Gooner Book Review: The Wenger Code

Book Title: The Wenger Code- Will it survive the age of the oligarch?

Author: Richard Evans

Publisher: GCR Books Ltd

Price: £13.99 from http://gcrbooks.co.uk/ (hardback)


Life-long Arsenal fan and acclaimed sports journalist Richard Evans sets out an intriguing and attractive mandate for his book The Wenger Code. The cover poses the long-unanswered question that few writers have sought to delve into- can Arsene Wenger's management style work in the modern game? So with an acclaimed writer who is a Gooner at heart, an intriguing character in Arsene Wenger as the book's main subject and a question of great interest to answer, this book promises much, and these promises certainly did enough to entice me into purchasing the book.

However, as with many books with set out such an ambitious itinerary, it failed to live up to my lofty expectations. Evans seeks to answer the rhetorical question using 'evidence  vividly bought to life from across the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons'. This appears to be a very smart idea, given that these two seasons epitomised Arsenal's shortcomings under Wenger in recent years, so evidence of Wenger's weaknesses, as well as his strengths, could be drawn upon to good effect. Alas, in his attempt to analyse the two seasons, Evans is drawn into simply writing season reviews, and fails to maintain the required focus on Wenger himself.

Evans also begins to slip into an unfortunate tendency for focusing  on minute, and largely irrelevant details, such as who deflected which shot, and failing paint the broader picture of Arsene Wenger's management. In fact, throughout the first two-thirds of the book Wenger is mentioned on in passing reference. For example, after concluding a lengthy description of a match Evans writes quickly 'and Wenger would not have liked that' in a desperate attempt to give his writing relevance to his original mandate.

As Evans' description of the season progresses, he is continually making attempts at a shallow assessment of the success of Wenger's philosophy, but his analysis of Wenger's shortcomings and the reasons for them, are more akin to the kind of excuses you may expect to hear from Wenger himself. Throughout his commentary of the 2011-12 season, Evans tirelessly curses Arsenal's bad luck, with three common complaints- injuries, refereeing decisions and one-off wonder goals. The facts is, none of these explain why Arsenal have repeatedly fallen short under Wenger in recent years, as all clubs could complain of having bad luck, and in truth, though we may not like to admit it, these are not the reasons for Arsenal not having won a trophy for eight years.

However, Evans fails to admit this, and devotes and entire chapter to his ranting on Arsenal's near misses. Looking in desperation for ways to certify his claims that Arsenal only lost due to these fine margins, scrambling for statistics stating how outcomes would have been different if all refereeing decisions had been correct; how Arsenal's injury record has changed since Colin Lewin replaced brother Gary and noting all the players who scored against Arsenal, who didn't score many goals for the rest of the campaign. For me, he still fails to convince as the statistics are based to a large extent on interpretation and factors that they fail to take into account, so hold little in the way of solid conviction. At least though, they represent an evidence-led and justified in-depth analysis that is largely missing from the rest of the book.

The entire season is commentated on is similar rather fashion, with vivid details and descriptions showing Evans' flair and prowess as a match reporter, but with little meaningful analysis or focus on Wenger himself. When the season is concluded however, the book's last chapter provides more interesting reading.

Using the more unconventional plethora of information that are football phone-ins, Evans seeks to gauge fans' opinions on Wenger's 'code' to reasonable effect, although he does suffer from using a rather small sample size. Evans then proceeds to write probably the most intriguing section of the book, and probably that which is focused most effectively on Arsene Wenger himself, in which, through the eyes of his publisher, Greg Adams, he takes the reader on a fascinating journey to Wenger's little-known roots at FC Duttlenheim, speaking to those who knew him, and sharing gems of detail regarding how Wenger learnt about the game and developed the keen passion he has for football today.

The postscript too, includes carefully chosen quotes which offer the reader gems of insight into the mind and philosophy of Arsene Wenger, but both passages are too little too late, to make the book a good read overall.

Of all the things the book suffers from, one the most significant and most surprising aspects that causes the book to fall short of expectations is that Evans is an Arsenal fan. You would think that this would allow him to write with gripping and endearing passion and indeed it does, but given the very divided nature of Arsenal's fan base with the AKB's and AMG's, it also causes him to be wholly impartial. Evans is, in Lehmann's terms- an AKB. Ultimately, when writing a book that seeks to critique the success of the very man the writer supports so strongly, this is a major hindrance. Hence, Evans' insistence that Arsenal's failings were cause by bad luck, and not Wenger's weaknesses, and that Arsenal's transfer policy is better than Manchester City's. Despite the valiant effort by Evans, the fact is, that the task of analysing Wenger's philosophy cannot be undertaken successfully by one who sits on either side of Arsenal's divided fan base, so unfortunately, the question posed by the book must continue to fester in our minds until an outsider comes along to tackle it, as only then, do I believe the question can be answered with the impartiality needed to write an effective book.


Gooner Rating: 3/10

Shuffling the Pack- Have minor team rotations rejuvenated Arsenal?

We now head towards the final stretch of a season in which Arsenal have been anything but consistent. This is often the case with Arsenal’s performances, but one thing that often remains consistent through the course of a league campaign is Arsene Wenger’s team selections- with him rarely deviating much from his chosen 11. But despite me often criticising the simplistic nature of Wenger’s approach to squad rotation, compared with Ferguson’s ingenuity, je seems to have made a couple of changes to the team in recent weeks that my just help Arsenal to a strong finish to the season.

When Gooners heads were turned to Munich and Arsenal’s second leg in the Champions League, most were either confused or frustrated by the selection of Lukasz Flappyanski in the Arsenal goal. Many (including myself at the time) saw it as a sign that Wenger was giving up on the tie and focusing on gaining the much-coveted champions League spot, as it would be fair to say that Flappy has hardly set the world alight when he’s pulled on his gloves for Arsenal- something indicated by his nickname.

However, three very solid and respectable performances later the move seems to have been inspired, as Flappy has yet to put a foot, or should I say hand, wrong. He was especially impressive against Munich, where he vocally led a strong defensive display, which saw a team who have been scoring freely all season be shut out in their own backyard- all by a team, with a recent reputation for rather questionable defending.

Fabiankski’s call-up perhaps did make more sense that I first thought, as it’s been clear all season that despite his clearly boundless ability and potential, Wojciech Szczesny has largely underperformed between the sticks this season. He has had the odd majestic performance- his heroics at Sunderland being the best example- but he has been largely disappointed. One cannot help but think that the lack of any credible competition he has faced for the jersey is a factor in his decline in form, as despite him underperforming he could rest happy knowing that the keepers behind him- Flappy, Vito and Damian Martinez have all by-and-large failed when given their chances in the first team. But in a show of confidence, Wenger has thrown the debate wide open by bringing in Fabianski- rather than the new candidate from outside the club that many have been calling for. Szczesny for being short of confidence, not a bad thing, but perhaps complacency had crept in. Given the way Fabianski has performed, he should be anything but complacent now, and hopefully his future performances will begin to show greater concentration and consistency.

