From Alex Barker : Hero problem
Myles
The ‘hero problem’ blog has some interesting thoughts but I don’t agree with the conclusion.
While it is undoubtedly true that the over-centralisation responsibility and decision making on Wenger is responsible for a lot of problems, and that the Board try to disguise their lack of ambition or football knowledge by hiding behind him, I don’t think that just building a proper management structure around Wenger will solve all our problems.
For example, I don’t think that, given more time to focus on football, Wenger will make his team more defensively competent, or less one-dimensional in their style of play.
Neither do I believe that he will suddenly become a tactical manager able to nullify other teams style of play, or make tactical substitutions in game, if given more leisure time.
I think we know, as you have pointed out in the past, and as Wenger has admitted, he doesn’t coach defence because he doesn’t enjoy it, and he won’t let anyone else do it either.
These critiques that attempt to explain away Arsenal’s problems without tackling the central one, remind me of a medieval peasant’s revolt: the aim to tell the King of their grievances, expose his evil advisers, prevent bad ministrations, etc.
I would argue that Arsenal have a ‘fallen hero’ problem.
The other point made in the email is valid – what sort of appointment might this Board make if it had to appoint another manager?
Quite possibly a very poor one, given their level of knowledge and decision-making to date.
But at least in that instance, future poor performance would result in managerial dismissal, and possibly in Ivan Gazidis’ dismissal as well.
Rather than a situation where the Board is able to endlessly duck a difficult decision by hiding behind a period of success that is almost a decade in the past ,rather than sack a failing manager.