News: When the spit hits the fan - OTT [R]

Brenda for some reason has been in contention for some time apparently. According to the bookies and latest rumors, the front runners for the job are: Rodgers, Vieira, Ancelotti and Low.
It will be very interesting to see who lands where when it's all said and done. Some big changes in store managers wise again this summer. Tuchel to PSG is all but done and it's just a matter of it being made official (probably by season's end).

 

I can imagine it would be easy for a guy like Viera to abandon his current club (NYCFC, 1st place team in the league essentially, undefeated) in the beginning of his clubs season...

But he probably needs another year of experience. If I were Arsenal upper management, i would not consider Viera just yet.

 

Low is unlikely too I suspect.

Ancelotti seems possible. I have my doubts hes a good fit though. Too relaxed.

 

More than anything else, Arsenal need to look to us in the dos and don'ts in terms of how to deal with the post Wenger era.
An established winner is a must, Prem experienced might be desired (but not absolutely necessary).
Vieira should succeed the guy who will replace Wenger at the earliest. Brenda would be an odd choice as well for them, despite his success in Scotland.

Speaking of SAF, his thoughts on Wenger stepping down.

www.bbc.com/sport/football/43835547

 

So when we gonna get rid of Mourihno?

 

They’re coming from me thinking it would be hilarious.

 

The Rodgers rumors are actually very real and he appears to be a legitimate candidate for the job.
Celtic have already said they wouldn't stand in his way, if Arsenal approached him...

www.bbc.com/sport/football/43840717

 

Even Celtic know he’s trash.

 

One of the biggest frauds around as far as I'm concerned. Thought he was legit early in his Pool career and even thought they had found their own version of SAF in a way. Even used to call him "mini-SAF", partly as a joke, but also because I actually believed he was the real deal, after that special "Hard knocks" style show they did during one preseason.
When he almost took Pool to the title, it only strengthened that belief and thought it's only a matter of time before he won things with them. Much to my relief though, that was as good as it got for him...
What he's doing with Celtic is BS in a joke league like the SPL, with literally zero competition there. If Arsenal want to hire him, all power to them, but it makes zero sense that he's actually a legitimate candidate. Vieira, who's not an optimal candidate for me yet, would be a better choice than him.

 

I would gladly give them Jose.

 

Arsène Wenger’s all-time Arsenal XI? 🤔#UEL pic.twitter.com/UOTHR42yA1

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 20, 2018

 

As I see it most of Wenger's issues have been more macro stuff - his philosophy, unwillingness to spend, recruitment only of certain types of players etc. In other words I don't see it as a situation where the sides he puts together have been dramatically underachieving what they should be capable of, but an issue where the sides he puts together are unbalanced and not good enough.

That puts the next manager in a very tough position. The Arsenal fans who have been hoping for Wenger to go for years now are going to be expecting a big uptick but unless they have an absolutely huge summer (hard to do in a time of transition, look how much indecision we had in our first post-Fergie summer) they're in all likelihood going to go into next season with the 5th or 6th best squad in the premier league.

 

It still all hinges on who Arsenal's next manager will be. It's crucial really. And as far as transfer targets, the obvious needs are still the same and they haven't changed. They need a GK, one or even 2 CBs and probably a strong DCM/DLP, at minimum.
There are other possible needs, but addressing those positions, coupled with the players they already have elsewhere, may make them competitive at least for a top 4 spot.

 

What's next for Arsenal with Wenger set to leave?

www.bbc.com/sport/football/43841645

 

They're also not different and are unaltered.

I guess we now get to see how much of the spending was down to Arsene and whether Stan Kroenke's notorious tightness is only reserved for the Rapids.

 

My Arsene era Arsenal team looks like the following:

Seaman
Lauren. Adams. Campbell. Cole
Vieira. Parlour
Overmars. Bergkamp. Pires
Henry

Subs: Lehman, Toure, Petit, Fabregas, Ljunberg, Ozil, RvP

Difficult to leave the likes of Ozil, RvP or even Cesc and Petit out, but those type of teams require some tough calls to be made. Plus, Henry is not just an Arsenal, he's an ATG period. Always been a mega Pires fan while he was at Arsenal: not the quickest and had that awkward gait when he ran, but technically sick and the guy knew the way to the net.
Overmars is a no brainer as well. Selected Parlour next to Vieira for his dynamism, plus I feel is a better compliment to Vieira than Cesc.

 

Arsenal Fan TV can close up shop now....

 

Vieira is flattered by Arsenal links, but is happy in his current position.

www.bbc.com/sport/football/43848651

He really has no reason yet to leave NY, where he is successful, especially for Arsenal (way too early for him). His time will come up soon enough.

 

📸 @IngsDanny back on the scoresheet in the #PL for the first time in 930 days

West Brom 0-1 Liverpool (24 mins) #WBALIV pic.twitter.com/WrmoqSsIVk

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 21, 2018

 

Sure Ozil is good at assists, but considering he only has 4 goals in the EPL this season (the same as Smalling!) which is only a goal or two off his Arsenal EPL average, not even close to best AW team for me.

In fact Ozil for me encapsulates all that was wrong with the end of AW era;
- sure, flashy and skiilful against lesser oppo, but ...
- inconsistent
- journeyman
- lightweight
- no fight
- no work ethic on defending
- bottles the big games

 

Most of those reasons, plus considering how players fit with one another are how I've based my selections for this team.
Ozil, while being an established name in the game, never really reached the highs he has in other teams (or way too sporadically at least). Bergkamp in support of Henry is almost too perfect anyhow.
In the same vein, it could argued that Fabregas would be an automatic choice next to Vieira, but Parlour's style and the way he played, to me makes him the better choice as well.

 

Salah with another one. The guy simply can not stop apparently this season.
That's 41 goals total for him now...

Livermore gets one back and it's 1-2, with 12mins and change remaining.

And Rondon makes it 2-2 at the 88th. Hold on now boys!

 

Good comeback from WBA and a good result for us in a weekend when we're not playing a league game.