I assume that Chez will have many future performances for Arsenal, as I think this change will only be temporary. Although Fabianski has seemed to add stability to our backline, he does not have the natural ability or potential that Szczesny has, and I believe that in the long term, his time in goal for Arsenal will only serve as a kick up the backside for Arsenal’s true number one Pole. Perhaps Wenger has taken a leaf out of the book of Alex Ferguson, the master of squad rotation here, as Ferguson deployed the same tactic effectively in David De Gea’s early days at Manchester United- where following some sub-par performances from the young Spaniard Ferguson made him grow up quickly, by giving first team playing time to the competent and solid Anders Lindegaard. Since then, De Gea has proved himself to be possibly the best shot-stopper in the league, completing his duties with minimal fuss.

The other change that seems to have a sparked a change in our fortunes has been the replacement of our captain, Thomas Vermaelen, who as endured a very poor season. Despite becoming a fans’ favourite for his rather dynamic work at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, (and often way in front of it) Vermaelen has been the clear weak link Arsenal’s regular defensive starters this year. Since taking up the captaincy he has struggled terribly, despite the season being remarkably injury-free for such a fragile player. Perhaps his ultimate low-point came away to the vermin in the North London Derby, where his indecisive and almost comical attempts at commanding an offside trap made for painful viewing.

By this point Wenger had clearly seen enough, and replaced Vermaelen with the inconsistent, yet very talented Frenchman Laurent Koscielny. One of Arsenal’s best players in the second half of last season, Koscielny seems to blow hot and cold more than most, even amongst Arsenal players. A defender with excellent recovery speed and mobility, he compliments the dependable but cumbersome BFG excellently- a theory that should really apply to Vermaelen as well. A change was clearly needed in regards to Vermaelen, and Wenger seems to have picked the right time to make the change, as Koscielny has stepped into the side and performed magnificently, displaying perhaps that he is certainly blowing hot rather than cold at the present time.

I have long attested that Laurent is our most talented centre-half, and I really hope that finally we can see long runs of consistent performance from him, rather than the odd flurry of outstanding displays, followed by unexplainable lapses. As for Vermaelen, it is clear that we cannot have any player in our side regardless of whether they are captain or not, but clearly, the issue of his captaincy, and very being at the club, must be addressed if he continues to fail in justifying his place in the first eleven. This does highlight a greater issue regarding the failed leaders Arsenal have had in recent years, but that is a debate for another time, and not a particularly pleasant one either.

So perhaps the dog has learned some new tricks, as the usually stubborn team selector has placed comprehensive votes of no-confidence in two of the key cogs in his young side, resulting in clear short-term benefits. It will be interesting to see going forward this does prove to be the beginning of a more ruthless management style from Wenger, or whether it leads to permanent changes to the personnel of Arsenal’s defensive core. But one thing is for certain, these changes have coincided with an upturn in our fortunes, so come on you Gunners, time to leapfrog those Spuds!

Note: I wrote this piece before the game at West brom where our defence was certainly not stable and solid.

 

 

Moving On- Laudrup is the man to replace Arsene Wenger

Although Arsenal’s fan base still remains very divided regarding the predicament of the Frenchman- who has taken sports writers’ columns by storm following Arsenal’s recent defeats to Blackburn and Bayern Munich, there is a growing realisation that the end of the tenure of Arsenal’s is nearing its twilight, and that even if the club wish to try and retain the services of Wenger, it certainly seems unlikely that he will be around for another 16 years.

Only time will how the distinctive Wenger’s legacy of Arsene Wenger will be viewed, but there is no doubt that he has had a great influence on the way things have been done at the club- too much of an influence, some would say- and this means that he will leave a large void when his departure ultimately arrives, and whatever you think of him at the moment, he will certainly not be easy to replace, and indeed, I believe that choosing his successor will be a crucial decision in the history of Arsenal Football Club, as we must try and find a man who is able turn Arsenal into winners again, and create his own legacy in the process. So will our board of directors pick out an obscure gem, like Wenger once was, a young up and coming starlet  or will they turn to a manager who already has experience and working across the ever-changing expanses of European Football. These questions will be answered in time, but currently I believe there would be no better man to lead Arsenal than the Great Dane- Micheal Laudrup.

A man with a highly prestigious playing career, Laudrup won an incredible five straight La Liga titles with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as playing 104 times for Denmark- a nation who in 2006, placed upon him the accolade of being their greatest ever player. As a player Laudrup clearly knew how to win, a trait which seems to have deserted Arsenal in recent years, and could be a characteristic that could be huge asset for any new manager.

Laudrup has also recently transferred this winning mentality to management, with his Swansea side’s ruthless, cutting-edge displays in the League Cup- in which they recently demolished Bradford City at Wembley to pick up the club’s first major trophy in its history. This win also showed Laudrup’s hunger for trophies and the emphasis he is willing to place on the domestic trophies, a desire which some may Arsene Wenger has lacked slightly in recent times.

Laudrup’s managerial CV prior to his brief reign at Swansea is also underestimated by many. Laufrup started out his career in management as the assistant coach of his native Denmark- a role in which he was seen as big success, he and Morten Olsen masterminding Denmark’s progression to the knock-out stages of the 2002 World Cup. This excellent result led to Laudrup’s appointment as manager of Danish Superliga side  Brøndby in the same year. In his first season with the club, Laudrup led the team to the Danish Cup, and a strong second-place finish in the Superliga, as well as claiming the Danish manager of the year award. In the following season, Laudrup again led Brøndby to a second-place finish in the Danish superliga, this time just a single point behind winners FC Copenhagen. However, he finally led his side to the Superliga title in the 2004-05 season, in which he also managed to complete a double, winning his second Danish Cup in four seasons, this again led to Laudrup being voted Danish manager of the year. After finishing runners-up in the 2005-06 Danish Superliga, Laudrup decided not to renew his contract at Brøndby, and in July 2007, he was unveiled as the new manger of Madrid’s third football club- Getafe.

Despite not being known as a powerhouse in Spanish football, Laudrup led Getafe to a reasonable success, reaching the Copa Del Rey final- in which they lost out to Valencia- and the quarter-final of the EUFA Cup, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich. However, he only stayed one season at getafe before moving swiftly onto Spartak Moscow.

However, Laudrup’s spell at the Russian club proved to be perhaps the one blemish on his managerial CV, as he was sacked in April 2009 following Spartak’s 3-0 defeat to Dinamo Moscow in the quarter-final of the Russian Cup.

In July 2010, Laudrup entered his next mangerial post, returning to Spain to manage RCD Mallorca. In his one and only season with the club, Laudrup managed to help Mallorca retain their place in La Liga against the odds, after the club had had to sell many of theirkey first-team players due to major financial problems, which had also led to the club’s ejection from the EUFA cup. At the beginning of the 2011-12 season Laudrup resigned following the suprise sacking of his assistant, which led to a fallout with the club’s director of football. In June 2012, Laudrup then became Swansea manager, where his superb work has been showcased for all English football fans to see.

