-
Leno
Bellerin Chambers Holding Tierney
Torreira Xhaka
Pepe Özil Aubameyang
Lacazette
That would be my team with Torreira playing far deeper than Emery asked him to.
Had a hectic last day of work before vacation so wasn’t able to follow much, but from what I have read people seems to be disgusted at us for letting him go
When poch was let go last week didn’t see all this disguss or am I reading to much into it
What’s your take on it then, Fred? And who would you like to see get the job?
RC
Please keep up, since I have come out of hiding!
See Friday 11.27.
Fred 6.28
Are you reading things from a different Universe?
Fred
I think the reaction to Emery’s ousting has been almost universally the same:
Decent man, but he had to go.
Peaches/Rasp
There’s a Post in drafts.
I was in Londinium yesterday and read the Evening Standard for the first time in a long while, there seems to be quite a lot coming out about what was going on at the club, especially at the training ground and they also drew comparisons with other managers who had communication issues in their first season, whilst Emery statement is PR heavy some of the comments in the papers paint a different story:
1) Emery rarely said hello or knew the names of support staff around the training ground he even got the name of his interpreter wrong after 6 months when he thanked him after an interview
2) players openly mocked his English
3) players joking on a plane about how many captains they had (whilst trying to appease the squad he affectively showed a lack of leadership at the same time)
4) failed to get his point across during “interminably long” video sessions – comparison here with Poch who spent a season at Saints and Spuds before speaking English fluently to press yet his teams showed a clear understanding of what was required.
5) insisted on Dennis Suarez signing on loan.
So he lost control, couldn’t communicate, didn’t get best from players.
There are a few other points I would like to highlight some he was lauded for when he first arrived:
1) Half time substitutions, when he first arrived this was seen as an indication of being prepared to change and better than on 60 minute subs that AW was much criticised for. However in time it became clear that this felt more like a manager unable to pick the right starting XI and made more subs at half time than any other manager.
2) being a lunatic on the sideline, can we all now agree this is a riduliculous measure of passion and ability as a manager. If you are having to gesture and rearrange as much as that during the game then you didn’t get your message across during the training, and if you can’t communicate in English what the hell was the point in the first place?
These things were judged highly by the fans and welcomed just because it was different to what we had become used to, but both were ultimately unimportant and masked serious failings elsewhere from about Jan/Feb 2019.
I was absent from here for a while partly for work and partly because I struggled to be positive about the way the team were being managed.
Morning all …
Fine comment GiE …
….. New post ….
Not related to Pepe (or at least not directly) but this comment from GiE at the end of yesterday’s Post deserves to be seen more widely…
I was in Londinium yesterday and read the Evening Standard for the first time in a long while, there seems to be quite a lot coming out about what was going on at the club, especially at the training ground and they also drew comparisons with other managers who had communication issues in their first season, whilst Emery statement is PR heavy some of the comments in the papers paint a different story:
1) Emery rarely said hello or knew the names of support staff around the training ground he even got the name of his interpreter wrong after 6 months when he thanked him after an interview
2) players openly mocked his English
3) players joking on a plane about how many captains they had (whilst trying to appease the squad he affectively showed a lack of leadership at the same time)
4) failed to get his point across during “interminably long” video sessions – comparison here with Poch who spent a season at Saints and Spuds before speaking English fluently to press yet his teams showed a clear understanding of what was required.
5) insisted on Dennis Suarez signing on loan.
So he lost control, couldn’t communicate, didn’t get best from players.
There are a few other points I would like to highlight some he was lauded for when he first arrived:
1) Half time substitutions, when he first arrived this was seen as an indication of being prepared to change and better than on 60 minute subs that AW was much criticised for. However in time it became clear that this felt more like a manager unable to pick the right starting XI and made more subs at half time than any other manager.
2) being a lunatic on the sideline, can we all now agree this is a riduliculous measure of passion and ability as a manager. If you are having to gesture and rearrange as much as that during the game then you didn’t get your message across during the training, and if you can’t communicate in English what the hell was the point in the first place?
These things were judged highly by the fans and welcomed just because it was different to what we had become used to, but both were ultimately unimportant and masked serious failings elsewhere from about Jan/Feb 2019.
I was absent from here for a while partly for work and partly because I struggled to be positive about the way the team were being managed
Thank you Rocky for the post.
In all the drama of not winning in seven games (and playing an unrecognisable brand of football) I had forgotten that our young Ivorian had been largely overlooked.
I don’t want to lay any blame now as we’re entering (hopefully 😉) a new dawn.
Players need to know who to give the ball to to make something happen. Ozil is our man for that and we need to see that organised forward play …… Ozil to Pepe, Ozil to Auba forward, forward, forward.
I remember sitting with a great guy when Arshavin joined us, this guy had a huge booming voice and spent the whole game booming out ‘give the ball to Arshavin’ because he was magic. We have more than one magic player now …… I’m looking forward to singing Freddie’s name and watching some magic football again.
Let it be so.
Eddie how art thou
Lbg didn’t read much bit the few a saw , kloop and of coaches came out in emery defense and the one which made me a ask the question was Neville disgusted at arsenal over emery sacking
Sue honestly have No clue hopefully Freddie my name sake do a great job and gets to keep it