It all seems to be drawing towards the inevitable conclusion that Mr Perfect Hair himself is going to be our next boss and what I’m listening to and reading about seems to be about how he’s not as ‘Mr Nice’ as everyone keeps portraying.
It does seem funny that all of this noise is coming out now, on the verge of his appointment, that actually he can be a disciplinarian and be that harsh voice in the dressing room that perhaps some of these players need. It’s almost as if there’s some kind of collective campaigning on behalf of the new man going on…
Still, if/when it’s announced – and when someone like the Ornacle comes out you know it’s practically a done deal – it will be interesting to see what Tricky Micky has to say about his approach to the team, the players he knows, the tactical set up and his style of play he wants to deliver. I’m still a bit wary that he’s still close enough to the old regime to be a fresh break, but perhaps that’s just what Ivan wants. A fresh face, somebody who doesn’t command a mega salary and therefore mega payout if it goes wrong, plus somebody who will not have absolute control over the club.
And perhaps Gazidis is looking at the options right now and thinking that Arteta is a decent choice and if it doesn’t work out then the club can always revisit Allegri, Nagelsmann and/or any other choices next summer. So whilst at first I talked up this being ‘high risk’, perhaps Ivan is looking at this and thinking that the club has had a couple of seasons of decline and so providing the players don’t rebel on Chelski Mourinho proportions, that the worst that might happen is that we get another season like this.
If that happens Ivan can say “look, we tried, it didn’t work, so we’ll pay the money for the big name manager” in 2019. The challenge of course might be if we don’t have enough cash to overhaul the squad if it doesn’t work. Just look at where we’re at right now; talk of £50million only to spend and all we’ve heard of late is that Seri could be an option for us.
It certainly sounds like he’d be a good addition, but given the supposed lack of war chest, shouldn’t we be looking at other areas of the park too? I know we need another midfielder but Seri feels very similar to Granit Xhaka. A much improved Granit Xhaka too I might add.
Perhaps Arteta has already identified a style of play, however, and Seri and Xhaka together form part of some kind of deep-lying creativity that the new manager wants to see? If that’s the case however, we’d certainly need more action in terms of a defensive overhaul, because Seri ain’t no tackler and him and Xhaka in the middle of the park won’t be offering too much protection over the back four.
Maybe we go back to a back three with wing backs though? Perhaps that’s what has been identified by ‘New Manager X-who-we-probably-know-who-it-is-anyway’ and that’s why they’re looking at a deeper lying ball-playing midfielder?
It’s all conjecture at this stage but, dare I say it, I’m kind of loving the uncertainty of it all. We’re finally at the table and rolling the dice after years of sitting in the corner with our chips, neither cashing them in or gambling.
That’s gotta count for something.
Right, off for a run, whilst avoiding anything remotely FA Cup finalesque or Royal-frigging-wedding like.
Laters
If we are to cheap out on an ex player with no experience, can’t we at least get a winner and not one one from the forgettable decade?
Hope you enjoyed your run. I actually, like you, think it is relatively low risk if we do appoint Arteta. I was underwhelmed at first and part of me remains that way but as the rumours on this appointment gather pace I’m more inclined to ‘like’ the idea of Arteta as manager. I guess time will tell if it’s the right choice or not, if it happens that is.
9 miles Carl! My feet sting! 🙂
I must say I’m coming around to the idea. Don’t know if that’s because we also don’t have a choice 🙂
Thanks for the comments
I have been in two more minds about contributing to any Arsenal blog. I have been following the Arsenal for over 60 years ….since my Dad stood with me on the North Bank at Highbury watching Arsenal v Blackpool with players on n the pitch earning a few quid only, with the 100 pounds a week footballer (johnny Haynes of Fulham still to come. As a 10’year old kid I was mesmerized by the whole experience. Arsenal teams of that time, and later, were not always good, quite frankly, bot over 60 years what can you reasonably expect?
Much of what I have to say will be regarded by some as the meandering of a sentimental old gadger about a time so far removed that it has no relevance to the current. The fact is, that over the past 20 years plus I have seen more successful and attractive football played by the team I support than anyone has a right to expect. The greatest sadness I have experienced has been seeing many who claim to be supporters clearly ndicate that they feel entitled to see their team win everything in sight, and if that doesn’t happen,mthey have in some way been cheated. The entitlement culture has even pervaded many supporters clubs. Compare Arsenal over the past 60 years with other English sides and you will find no comparison. Arsenal Wenger has an incredible record with Arsenal. Nobody is perfect. As a kid, Insupported a side which was often poor and relatively unsuccessful. I am well aware that times have changed, but the continuous criticism about a manager and a team, who over the las 20 years have provided me with more pure pleasure than I ever expected has been, well to call it tiresome would be an understatement.
I wish the new manager every success, and if his teams entertain me half as much as those I have seen under Arsenal, Inwill be delighted. To the constant carpers,I can only say, be just a little more understanding of the difficulties all teams face from time to time and please, please stop feeling so entitled to all the possible benefits and victories. There is perhaps only one thing I feel able to say to the immature amongst us….give it a rest….life just ain’t like that.
Andy