As well as his rather impressive CV, Laudrup’s footballing philosphy also makes him an excellent fit for Arsenal. Known widely for his elegance, creativity and technical prowess as a player, Laudrup has clearly implemented the philosophy he flourished under as a player in his managerial career, promoting a short-passing game in all the post he has held- from his job as assissant manager of Denmark to his current job at Swansea. And although there are many things that Gooners may disagree with Arsene Wenger on, one clear pint of mutual agreement is our appreciation of the possession football that Le Professor has brought to the fore at Arsenal, and I believe this is something that most Gooners would want to see continue under Arsenal’s next manager.

If there is one downside to Laudrup, it is his possibly lack of loyalty to the clubs he has managed. I said earlier that the next manager of Arsenal must try and create his own legacy, and as Laudrup has only stayed in many of his managerial posts for a single season before moving on to bigger things, it is questionable that Laudrup would have the desire and commitment to do this, and may simply use Arsenal as a stepping stone before taking over at one of his former clubs Barcelona or Real Madrid. Although, with potentially vast resources at his disposal (all 123 million of them) if the board will let him use them, Laudrup could achieve great success at Arsenal and take them back to Europe’s top table, so possibly there would be no motivation to move on.

So with a highly attractive blend of intelligence, managerial experience across mainland Europe, a stylish and excitng philosphy, a burning desire for success and an infectious enthusiasm and likeability, I strongly Micheal Laudrup to be the best candidate currently available to replace Arsene Wenger. But be warned, if we don’t act fast and decisively, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dane made his move to one of European football’s top brass before we can lure him to North London.

Follow me on Twitter @goonerwalker

'McManaman-Gate'- The Tackle, Post-match recation and punishment (or lack of it)

Following Wigan youngster Callum McManaman’s challenge on Newcastle’s full-back Massadio Haidara- and Mark Halsey’s totally obstructed view of the challenge- there is been heated debate across social media, the radio, the internet, the TV and just about any other platform you can imagine. Just to inform those who have been in a very deep slumber, the storm was caused by Mcmanaman’s studs-up, knee-high challenge on Haidara, which failed to draw even a free-kick from unsighted referee Mark Halsey.

For those who haven’t seen it- here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXHT3k0pX70

 

Following the incident, people failed to disappoint with their instantaneous response of outrage and shock. The tackle was undoubtedly very bad- but quite how bad it was clearly became exaggerated in a myth-like fashion. In fact, as is the way in the age of social media debate, it wasn’t long until an unsuspecting twitter user would have been forgiven for mistaking that McManaman had committed murder, such was the ferocity directed at him.

In regards, to my own opinions on the challenge- it was a clear red. Despite getting a slight touch on the top of the ball he all but missed and went over the ball, with his studs up and leading leg well off the ground, making heavy contact with Haidara’s right knee- causing the subsequent serious knee ligament damage that will see Haidara miss the rest of this season. So I certainly agree with Dave Whelan, who asserted that the challenge was “fair”. A puzzling statement, which caused an understandable mix of outrage and bemusement across media airwaves. Whelan’s comments could have be perceived as staunch defence of the club he holds dear to him, but even if they were his honest opinions, to make the comment in public was at best ill-advised and at worst plain stupid, as they only served to strengthen the regular view of Wigan as a small club adopting an ‘us against the world’ mentality.

However, it was clear that McManaman was making an effort to win the ball- albeit a careless one- and that there was therefore no intent to injure Haidara. Although the matter of intent certainly shouldn’t impact whether or not the challenge merited a red card- which it definitely did- it should be taken it account when a retrospective suspension is awarded- a point which many failed to account for- calling for McManaman to serve a long-term ban, or some even calling for punishments almost equivalent to a prison sentence.

I personally think that the lack of malicious intent in McManaman’s tackle should mean that a standard 3-game ban would be sufficient, or at most a 5-game ban, as the challenge was simply ill-judged and a costly mistake, but banning McManaman for a lengthy period would do no anyone good. There was no need to ‘make an example of him’ as the laws regarding tacking in football were firmly laid down long ago; handing out a severe suspension won’t aid Haidara’s recovery or likely make him feel better at all; McManaman is young, and will undoubtedly learn valuable lessons from this regardless of the length of the ban and a lengthy ban would rank McManaman’s innocent error alongside actions with clear malicious intent- such as Suarez’s racism and Ryan Shawcross’ vicious assault/tackle on Aaron Ramsey (yes, I still clench my fists in anger at the thought of it). Before people jump to saying that Sunday’s incident and the Ramsey-Shawcross incident were similar, I’ll point out why they were not, and why Shawcross merited a ban in excess of 3 games, whilst a 3 game ban would suffice for McManaman’s offence. Firstly, the tackles themselves were very different. Shawcross jumped into the air with both feet off the ground, chopping down on Ramsey in a scissor-like motion, despite the ball always being positioned on the ground, which immediately shows the intent that existed in the challenge- if there had been no intent to hurt Ramsey, he would not have left the ground. This is a contrast to the McManaman tackle, which despite being high, was made at the height of the ball- quite a logically concept- and one which shows the opposite, that McManaman only intended to win the ball and not hurt the player. Another clear difference is the past records of the respective offenders. As far as I am aware, Callum McManaman has no previous history of making dangerous tackles- a contrast to Ryan Shawcross, a repeat offender, who broke Francis Jeffers’ ankle in 2007, injured Adebayor with a nasty challenge and a season later made his worst challenge yet in the same fixture- and those are just a few of the horror made by Stoke's Mr No-malice' Shawcross. Clearly this shows that Shawcross hadn’t learned, and that to make him learn, a ban longer than the standard 3 games should have been issued. With McManaman, it should work the opposite way, with no previous history, a 3 game ban would be suitable for a starting point in regards to disciplining the young player.

Here are some clips of Mr 'No-malice' Shawcross in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JImCLHKXTOs 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9FJKunkmKQ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmSVLGMjJDE

However, this is all hypothetical. Shawcross’ challenge was only punished with a standard 3-game ban, and McManaman’s...well, here we go again, the stupidity of the FA’s disciplinary system has been highlighted once more. The key flaw is the pointless and ludicrous rule- totally and unsurprisingly unique to football- that if so much as one match official casts an eye over the incident, retrospective action cannot be taken. Yes, I find it as puzzling as you undoubtedly do. If an official makes an incorrect decision, they should stand to be corrected by a judiciary panel. This is not to say that blame should be attributed to officials, it is a simple fact that they cannot get every decision right and I’m sure they would admit that they get some decisions wrong. It would not undermine their authority whatsoever, as on the field of play they would still be 100% in charge of proceedings. All this would simply do is mean that when a referee has innocently made a bad mistake or, in Mark Halsey’s case, not even seen the incident due to a player blocking their view, then they should be given assistance in assuring that the best and fairest outcome is reached. This isn’t the first time this ass of a law has been brought to the attention of eagle-eyed football fans, and unless the law changes, it won’t be the last. The FA- who were yesterday the victims of a fiery, yet largely justified rant by Newcastle’s managing director Derek Llambias would be well-advised to take the simple steps required to amend the rule, as it will help restore the ever waning credibility of their disciplinary system, as well as appeasing the masses of football fans, players, managers and pundits alike, who are craving for change.

