This could be our most important signing of the summer, better than anything we could hope for as an understudy to Wenger. Le Guen to arsenal?
that would be interesting. but do we really need to replace wenger? it cant hurt to have a young obviously very talented coach in the club. but would he really want to not have a team of his own?
I think this could be very good for the club. Wenger is a genius but it does seem that he could use some help with tactics, subs, etc. If Le Guen could fill this role as assistant manager, i think it would take a bit of the pressure off Wenger. It also could maintain continuity if Wenger wants to eventually transition to a Director of Football type postion with the club.
That's what surpriesed me, my assumption is that there are a variety of pretty good jobs coming open this sumer that Le Guen might have a good shot at. The article seems to be saying that Wenger would be grooming Le Guen as his successor when he steps up to the directors box in 2008ish. And as far as tactical help goes, Wenger could proboably use some (he is a peerless strategist, having crafted Arsenal's wonderful style, but his tactical have been found wanting, espescially in Europe).
I think if we could somehow pull this off it would be a huge boost to the staff, but I really don't see it happening. Le Guen is too high profile a manager to take an assistant role, he'll have clubs after him whenever he decides to return, that's for sure.
Just the mentioning of Le Guen (one of finest young coaches) to Arsenal in whatever capacity is testimonial enough to Le Prof's positive standing, although majority of Brit media have been denying Wenger. It is obvious Le Guen is readying himself for the EPL, even if it's not with Arsenal. Where else to do that than at Arsenal, where you have Wenger who paved the way for foreign coaches into the EPL. In my most honest opinion as far as pure footballing issues are concerned, Wenger has surpassed af a long long time ago. If not for those dirty tacts by afmu which their accomplice turned a blind eye to, Arsenal would have retained at least twice the EPL championships won. Excuse me, I just don't like to see a good man being maligned.
This strikes me as a move akin to Querioz at ManU - clearly able to manage, but hoping his proximity will result in succession when the big man finally steps away. I could see Le Guen taking the job, but, like Querioz, he might be lured away for the right managerial spot (ahem, Madrid).
I don't think he'd be looking for an assistant's role, to tell you the truth. I'm sure he'll be snapped up by a club looking for him to do what Wenger has doen at Arsenal. Besides, Arsene seems to work extremely well with Pat Rice, and I'd hate for another assistant to come in with the possibility that Rice might leave.
Rice is the same age as Wenger, this might be the right time for him to leave the nest and try being the Manager of a smaller club. I honestly think that a little shakeup in the coaching staff might be exactly what Arsenal needs.
I can't see Pat Rice leaving, he's an ideal number two and I don't think he's cut out to be a manger in his own right. I doubt he'd even want to be.
That's the impression I've always had. He's comfortable being Wenger's #2, and he's well compensated for it. If his heart was set on being a manager I'm sure he would have left long ago as I'm sure plenty of teams have called to see if Arsenal's second in command was available.
I think part of the reason that AW took on PR as his No.2 when he first arrived was to "bridge that gap" between him and the English players there. (Basically the back 4, plus DS1, and maybe to help him settle into English football). Now that he is settled, and there are now only really Campbell and Cole as the English representatives, and with more French speakers in the team, he feels he needs someone else, although I do go along with probably the main reason, is to see what he would be like, and if he could settle as the next manager, should AW decide to "move upstairs" in the future.
I have been under the impression that Pat Rice is mainly a defensive coach. So if has no ambition of becoming a manager, then adding another Assistant Manager shouldn't really be a problem. I've thought for a while that AW could use a fresh perspective on his staff, especially this year, as off the field issues have seemingly left him tired and drained.
The only team i can think of with a coaching vacancy right now is Manchester City, so if Le Guen wants to move to the EPL he really doesn't have too many options.
Reading this thread, i'm beginning to think it is a possiblity. Apparently he may not want a managerial role in the future.