From Adrian:
Morning Myles,
Being the learned man that you are, and no doubt most of your readers, it is interesting to consider the wisdom in the management theory formulated by Laurence J. Peter in 1969 that the selection of a person for a management position is most often based on the person’s performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant and required to succeed in the intended role.
Thus, people only stop being promoted once they can no longer perform effectively, and ‘managers rise to the level of their incompetence.’
Hence, we can understand the frustration with the repeated cycle of near misses that AW has achieved post-Ferguson/Mourinho. He rose to, and has remained at, his level of incompetence.
Also.
I don’t want to engage in further AW discourse (I respect the guy) but I would say it’s sad to see some of your readers out-pouring of frustration extend to the decision to tear up their season ticket.
Incidentally, I would imagine it’s quite hard to tear up one of the new season ticket smart cards by hand.
However, taken with a smidgeon of perspective, 1-1 at OT would have been a gimme to almost all seasoned Gooners I know before the game, however poorly-earned it might have been.
Cheers.
Myles says:
A football club is not a huge or enormously bureaucratic organisation, although AFC is an American corporation and has been made soulless.
Consecutive draws with Spurs-ManUtd-PSG is inbetweenland.
It’s less than success but more than failure.
The Arsenal owner and board are very conservative and privately terrified of hiring another manager.
They enjoy their privileges and love the Frenchman who takes so much pressure off them. He is their bodyguard, their 24/7 shield.
Arsene Wenger has been far more than a manager. He has more power than any manager in Europe.
And he has been discussing a rolling one-year contract which could allow to run the club for longer than Sir Alex Ferguson bossed Man United.
A rolling one-year contract suits everyone because it allows us to think he might go soon but in fact permits him to stay where he thinks he belongs.
While appearing temporary, he will be, in fact, permanent.
A PERFECT FORMULA!!!
Why wasn’t it put in place sooner?