I would also wish to end by wishing Massadio Haidara a strong, quick and full recovery from what was clearly a very unfortunate incident and I hope it does not affect the promising career of a talented young footballer.

Gooner Book Review- Theatre of Silence: The Lost Soul of Football

Theatre of Silence: The Lost Soul of Football by Matthew Bazell




Having seen this book advertised on an e-mail update from Arsenal's protest group- The Black Scarf Movement- I hoped that the book would really help bring to life the issues with the modern game from a fans' perspective and leave with a lot of satisfaction, as my lack of eloquence has often meant I've struggled to express these issue to many of TV-watching friends who adore Monday night football. But with ths book my anguish was quelled, as Matthew Bazell (who is a Gooner!) manages to articulate my views for me, making the book a satisfying read, as I was able to read it cover to cover constantly nodding and grunting approval at Bazell's views.

Although many of the ideas Bazell presents in the book are not the most complex, flowery and fantsyful figments of the magination, he writes the book with a cutting honesty and realism, with his passion being poured into each and every word. As a reader this really allows you to be submerged in his passionate thoughts and feelings, as he vividly brings to life the issues with modern football, from a very personalised and heartfelt standpoint- which makes the book all the more effective, as the reader can appreciate Bazell's standing as an everyday fan. He is one of the 'people' that the 'people's game' should be providng for with greater care.

The book itself is quite simply. It neatly comprises of different chapters, which each in theory, summarise one or two issues with modern football. bazell sticks to this simple theory relatively well, managing make each chapter differ suitably by introducing light-hearted anecdotes to back up his points, drawing on his experiences of the diffrent issues and helping fans to relate to them. If one criticism can be made of the book, it is that Bazell can sometimes become a little repetitive-especially towards the latter stages of the book- and some issues and particular points of frustration can be reiterated a little too much, although he manages to cut short his repetition with a well-manufactured and subtle ending, which ties up all loose ends well and arrives at one of the major points of the book.

This book may essentially be a rant, venting frustration at the way modern football is governed, but it is certainly an erudite, controlled and often witty one. Indeed, Bazell manges to balance his somber realism with appropriate doses of sarcasm, irony and humour, adding a more light-hearted shade to a book that may appear at a glance to be overly downcast.

So for all football fans who can see the issues of the modern game, and wish to face up to them once for all, with a straight-talking and honest account from one of their own- look no further than this book.



 

Gooner Match Review- NLD

After a narrow defeat to the enemy, the media is awash with brash claims of a 'power shift in North London'- I'll address that urban myth later, but for now I'll cover the main points we can take from the game.

For me, what essentially decided the game was the ability of the respective defences to cope with the pressure they were put under. Both teams had a similar proportion of the play offensively, with Arsenal possibly even having slightly more of the play. However, when Tottenham put Arsenal's defence under pressure, we were simply at sixes and sevens, whilst their defence stoutly stood firm. This seemed to be down to key organisational errors in our backline- a lack of communication, a lack of cohesion in our offside trap- as well as the odd individual slip-up- such as BFG playing Bale onside for the first goal. I don't necessarily disagree with us playing a high line; I believe we are at our best when we condense the space in this way and put pressure on the opposition, but for this tactic to work effectively, certain defensively fundamentals must be executed precisely. Runners must be tracked (Hello Nacho!), the defence must step up as a unit, defenders must react quickly and communication must be clear. The tactic failed because none of these fundamentals seemed to be in place, allowing the likes of Lennon and Bale to exploit our high line with their pace at ease.

In regards to the defence as individuals, I was again disappointed with Thomas Vermaelen. His from really seems to have dipped since he became captain and I have a theory as to why. Before Vermaelen was made captain he usually had another centre-half next to him to keep him in check, and ensure that the brash, cavaliering side of his game was used sparingly. However, as captain, he is now tasked with leading and commanding the defence himself, with no-one to watch over him. In fairness, an experienced centre-half should be able to position themselves without a fellow defender instructing them, but Tommy has always had a tendency to go AWOL, and that tendency now seems to be going largely unchecked with him as captain.

The defence was clearly our main downfall, although I must comment on the fact that I believed we dealt with Bale quite well. Despite the media building him up as the ultimate do or die factor of the derby, he did little apart from score the first goal- albeit an important contribution. But considering that we were on the verge of being brainwashed into thinking that Bale was a demi-god by the pre-match serenading of his abilities, his impact was underwhelming. We dealt well with him in wide areas, double-teaming him and giving him little room to work- although he did find more joy when he moved more centrally.

So about this grand 'power shift'. Well, it simply isn't true that Tottenham are overtaking Arsenal as a force in North London. To say that them finishing above Arsenal for the first time in 20 years means they are a better side is ludicrous, and to suggest that they will maintain that grand feat is even more so. The resources of the two clubs have to be taken into account. Tottenham are probably performing as well as they can hope to with the resources they have available, whilst Arsenal are underperforming hugely, and have £120 million sat in the bank ready to spent as soon as the club eventually decide we want to compete for trophies again. So with a slight change of policy and a more ambitious regime at the helm of the club, Arsenal would ease pat Sp*rs and resume their rightful place as North London's dominant force, So I suggest that they do that open top bus parade soon, because their fun won't last long.

The Wenger Debate...again

Following yet another cup debacle, this time at home to Blackburn in the FA Cup, it is becoming hard for all us blogger types to really pinpoint new reasons as to why Arsenal continue to disappoint in this fashion. I said to myself that the draw was near perfect after it was made- an unspectacular tie, unlikely to draw much media attention; we weren't playing a club many divisions below us, so the media would not be waiting to pounce on the next 'giant killing'; we were at home, requiring a trip up north to Ewood Park and we had put in a good display against Sunderland a week before- the stage was set for us NOT to crash to another, supposedly inferior opponent. But alas, many missed chances, scuffed shots, desperate scurries and agonising minutes later, that was exactly what The Arsenal had gone and done again.

The following morning, the rather pre-meditated Wenger-shaped cyclone of debate swept across the media, and no-one could escape it's vast expanses. What can easily be gleaned from this is that Le Prof is under a lot pressure, as has been the case for the last couple of seasons, if not from employers in the boardroom, certainly from the eager English press, who are beginning to sense the potential end of an era at The Arsenal. And this pressure should exist, there is no question that Arsenal are under performing for a club of their size and stature- a club who promised their fans great success since their move to grand new 60,000-seater stadium, success that has yet to materialise. If some form of pressure is not existent from the boardroom, you have to question the board's desire for sporting success at Arsenal. They may well still deem that Wenger is still the right man to lead Arsenal forward, and may well be right with that assertion, nut if questions are not being asked and changes of some form are not being made, I think all Gooners should be concerned.

