Arsenal Banter Archive March 20 2018

 

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20 Mar 2018 20:18:41
Ed 001 what's your thoughts on Maddison at Norwich? Is he a special talent? Looks to be having a very good season.

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20 Mar 2018 12:48:07
I am truly worried if Wenger stays on as the squad is weak numerically and talent-wise.
We could easily lose:
Wilshere, Mertesacker and Cazorla - Contracts expire this summer
Ramsey, Welbeck and Ospina - Contracts have a year to go, so renew or sell.
Bellerin - Noise about possible transfer growing.
Will also be a problem if Wenger is replaced this summer as the new manager may have to convince players to stay and bring in something like 5-8 players, which is extremely difficult.

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20 Mar 2018 13:39:07
My guess is if we get a new manager we might not see fantastic improvement in our league position for a couple of seasons 5th or maybe 4th place if we are lucky simply due to the quality of competition for the top 4 places but I think we can be more optomisic of seeing an big upturn in organisation commitment passion in every game we play and that alone will be enough to get us all on side with the new manager for a while.
When we were young RG there were two prizes on offer domesticly each season league winners and fa cup winners, runners up in either was nothing to celebrate.
Then 2nd place in the league became as if not more important than the cup and as the champions league money grew 3rd and 4th place replaced both cups in importance as champions league inclusion became king.
The title is still the big one that ultimately everyone wants but top.4 is almost imperative for any Chelsea Liverpool Utd City or Spurs manager to last long which is going to make it tougher than ever for us to get back into it again.
Who ever is Arsenal manager next season is going to struggle to make it into the top 4 realistically the only chioce we have is do we go one more season and a little further behind under Arsene next season or do we start our attempted come back under a new manager this coming summer under or put it off a bit longer.
There is no garentee things will go well with new manager but I think most people now accept we are garenteed to continue to decline without one.

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20 Mar 2018 16:15:00
I still can’t get my head round the fact that the champions league is called the champions league. If my memory serves me correctly the first time united won the CL under SAF was on the back of a second place league possition and the next year was the first year to allow teams other than champions (sure Ed’s will correct if I’m wrong ) now it’s the champions and also also also rans league 😂.

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20 Mar 2018 16:54:54
He might want to promote young players like Eddie, willock and nelson. We also have Jeff out on loan. They can fill some of the gaps. I guess we don't know until arsene decides what he's doing.

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20 Mar 2018 17:31:21
Totally agree Sanogo mate I've always thought it was a crazy title for it, they called it the European cup when it was for champions only and then champions league when it was a free for all who couldn't quite win their own league.
Now it's the be all and end all for all big clubs.
Fa cup and 5th or 4th and no silverware ( that everyone can see that is :-) ?
Most fans would take 4th place and champions league football over winning the cup and europa league entry now days mate.
Spurs and Liverpool fans are happy with champions league top 4 for now but both Poch and Klopp will need to be compete for titles within the next 2 to 3 seasons to stop the fans getting restless. Fans of both clubs are desperate to win their first premier league title and top 4 will only be enough short term although I'm sure a champions league win for either would by them more time :-)

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20 Mar 2018 19:22:17
Is Arsene deciding this time 54? Or is it a. case of Arsene sinply seeing out his contract unless the club decide otherwise.
From what I undestand Arsene is not only happy to but fully intends to be our manager next season.

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20 Mar 2018 19:53:06
It should be up to the club but we know if arsene wants to stay then he will. I don't think we will sack him. I hope he walks at the end of the season so we can start to rebuild.

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20 Mar 2018 20:33:46
I think a better format would be the winners of the league and main cup in all the top countries going through to a champs league as they are champs along with the winner of the previous Europa lge that would give creadablity to the competition and make the Europa lge and fa cup great comps also.

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20 Mar 2018 21:00:40
So top 4 is a Trophy now 😉

Looking to 4 years in the wilderness unless the board change attitude to what they expect, invest and set the tone. This impacts expectations for the manager and players. It starts with the board - get it right at the top.

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20 Mar 2018 21:32:37
I think rewarding the fa cup winners with an automatic champions league spot would be brilliant spanner, we would instantly see all teams fielding their strongest 11 again.
I'd also give automatic qualification to the English side that went the furthest in the Europa league ( if two teams finished equal say both losing in the semi final let them play off for the champions league place) plus have premier league runners up as our final entry who went into the qualifying stages of the champions league.
This would allow a well worth having europa league spot for 3rd 4th 5th place teams plus the league cup winners.
All completions would instantly rise in prestige as the premier league winners title would become even more valuable than it is already knowing there was no automatic champions league safety net in 2rd or 3rd any more.
Of course none of this will happen but it would be good for the game all round if it did in my opinion.

