There are simply not many good coaches on the market at the moment.

Yes, there is Antonio Conte who recently walked out on Inter Milan due to disagreements he had with the club’s board over transfers for next season. But beyond him, there is not many.

This is highlighted by the fact that Real Madrid went for Carlo Ancelotti – a manager past his best who they sacked 6 years ago.

You then look at Tottenham.

They are becoming a running joke with how many managers they have approached, and been turned down by (or turned down themselves). The most recent one is Gennaro Gattuso.

Spurs have been snubbed by Julian Nagelsmann, who understandably preferred Bayern Munich. Brendan Rodgers preferred to stay at Leicester City, whilst Erik Ten Hag decided to remain at Ajax for another year. Whilst they made a  tentative  approach for the return of Mauricio Pochettino.

Tottenham spoke to Conte, but turned it down following his demands. Whilst a move for Paulo Fonseca broke down after Daniel Levy et al changed their mind on him.

What is embarrassing for Spurs is every move they make in the manager market seems to be played out publicly.

When Arsene Wenger left Arsenal, the senior leadership team came up with a dozen potential replacements. This is not unusual.

Some turned the opportunity to chat further about the job down straight away. Others came in for a formal chat. This is normal when recruiting for a high level position regardless of industry.

But it was all very private.

Tottenham’s public pursuit has made them a laughing stock.

When you look at the candidates they have approached, are any of those actually available (ie excluding Nagelsmann, Ten Hag and Rodgers) better candidates than Arteta?

Conte is the only outstanding candidate.

Tottenham are not the only side to have struggled to recruit a new manager.

As mentioned, Madrid have gone backwards to get Ancelotti, whilst Celtic, Everton and Crystal Palace have all struggled.

Celtic took over 100 days to appoint Neil Lennon’s replacement, and ended up with an unknown Australian.

Meanwhile Everton’s pursuit is only slightly less embarrassing than Tottenham.

There had reportedly been talks with Nuno Espirito Santo before settling recently on Rafa Benitez. Their fans have revolted.

Benitez has not done anything relevant in football since his spell at Napoli.

He followed that up with being sacked after 25 games with Real Madrid and being relegated with Newcastle and has since spent a couple of years in China.

The fact he is currently top of Everton’s list shows how few good candidates there are.

And it filters down.

Palace are also struggling to recruit.

You almost feel they need Spurs and Everton to make their decisions so they can scope up who is left. Or are they waiting for England to crash out of the Euros to get Gareth Southgate?

What is clear is that Antonio Conte is the only truly top coach currently on the market. And he has had a falling out with Inter over transfer funds and Spurs rejected him because they could not meet his demands.

You have to wonder what he is expecting from clubs considering the Covid world we live in.

Arteta is going no where. And if he was, I would be hugely concerned as to the quality of manager that replaces him.

In the meantime, we can all keep laughing at Spurs.

Keenos

Yesterday was a busy day for the Arsenal transfer rumour mill.

There were reports of a failed bid for Brighton’s Ben White, whilst Aston Villa targeted Emile Smith Rowe – Villa are clearly looking to splash the cash ahead of recouping their expenditure by selling Jack Grealish.

Late in the day Arsenal were heavily linked to Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale.

23-year-old Ramsdale has recently been called into the England Euro 2021 squad as a replacement for the injured Dean Henderson.

Replacing Henderson for England mirrors his club career where he also replaced his compatriot at Sheffield United following the latters return to Manchester United.

Ramsdale, like Sheffield United, had a tough season last year.

For the first 4 months of the season he got nowhere near any shot on target.

However he showed signs of becoming a really good keeper in the last third of the season.

Sheffield United fans are still split as to whether he has the quality to make it at the very top, but he is apparently a “top kid”.

The links to Ramsdale are interesting because it seemed Arsenal were on the verge of signing Andre Onana depending on the outcome of his doping case.

He has had his suspension reduced meaning that he can play from the 4th of November.

Talk was the Onana was going to come in to replace Bernd Leno – who could be on his way back to Germany.

There is a lot of logic behind Arsenal signing both Ramsdale and Onana.

If Leno leaves, and with no established number 2, Arsenal would need 2 new goal keepers.

If Onana is available for as little as £7million and is our primary target, we should be signing him regardless of his suspension.

That means we need a number 2 who can come in and do a job for 3 months until Onana has returned.

Ramsdale is reportedly available for £20million, is just 23 and is home grown.

With 2 years Premier League experience under his belt (one at Bournemouth, one at Sheffield United), he is a man that could come in and do that job until Onana is off his ban.

The pair would cost Arsenal in the region of £27million combined – the price tag would be somewhat offset with the sale of Leno.

That would leave Arsenal with Onana and Ramsdale as the two goal keeper options. I am happy with that.

Arsenal have also been linked with Ramsdale’s team mate Sander Berge.

The puzzle for Berge is where will he fit in.

He has played central midfield his entire career but some feel he could end up at centre back.

His problem is despite his height, he is one of those that’s smaller in the air when he jumps and defensively questionable.

He’s also slow accelerating and takes a while to reach his top speed.

Berge is a player that would get better with better players around him and has undoubted potential. But you would want to see him have another 12 months Premier League football under his belt before spending £30-35million on him.

So Ramsdale and Onanan YES. Berge NO.

Keenos

Good result for England yesterday. Head is hurting today – I will blame it on the sunshine rather than the rum I was drinking.

It was the performance of Kalvin Phillips that was most impressive.

Gareth Southgate got criticised when team new came out for “playing two defensive midfielders”; but Phillips performance showed that there are different ways to play two defensive minded players.

With Declan Rice sitting infront of the back 4 in the traditional defensive role, Phillips was free to roam further up the pitch, pressing high.

This meant Croatia were unable to build up from the back. And when Phillips did win the ball back it was often in the opponents half.

It was a similar performance to what N’Golo Kante has put in for France and Chelsea.

Whilst the Frenchman is considered a defensive midfielder, he operates best when he has someone, such as Jorginho, playing in behind.

As Phillips said in his post-game interview, he knows that he has Rice behind him so he can press high and commit himself knowing his team mate is sweeping up behind.

Arsenal played like this a couple of seasons ago when Granit Xhaka was a fairly static defensive midfielder and Lucas Torreira was given a role to push and press higher up the field.

And this might be the thinking behind targeting Yves Bissouma.

Whilst some will see playing Thomas Partey and Bissouma as too defensive, playing the pair could lead to Bissouma pushing up and winning the ball in the opponents half. This will lead to chances created.

Kante has been such a key player to Chelsea, France and Leicester City over the last half a decade. Bissouma could have the same impact for Arsenal. Phillips for England.

Little side step now.

One thing that has bugged me during the build up to Euro 2020 is the way same sections of society have gone out of their way to highlight “how diverse the England squad is”.

These people seem to be acting as if England having a diverse squad is a new thing.

They must be new to football – or just using it to push an agenda – because England (alongside France) have had one of the most ethnically diverse teams for decades:

2021: 11 Players of Colour
2018: 12
2016: 10
2014: 7
2012: 8
2010: 7
2006: 7
2004 – 7
2002 – 9
2000 – 3

It just seems odd that the make up of the squad is being celebrated now, when it has hardly changed in 20 years.

Back in 2002, 39% of the players came from a BAME background. 2021 it is 42%.

Players from a Caribbean, African or mixed heritage playing for England is not a new thing. Those commentating on the make up of the squad are trying to create an issue where there is not one.

Anyway. Have a good Monday. Drink lots of water. Pop a few Ibuprofen. And if at lunch you’re still feeling rough go have a couple of Kopparbergs.

Keenos