In regards to personal opinion on Wenger's predicament, I do think, and partly hope, that the end of his tenure at Arsenal is nigh. Looking at Arsene's body language, downbeat press conferences, broken promises and general struggles over the last two seasons in particular, I believe that it would be best for both him and the club if they were to part ways in the near future. He has been a great servant to Arsenal Football club and quite possibly our most inspirational, innovative and successful manager, who has undoubtedly changed the face of English football, but like all goods things, Arsene's time at Arsenal can't last forever, and at some point, his performance in his role was destined to dip. Arsene could still go on to be hugely successful elsewhere, at Real Madrid or Paris-Saint Germain perhaps, but in regard to Arsenal, I think his time is almost done.

We just need a change. A freshening up, dusting down, and a new lease of life. The board should heed the warning signs and see that Arsene's days are numbered, and see that they would be wise to start preparing for his departure sooner rather than later, as coping with it will not be an easy task. Whoever the new man may be, the board must back him to the hilt and ensure that they are supported by the board in ever sense- through financial backing, support in the press and a helping hand when needed, as I am not sure that this help has been there for Arsene in recent times. As for who Arsene's successor should be, I'll leave that to another day, but I just hope that this board- however much I loathe them- has the guts and the brawn to make the tough decisions, and see that ultimately Arsenal FC is stronger club for them.


 

Piece in The Gooner Fanzine

Proud to have my first piece published in The Gooner Fanzine which was on sale outside the game today (a game I'd rather not discuss...). My piece is titled 'Defining a 'well-run' club' and you can read it, along with many other (probably better) pieces by buying issue 233 using the link below, and support a fantastic Arsenal fanzine. At £2 I doubt you'll find anything that's better value.



http://www.onlinegooner.com/shop/catalog/

Gooner Fan Focus- PSG

From time to time I love to endulge in the wonders of what makes our game so special. Really, its just us- the fans- that set football apart from any other sport in the world. Fan culture is something that interests me greatly, and every so often, I plan to profile a fanbase- looking at their history, traditions and culture. In this post, I'll take a look at the fascinating story of PSG.

A huge club with a lot of history and tradition Paris St Germain enjoy the second largest support in France and their notorious supporters are probably the country’s finest.

 ‘The Kobistes’ France’s most notorious hooligans have a dubious and at some points rather unpleasant history. After naming the stand the ‘KoB’ or ‘Kop of Boulogne’ after Liverpool’s Kop, the fans made the stand into a hub for French football hooliganism. Violence, racism and fascism were rife in the KoB and far-right groups began to dominate the stand. To try and alleviate the issue the club came up with a creative solution, building a rival Kop at the other end of the ground, which became known as ‘The Auteuil’. However, this only made the problem worse as various fan groups soon appeared in the new stand, forming a bitter rivalry with the KoB. One thing that didn’t help the matte was the fact that most of the fans attracted to the new stand were ethnic minority supporters, who were not welcomed warmly by the far-right groups of the KoB.

One of the amazing things about PSG is how these problems carried on until the last few years, with fan groups clashing internally, even leading to the murder of a KoB leader in 2010. However, PSG has managed to tackle its major hooliganism problems and after the media began to shed light on the often shocking behavior of some of the club’s fans, the KoB’s biggest group ‘The Boulogne Boys’ along with The Auteil’s main 2 groups ‘Tigris Mystic’ and ‘Supras Auteil’.

Despite, their shady and dubious history, there is no doubt that PSG fans deserve to be ranked among the most passionate in Europe. Their home support is undoubtedly one of the best on the Continent and their vocal support is second to none. Here is an example of their stunning vocal support in this clip:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxFAK6tKJY8

David Villa- Expensive gamble or Marquee Signing?

Following a typically mundane and uneventful January transfer window with Malaga left-back Nacho Monreal our only addition, there seems to be hope that the summer may be slightly more uplifting.

Throughout January, the out of favour Villa was linked with a move to Arsenal (the move was never completed as Arsene claimed Barcelona were unwilling to sell at the time). This certainly was an exciting prospect for all Gooners, as it would be fair to say that it has been a while since Arsenal have been able to attract such a big name to the club. A ‘big name’ is undoubtedly an apt term to describe Villa- who boasts a staggering honours list including a World Cup, a European Championship, a La Liga title, 3 Copa Del Rey’s (Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup), two Supercopa’s (equivalent of the League Cup), a World Club Championship and a Golden Boot, as well as being Spain’s all-time top goal scorer- compare to Arsenal’s current squad, who boast 2 French Cups, 4 Ligue 1 titles, a Copa Del Rey, a Confederations Cup, a Bundesliga title, an SPL title, a Scottish Cup, a Scottish League Cup, 2 Russian Premier League titles and a UEFA Cup between them. Considering that the majority of these cup are not perceived as major ones, that 6 of the trophies have been won by Sebastien Squillaci and Andrey Arshavin- players barely considered part of Arsenal’s first-team; and that none of the trophies have been won during the players’ time at Arsenal, and you can see why Villa’s résumé is likely to whet the appetite of many Gooners, whose team has largely been starved of so-called ‘stars’. But despite the eager anticipation surrounding his possible move, does Villa, a 31-year-old who played just 14 games last season following a serious leg break, really represent a good move, commanding a price likely to be at least £15 million, coupled with wages that would likely be at least £100,000 per week? A move for Villa certainly has its pros and cons. Let’s start with the positives.

As I pointed out before, with such a prestigious list of honours to his name Villa should carry with the much famed ‘winning mentality’- something arguably lacking from the Arsenal team in recent years. Also, the fact that his name shines with stardom, would give a much-needed lift to everyone connected with the club and create a buzz of positivity in pre-season. His ability is also unquestioned, he has an outstanding scoring record at all of his previous clubs- 40 in 85 appearances at Sporting Gijon, 41 in 92 appearances at Real Zaragoza, 128 in 217 appearances at Valencia and 42 goals in 98 appearances at Barcelona, a career total of 276 goals in 557 games, a strike rate of around 1 in 2- a phenomenal record considering his longevity at the top level of Spanish and International football. So if Villa could re-capture this form, he would certainly bolster Arsenal’s attacking options and their goal-scoring abilities as a team. Villa also offers reasonable versatility, being able to operate either as a central striker, or as on the wide-left of a front three, so Arsene would be able to deploy him in multiple roles across the front line. Furthermore, despite him hardly representing a bargain, at around £15 million- the fee Villa could likely be obtained for- his transfer would not be ludicrously high in today’s world of football, where players with far inferior records command far higher fees.