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20 Mar 2018 09:03:53
Have to say Lefty77 is spot in when he says the first item on the agenda must be change of manager before any transfer dealings.
Ladbrokes have got 5 managers listed
Henry-if it was a x player would prefer Viera
Anchelotti -defo
Simeone-Love his passion but can't see the board going for him
Low-fantastic international manager but club record not good plus by the time the World Cup was finished there wouldn't be a lot of time for him before season started.
Martinez-No comment
They did not have Allegri listed so draw your own conclusions from that.

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20 Mar 2018 09:47:09
I just feel ancelotti will be a bit dated like Wenger and too short term. Would prefer someone younger with fresh ideas in the game. Wonder if that young German manager will be worth a go. Reading things on his training methods and how his approach is to the game i'd like to see him given a go.

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20 Mar 2018 09:56:13
The only question is do we accept another season of stagnation and allow those already above us to increase and strengthen their supremacy in order to keep one individual happy or do we do what's good for everyone but Arsene.
It's a brave man who takes us on this summer because the gap is already quite significant between us and the top 5 and the squad he would inherit will be in a state of disrepair.
It will take an even braver man to come in next next summer when the gap will be wider and players like Kos Monreal Cech who are already showing signs of ageing will be a yet another step closer to retirement than thier prime.
A major rebuilding job is needed and the longer we put it off the bigger it will become.

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20 Mar 2018 09:58:47
I think you mean the Hoffenheim manager. He is very young about 30.A big gamble but so would Viera I suppose, but who ever it is D16 I think its going to be a couple of seasons to get us right and back seriously challenging for the top 2 trophies.

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20 Mar 2018 10:20:42
I like the look of Jardim. He improves players and plays good football on a limited budget. Much prefer him to ancelotti. We need a manager to build a team.

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20 Mar 2018 10:29:14
Juventus were batting off interest from elsewhere yesterday, saying he wants to stay with them and has just signed a new contract.

D16 Julian Nagelsmann would be worth a go, it’s not like he’s been left a title winning squad with even more pressure to do well.

None of the others mentioned float my proverbial boat.

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20 Mar 2018 11:00:34
Thanks H64. I really do love Wenger, don't get me wrong. Most of my footballing life he has been at Arsenal, so I owe a lifetime of incredible memories to him. Therefore, I would love for the club to announce his departure now, allowing the fans to sing and scream his name every game and give him the biggest send off he deserves. Technically we should be doing that anyway, but i'm sure you get my point.

If the Wenger of 10 years ago was available, I would give my left foot for him. He would get this squad energized and playing as a unit again! But moving forward we need to start considering alternatives, and looking at coaches who can get the most out of the players already here. Looking at other clubs, big spending isn't always the answer without a coach who can pull the best qualities from them. I reference Pep again, give him this squad and watch them fly! Our club prides itself on its stability and sustainability, and subsequently I believe a new young manager with fresh ideas will fit the vision of the 'new' Arsenal.

I think you are referring to Nagelsmann D16? He looks decent and I would hope he is in the running should a change happen.

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20 Mar 2018 12:37:47
Its a gamble who ever we get in but we've been gambling for years that every season would be the one where Arsene finally came good again.
The absolute worse that will happen under Arsene or a new manager next season is midtable 8th to 12th place.
We've seen the best that Arsene can offer in the moden game time and time again in recent seasons and it continues to take us further away from where all big clubs should want to be with every season that passes.
We won't be relegated under Arsene or the young German bloke or Vieira and we won't be top 4 again under Arsene as the competition has got much much stronger than ever for top 5 let alone 4th or higher.
Do we do it all again next season just for old times sake?
There is not one sensible reason to do that but they is a hundred sentimental reasons to do it of course.

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20 Mar 2018 12:40:50
Absolutely, for all Wenger's good work, he also has created many problems post David Dein, when took full control and hence since 2007 the club has been in decline.
Manager-wise, my choice. in prefered order would be:
1. Impossible: Guardiola
2. Improbable: Mourinho
3. Possible, but difficult: Simeone
4. Possible, but difficult: Allegri
5. Possible and fans would love them! Vieira with Henry as assistant manager
6. Very possible: Ancelotti - Worried best days are behind him
7. Possible: Enrique - Not particularly successful with clubs other than Barcelona and he inherited a great set up at Barca
7. Possible: Jardim - Would he function as well in the PL?
8. Possible: Dyche - Great job at Burnley, but would he work at Arsenal?
9. Possible: Rodgers - Experienced manager

Howe and Lowe - No thanks.

