From David : Wenger
Wenger’s unsure why Arsenal didn’t create much in the second half against Stoke!? He wonders whether the players were tired!!!???
Is that the biggest insult to Arsenal fans ever??
They last played one week ago, went out of the league cup before Xmas, the CL in the 2nd round, the FA cup in the 5th round, and they’re tired!!???
They’re paid £50-900,00 a week and they find it tiring to play two 90-minute matches in that period??? Please…
From Paul : No coincidence
Do you think there is any coincidence that the FA have chosen the day of biggest Premiership fixture of the season to sort out the English manager’s job?
Trying to keep it behind the far more interesting City v Utd game later on.
Everything about this appointment screams low-key / under the radar / typical Bernstein (bit like his own appointment when everyone expected the more high profile David Dein).
I like it. A Harry appointment would have made this the leading story of the day, when it shouldn’t be – a title deciding fixture should be more important that the English manager job.
From Goonergerry : Let’s not appoint a wideboy
I agree with you about Hodgson.
The FA did not like the smell around Mr not very tenables- and given the ridiculous “wot me guv, I can barely read or write” testimony he gave at his trial-after opening a dodgy Monaco account in his dogs name- Arry made himself a national laughing stock.
The hacks don’t realise that veracity, integrity and dignity are important attributes in a figurehead position like the England job.
The fact that Arry simply lacks the experience and track record to manage a major international team also seems to have passed them by.
Appointing Hodgson is a no brainer- and it’s also very true what you say- he will be slaughtered by the press, partly because he is not one of them but also because they do not recognise the man’s values.
From Huseyin : Hodgson and Koscielny
There was a really good post on a Sky Sports forum a couple of weeks back by someone who had clearly done their research and it was specifically focussing on managers and their defensive coaches.
Pointing to a few examples around Europe where clubs fortunes have turned after bringing a defensive coach who knows his stuff.
I think Arsene’s problem is that his philosophy contradicts what most good defensive coaches would preach. He likes freedom of expression and allowing defenders/holding players to join the attack.
This for me is him trying to make up for a lack of attacking quality.
It all starts from the back and it is lucky for us that at the time Sol Campbell didnt want to go abroad as it was him that papered over the cracks in terms of Arsene’s lack of ability to drill a defence.
Must say, however, I am chuffed with how Koscielny has turned out.
Got a rugged gritty eastern Europeanness to him no doubt gained from Polish roots and not French football!
England job, cant believe how people are suprised they approached Hodgson The FA never wanted Harry and who can blame them? The hacks and the naive majority were trying to elect him… Kevin Keegan mark II.
That said, dont think Roy will do a great handling the big players and egos.
But the only man out there who could do a good job for England is Jose Mourinho.
Plays to players’ strengths (which are limited!) and has a bigger ego than all of them together!