However, despite the many positives, there would still be an element of risk and uncertainty to Villa’s move. At 31, Villa is not getting any younger and his best days are probably behind him, although he would probably still request a fairly long-term contract of three or four years, possibly looking to see out his playing career with his next club. This could mean that were Villa not to work out, Arsenal could be lumbered with a past-his-best, highly-paid player on the fringes of the team and struggling for fitness (Andrey Arshavin anyone?). And although that is a very gloomy worst case scenario, it remains a possible outcome. Villa would also represent a health risk for Arsenal. Villa suffered a nasty leg break in the semi-finals of the World Club Championship against Al-Sadd of Qatar, which kept him out of action for eight months. Despite seemingly making a good recovery, Villa has yet to re-establish himself in the Barcelona team and get regular playing time. This could be partly down to the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Udinese for over $26 million, but also could be down to the possibility that Villa simply isn’t the player he was before the injury. We Gooners know only too well how a long-term lay-off can affect a player- just take a look at Eduardo. Also, without consistent first-team minutes at Barcelona, it is questionable how David Villa would stand up to the considerable that would be piled upon him a Arsenal, which would likely involve having to play week-in, week-out.

To summarise, the ambition and desire that Arsenal signing David Villa would show would be great, the move would lift spirits at the club and catch the eye of the watchful English press. The move would give us all a short-term boost, but would David Villa be a good acquisition for Arsenal? - That is still up for debate.

Gooner Signing Review- Nacho Monreal

Despite preparing myself thoroughly for another frustrating and disappointing deadline day, as other teams scurried around rushing through paperwork for their latest marquee signing and Wenger simply sat and muttered about the hordes of players that would be coming back from injury (a list which only actually consists of just 3 players that could be considered of any importance- Arteta, Gibbs and now Vermaelen). But as I watched Sky Sports News- more in hope than expectation- I was met with the pleasant news of an Arsenal signing- Malaga left-back Nacho Monreal. But will his play live up to his excellent name?

As the dust settles and Gooners have begun to run the rule over Arsenal's latest acquisition, the consensus seems to be mainly positive. My initial reaction to the move was that it was a panic buy- following the injury to Gibbs, stoking fears that he may just be a slimmer version of Santos. So I was understandably relieved to hear that we have allegedly been tracking him for a while, (although that does seem to be the case with every player we sign) and that the transfer has simply been shunted forward a few months, with Wenger planning to sign him in the summer prior to Gibbs' injury.

 
Looking at his career so far it seems Nacho is heading to London with a reasonable résumé. At 26 years old, he should be reaching the peak of his career, so hopefully his finest times will come in a red and white shirt. A product of CA Osasuna's youth academy, he went on to play 127 times for the La Liga outfit, with Cesar Azpilicueta- now of Chelsea starting alongside him at right-back. In 2011, he transferred to Malaga for the reasonable fee of €6 million, where he featured heavily in a season which saw Malaga finish fourth, making the Champions League for the first time. Since 2009, Nacho has also gained 9 caps for Spain- hopefully a good indicator of his quality, as the Spanish team are hardly mugs.

 
In terms of build and style, Nacho seems to be the archetypal modern Spanish footballer- relatively small at 5ft 10 and fairly slight at a weight of 72 kg. By all accounts, this makes Nacho the kind of footballer who should fit in well with Le Professor’s possession football. His mobility and skill, which should allow him to get forward successfully have been the main talk of football pundits casting their eye over Nacho, but his defensive qualities should not be underestimated. Coming through the youth ranks as a full-back, he should have good positional sense- something which has often been the shortfall of Kieran Gibbs- a player who I believe incidentally started out was a left-winger. Similar to his ex-teammate Azpilicueta, he is strong and firm in the tackle and is generally a astute and well-drilled defender who should bring stability to a side of our defence with has been a cause for concern in recent weeks. He is also said to possess good crossing ability- something particularly useful given the presence of Olivier Giroud- along with the fact that Sagna’s crossing can be somewhat suspect, but Nacho should offer a high-quality supply of crosses to the head of the big Frenchman. Overall, despite his rather more eye-catching nickname, Nacho generally seems to be seen as quite a solid, dependable full-back, who understands who to strike a good equilibrium between defence ad attack- just the type of player Arsenal’s cavalier and erratic defensive line may require.

 

Nacho- A source of stability?

 

At a fee believed to be around £8.5 million Nacho hasn’t come cheap, but he seems to be type of player who could just steady the ship in defence- like Arteta did to an extent last season in the midfield, when he was an invaluable asset. We shouldn’t be expecting a world-beater, but he certainly will be better than Santos- a lot better. We just better hope the Brazilian doesn’t mistake his new companion for a tasty snack.

Here's some clips of our new man in action for you to sample:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UyN9yaSpB0

Chelsea vs Arsenal- Gooner Match Report

Well it was a game of two halves if ever there was one! The first half display was limp and lacklustre to be polite, but by the end, Chelsea were clinging on; withstanding wave after wave of red and white attacks.

The most disappointing element of the first half was the apparent lack of effort put into stopping Chelsea's key playmakers- Mata, Hazard and Oscar- who were able to roam around our half at their leisure, given the vast expanses of space our midfield afforded them. As I pointed out in my preview of the game, getting in their faces early would be crucial, and it looked like Wenger had recognised this in his decision to play Coquelin, a mainly defensive-minded midfielder and his move to shift the more creative and less workmanlike Cazorla onto the flank, presumably intended for Diaby and Coquelin to smother Chelsea's attacking midfielders. But in the first half hour especially, it seemed that most of the team were largely disinterested, preferring to saunter about the pitch, rather than close down the opposition tirelessly.

There also seemed to be some confusion as to whether the team was meant to be pressing the ball high up the pitch- as the forward line of Giroud, Santi and Theo were doing- or allowing the opposition into our half before squeezing up and eliminating the space- a tactic that our deep lying midfielders and defence seemed to be adopting. This caused major issues, as it created a large gulf between our forwards and the rest of our team, a gulf which was easily exploited by Chelsea's playmakers. Whether this was down to Arsene's communication of his tactics or just a lack of effort, we will never know.

The decision to play Santi on the left wing was a very questionable one. Being small, lightweight and not astoundingly quick, Cazorla is not the best player to assign the task of helping out a fullback- in this case Gibbs- the weaker of Arsenal's two fullbacks defensively. This led to our left flank being largely overrun in the first half. As well as this, Santi's composure on the ball was badly needed at times in the first half; he rarely gives the ball away, a trait that was really from our midfield when we had our back against the wall in the first half.

Something else which was clear was the frustration of Jack Wilshire- who was assigned the more free and creative attacking midfield role, which is usually where Cazorla is positioned. due to our lack of solidity further back, and our inability to pass the ball safely out of defence, Jack saw very little of the ball in the first half- which often led to him having to drop deeper, outside the remit of his role. His despair at his teammate’s lack of closing-down was also clear to see. Told not to do the job of tracking back into our own half himself, Jack could only watch on as Mata and Oscar received the ball with ease in the centre of the park.
Wilshire- a frustrating first half


Whatever the reasons for our failure were, there was no doubt we deserved to be behind 2-0 come half-time.