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20 Mar 2018 13:50:28
Realisticly who on that list is highly likely to do worse than Arsene?
Brendan worries me a lot but would he or Arsene take us down? Unlikely.

Howe would for me be a big gamble but no more so than sticking with Arsene is because although I don't think Eddie Howe is the right man neither is Arsene anymore.
Apart from Brendan and Eddie I'd celebrate any of that list gleefully and even Eddie and Brendan I'd think " not my chioce but hey ho here we go" and support them until they proved my concerns about to be founded.
Arsene and big Tony are two of a very short list I couldn't muster some kind of emphusiasom for next season.

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20 Mar 2018 17:10:50
Reading between the lines the recent signings and future signings are part of the new backroom staff and have been taken out of wengers hands somewhat. The next manager will be a coach. I’m sure ed01 mentioned that the coach that gets the job will be responsible for the training and selection and tactics employed where as the talent will be decided by dedicated staff. The coach will have input but not out right authority as Wenger as had in the past. Changes are been made and I don’t see Wenger going past the summer. I could see a case of him maybe staying if we get CL next year but any signings will be done with little input from Wenger and surely that will be made clear to him and if he doesn’t like that then he has to step aside. I don’t think we will see Wenger been sacked but convinced to step down.

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20 Mar 2018 19:51:18
That could make attracting first, second or third place choice replacements more difficult Sanogo.
I know it's something that's done abroad and has been for years, but it's been a problem too.
Picking a team and taking responsibility for results from a group of players you didn't want, can't be an attractive proportion for anyone.
Chelsea signed Shevchenko against Mourinho's wishes and that did no one any good.

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{Ed033's Note - "attractive proportion" - You talking about women's football again? Sounds like an attractive proposition to me!

20 Mar 2018 21:39:32
Yeah it sounds good to me too Ed but you'd definitely want to chose your own then mate :-)
You wouldn't want to ask for Holly Wilaby and end up with Teresa May would you? :-) no disrespect Teresa.

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{Ed033's Note - Yes, i'd obviously prefer Holly Willoughby and wouldn't consider Treason May.

20 Mar 2018 21:51:10
It’s done more than you think g62 and it isn’t just the rest of Europe. It’s about getting the balance right. It’s more of a team of anylists where things are decide as a team. It the way most businesses have gone over the years where you don’t have one person in sole control and have others to take a bit of the slack so the coach can coach. Of course he will have an input.

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20 Mar 2018 22:23:40
You'd actually be ok with mourinho at Arsenal? I know times are hard but let's not burn the place down.

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20 Mar 2018 22:10:19
You'd certainly be wanting words with the club if they insisted Anne Widcombe was the right option for you and Holly was all wrong for you.
It would certainly strain your relationship a tad :-) .

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{Ed033's Note - Can't i just politely tell Ann Widdecombe to go off somewhere else?

20 Mar 2018 22:47:35
Apparently not if the club chose for me, but I could get Holly to take her out in training making Annie unavailable for selection :-)

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{Ed033's Note - I'll take equal pay with Holly while i'm on the job with Holly.

20 Mar 2018 23:31:44
Best of both then Ed, wow they should name a bread after that.

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20 Mar 2018 07:25:24
With the changes in the back room staff and the early talk of very un-Wenger-like potential signings, do the club have a replacement manager lined up?
Usually talk of top signings arrives later when season tickets go on sale, but this season it's early.
Talk of Modric, Lewandowski, Oblak, etc.
What is worrying is that Wenger appears to have fallen out with Bellerin and there is talk of selling him. In addition we have to tie down Wilshere, Ramsey and Welbeck, failing which we would have an extremely weak squad, both in terms of numbers and ability.

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20 Mar 2018 08:18:55
As I see it it's pretty irrelevant who comes or who goes if Arsene stays.
Spending hasn't improved us and virtually every Arsene signing over the last 5 years is worth much less now than we paid for them.
We can sign who we like but if Arsene stays in charge nothing is going change next season regards our top 5 exclusion.

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20 Mar 2018 08:47:52
I genuinely do not think it matters who we sign if Wenger remains. I love the man, and respect him for everything he has done to this great club. But if Wenger was managing City this season, would they still be so far in front of everyone else? I find that extremely hard to believe. The coach/ manager makes all the difference. Give Pep this Arsenal squad and he would get so much more out of them. On that premise, i'm not bothered about spending this summer, I would prefer the manager to change and go from there.

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20 Mar 2018 12:27:41
The change clearly came post Dein and Fiszman, after which Wenger was left to his own devices and got a lot wrong in terms of player's contracts, sales, purchases etc.

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Review Of The Day 20th March 2018

20 Mar 2018 04:43:11
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 20th March 2018

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