However, credit has to be given to Arsene as whatever was said at half-time clearly worked and gave the players a much needed kick up the rear. Arsene isn't know for giving the hairdryer treatment to his players as Ferguson is, but sending the players out 5 minutes early was obviously just as effective a method.

In the second half we displayed a new re-invigorated urgency, starting on the front foot from the off, not allowing Chelsea to control the game, wrestling the momentum from them. I was particularly impressed with the way our fullbacks pressed on in the second half, forcing Chelsea back and creating numerous one-on-ones with their fullbacks, particularly down our right- where Cashley Cole was run ragged.

As we asserted ourselves on the game, we began to dominate possession, leading to Wilshire and Cazorla being able to take more prominent roles. With us pressing forward, Theo was able to make those run off the shoulder of the last man that have become his trademark- the combination of these two factors eventually leading to our goal.

However, we lost our way slightly as the half wore on, beginning to resort to hopeful hoofs, and despite a late siege the rally proved too late to affect the result. Although the second half offered a clear positive for all Gooners, to get anything out of the game would have felt like a bit of a steal, given the nature of our first half showing. I must be said that we didn't get the rub of the green in regard to decisions, with replays showing that Coquelin was clearly fouled in the build-up to Chelsea's first goal and that Ramires slipped when it was deemed that Szczesny had tripped him. Although, but were hard for the ref to spot, and apart from that I don't think Martin Atkinson got a thing wrong, so to blame the ref for our poor start would be totally unjust.

We must now bounce back in midweek with a victory against big Sam's lovely Hammers, in another key London derby.

COYG!

Chelsea vs Arsenal- Gooner Match Preview

As the football season rolls on, it’s the Bridge and dear old Chelsea, up next for Arsene's boys. A ground which has recently been a hub of positivity and elation for Gooners, given our excellent recent record there (we have won there 7 times during the Premier League era, more than any other team).

However, there will be much change from the uplifting 5-3 goal fest last year with you-know-who now strutting his stuff in front of the Stretford End, and Rafael Benitez now at the helm for the Blues. If anything, I believe this only adds a little more spice, to an already hotly contested match, with us having to look to other sources for goals, alongside the uncertain instability on Kings Road, the fixture looks set to not disappoint- for the neutrals anyway.

As for if we will be triumphant, here are some of the key match-ups and factors I believe the Arsenal's chances of victory may hinge upon:

 

Diaby vs Chelsea's Playmakers

 

With the lean Frenchman now returning from another bout of Diabyitus, he has quickly been slotted back into a holding role in midfield- a role he was very successful in for the first few games of the season. What will be crucial tomorrow is how Diaby can use his unquestionable physical presence to disrupt the rhythm and flow of Chelsea's pint-sized creative players- Hazard, Mata and Oscar. Tight games are usually decided on who can dominate the centre of the park, and I believe this one will be no different. Abou must get in the face of the likes of Juan Mata- Chelsea's main midfield general- early on, not giving them time to settle in to the game. Not allowing Chelsea's midfield space will be key, as when given time on the ball the abilities of Mata to slide a precise ball through to the forward and Hazard to jink his way past defenders are dangerous weapons. Diaby can also influence Arsenal's attacking game, as a solid defensive foundation will allow the more creative feet Wilshire and Cazorla the space and time to take the ball into the Chelsea half, and create goal-scoring chances. But whatever happens- don't get injured Abou, The Arsenal need you.











Diaby- Key to Arsenal's success?





Ba/Torres vs BFG and Verminator

 
The main factor here is really who plays. Ba is the kind of robust, physical centre-forward that Arsenal's relatively small, more technical centre-backs tend to struggle to cope with and is clearly on blistering form, whilst everyone knows the sad case of Fernando Torres. A goal-scoring machine turned missing-machine- all for £50 million, nice move Roman. Ba, is undoubtedly the most likely option, but with many believing that one of Benitez's main jobs is to try and revive Torres, it is not out of the question that he could show faith in his floundering fellow Spaniard. In regard to Arsenal's defending, there's not too much obvious cause for concern. After struggling a little early in the season, Vermaelen aka Verminator, seems to have moved on and is playing with his usual level of dominance and assurance, but he must ensure this continues tomorrow against a strong Chelsea attack, and give a strong and commanding captain's performance from the heart of Arsenal's defence. In regard to Mertesacker- The BFG (hear the song to understand the acronym), he must ensure he uses his height well, and stands up to the aerial threats of Ba, Cahill, Terry and Ivanovic- all of whom could be dangerous from set-pieces. Positioning is also key for the German, something usually a strength of his, as he must make sure he is not left to bite the dust of Chelsea's fleet-footed attackers.

 

The Crowd

 
The crowd are always a factor in tight, tense games and I believe it will be no different in this game. The Chelsea fans clearly still haven't warmed to Rafael Benitez and a poor start could lead t them getting on the back of the team and creating a negative atmosphere at the Bridge. This is a why a positive start is so important for the Gunners as the encouragement that discontent from the home crowd could give the team really could spur us on to victory. The travelling should also be in fine voice as usual- any opposition team with Cashley Cole and John Terry give us Gooners plenty to shout about!

 

So if these factors can all go Arsenal's way, then it could be another happy day at the Bridge, showing that Russian boy exactly how it’s done! COYG!

 


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Defining a 'well-run' Club- are Arsenal one of them?

Various clubs across the UK are often referred to by the media as ‘well-run’, an ambiguous phrase, banded around constantly by journalists and broadcasters alike. But despite this label often being applied to clubs, there is very little explanation as to what the term actually means. Really, there is no clear way to define a ‘well-run’ club- what the term means is dictated by who you are and your perspective on the club in question.

From a fans perspective, a well-run club simply consists of a team who performs well on the pitch, whilst keeping in mind the desires and requests of the fan base, preserving their place as an important part of the club. From the perspective a modern CEO, Commercial director, or many foreign owners, a ‘well-run’ football club, is something different all together. The priority of many of these people, rather sadly, can be solely the bottom line.

So from our perspective as fans, are the media really right to refer to any English top flight clubs as well-run? Or, in the modern world of the money-machine Premier League, is the phrase obsolete. For me, English Premier League clubs generally fall into 4 main categories: Clubs who spend ruthlessly, without any regard for the running or management of their football clubs (i.e. Man City and Chelsea); clubs who manufacture huge amounts of revenue, primarily to re-invest on the pitch (i.e. Manchester United); clubs who try to keep some of their fans wishes in mind, but ultimately prioritise commercial success in order to compete (most fall in to this category) and finally there are those who seem to pursue status as commercial brand, without any desire for an intimate connection with their loyal fans, who continue to fund the running of their brand. Alas, dear old Arsenal are one of the clubs who most definitely fit into the latter category. With an absent American owner, who is more used to managing ‘franchises’ than ‘clubs’; astronomical ticket prices, which fail to correlate which the lack of on-field success, and a manager who prioritises the vast riches of the Champions League over the much-needed glory of domestic trophy, this fans’ view of Arsenal is hard to argue with.

The issue for us fans, is that despite our clear discontent- demonstrated aptly through the vocal Black Scarf Movement- at the way Arsenal is being run, which currently resembles the running of a Global Corporation more than an important sporting institution, the board simply do not care. So given the point I made earlier, let’s take a look at who sits on the Arsenal board, and what their definition of a well-run club would likely be.

Sir Chips Keswick and Lord Harris of Peckham- The reaction of most Gooners to those names would likely be- who? And that very puzzlement probably indicates just how much influence they have on the running of our club- their presence is totally superfluous.

Peter Hill-Wood- Defendants of PHW may claim he is just old, confused, and useless at PR, but there is fairly strong evidence that his view of Arsenal conflict with the views of fans. His sale of his inherited shares for £5.5 million to Stan Kroenke , and his comment that “You wouldn’t say no to a few million pounds.” Outlined his vision that of Arsenal as a profitable business- he didn’t care less that his family had owned a share in Arsenal since the 1920s, he still happily gave away this prized heirloom for his own personal gain, just as he continues to sanction the sale of Arsenal’s star players, just to make a profit. He also, showed his clear compassion and care for the club’s supporters, announcing at the end of the club’s 2012 AGM, “Thank you for taking and interest in our affairs”- to shareholders who have every right to be there taking an interest in what is happening with the money that they have invested into the club. By the way, is Peter Hill-Wood a shareholder?

Ken Friar OBE- No Gooner can question Ken Friar’s loyalty to the club and the contributions he has made over the years, but looking at the roles he has held at the club, it is clear his main interest lies in the financial and marketing side of Arsenal- the side we fans quite simply don’t care about. He certainly isn’t to blame for Arsenal’s current corporate priorities, but I would prefer loyal servant such as Ken to devote more time to questioning Arsenal’s issues on the field and reaching out to fans, rather than worrying about the Club’s business model.

Stan Kroenke- He’s an American businessman- there’s not much more to it. As the founder of KSE (Kroenke Sports Enterprises), who also own- Denver Nuggets of the NBA, St Louis Rams of the NFL, Colorado Rapids of the MLS and Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League- he is used to a culture, particularly in the NFL, where professional sports teams are referred to as ‘franchises’, and sky-high ticket prices, mid-game commercial breaks and flashing billboards are commonplace- and are accepted wholly by fans, which is something which has not quite happened yet in the Premier League, despite a degree of acceptance from most supporters. This is Kroenke’s downfall. He has tried to apply the same strategies to Arsenal as his US franchises, only to realise that fans simply won’t just let that happen here, our passion for our clubs is far greater, they are , or at least were, at the heart of the communities we live in, something not common in American Sports. Kroenke’s prime aim is to max out share prices at Arsenal before selling his shares for a huge profit. With that he seems to be heading the right direction, but he’ll need to be willing to face many more fan protests if he is to get there.

Ivan Gazidis- Amid all the criticism Ivan is receiving from Gooners, although I think Ivan is far from blameless, we must remember that he is an employee of those above him, and ultimately his job is to comply with their wishes, he can be held accountable for poor negotiations, but cannot be blamed for the overall direction of the club, he is employed as a PR man and human shield for the board, although as I say, he is CEO, so he is not entirely blameless, and the money fans pay for their tickets does fund his rather inflated, and largely unjustified, bonuses.

So if this rather scathing and sceptical assessment of Arsenal’s board is to be agreed with, then it is clear, that they hardly have the fans’ best interests at heart. But does this result in a well-run club?

Arsenal are well-known for charging the highest ticket prices in world football, exploiting a loyal, yet evermore disillusioned fan base, with tickets starting from £62 for big games, something rightly pointed out by City fans, and a linesman to boot. With no trophies in what looks soon to become 8 seasons, it is clear Arsenal are also unable to maintain any sort of equilibrium between creating revenue and achieving success on the field. Another major issue with the running of Arsenal is the secrecy, lack of information and propaganda provided which is fed to paying supporters. The announcement of transfers is delayed, often to appease fans renewing their over-priced season tickets; attendances which do not represent the number of people in the stadium, simply the number of people who the club have taken money from, providing a falsified image, and our CEO and manager give answers any bland politician would be proud of, to very reasonable, appropriate questions.

So it is time the media changed the way they view Arsenal, and sided with the ever-growing number of disillusioned Gooners. The Arsenal is a club, not a business, who should aim for trophies, not bank notes- so we are not- ‘well-run’.

 

Back Again?- Will Thierry Rise Once More?

Sorry for the very long break. Haven't been able to blog due to work, but I'm not back and posting once more.

Rumours that TH14 will return for a second January loan are swirling about and I fear that this time, the move may not work as planned.

Can it be as good again?

Thierry Henry was, is and always will be my one and only footballing idol. His every touch beamed with pure class and he was a pacy, skilful, precise, infallible goal-scoring machine. He is without any doubt the best player I have seen wear the famous red and white of The Arsenal. He provided me with one of the best moments of my recent Arsenal-supporting life, where I was fortunate enough to be only 3 rows back in the away end, when he netted the late winner at Sunderland, causing utter pandemonium for an utter genius. Understandably, ‘utter genius’ is also the way I would describe Le Boss’ inspired move to bring him back last January. But as far as I am concerned, bringing him back again would be anything but.

TH14 is regarded by most Gooners as the best player in Arsenal’s modern history, and most crucially a fan favourite. His status as a pure club legend was only reinforced by his fairytale return and immortalization in bronze outside the Grove. And after all the great moments Thierry has given us as Arsenal fans, I could not bear to see an older and ultimately less capable Thierry, returning and struggling to fulfil these memories, ever so slightly tainting his legendary status.

I believe his impact on the team, on and off the field would also be less potent than last season; as I simply cannot believe such perfectly scripted moments can ever be repeated. Would the story of Cinderella maintain its affect if the story was extended, so that she visited a second ball, with the same events occurring? The lift he seemed to give to the dressing room and all associated with the club last year was priceless, but surely the same impact would not be created with the same players and supporters in a similar situation?

How much he would actually add to the squad is also questionable. With Olivier Giroud currently leading the line exceptionally well, and with us possessing many talented wide players such as Theo, The Ox and Podolski, there is no way Thierry would make the starting XI. Having said this, there is no doubt that he is miles better than our current backup strikers who are currently Chamakh and Eboue-in-a-wig Gervinho (if he plays out of position). We do need reinforcements up front, but Thierry would only be a short term-fix and would not solve the issue. To solve this weakness in the squad we would be better to either a) grant Theo his long awaited move to the centre and sign another out-and-out winger or b) Sign a great prospect such as Wilfried Zaha, who would be willing to bide his time behind Giroud in the pecking order, whilst fine tuning his game and being able to operate as an impact sub or offer a good alternative to the Frenchman.

So please Thierry, we Gooners all loved your fairytale return last year. But please don’t tarnish those fond memories by attempting to repeat the same trick twice.