Tag Archives: Arsenal

4 failed Wenger replacements: Klopp, Moyes, Martinez & de Boer

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I have to start this mornings blog with some chat about Frank de Boer, sacked as manager of Crystal Palace after just 77 days.

Roll the clock back to 2013 and de Boer was top of many fans list as next Arsenal manager, alongside the likes of Jurgen Klopp, David Moyes and Roberto Martinez.

It is interesting to see how all 4 have performed in the last 4 years.

Klopp got his big move to Liverpool, where he has impressed a lot of people. But the impressive performances are more his own performances off the pitch, the way he deals with the press, the passion he shows, rather than Liverpool’s performances on it. They finished 4th in his first season, and trophyless. Fairly average.

And they have not started this season in sparkling form. Just 7 points from the opening 10 games.

Due to his relationship with the media, he seems to be able to live an easy life. Liverpool lose, he makes a joke, everything is right in the world. It will be the same if Liverpool do not win anything. He is able to create an illusion of success when there is none. He actually has a worse record than the much derided Brendan Rodgers.

It is also worth noting that Klopp has not lead a team to a trophy since the 2012 German Cup, and in his last season with Borussia Dortmund, he led them to 7th.

It will be interesting to see the response if he delivers a 2nd trophyless season, as Liverpool close in on 30 years without a league title.

Like Klopp, David Moyes also got a chance on the big stage with Manchester United where he was sacked before completing his first full season.

I actually feel sorry a bit for David Moyes as it is almost like he was set up to fail. He joined the side on the recommendation of Sir Alex Ferguson, who left him an ageing squad. They were champions in Fergie’s last year, but pretty much that summer the squad collapsed.

At the same time that Ferguson stepped down, Manchester United’s key negotiator in the transfer market – Chief Executive David Gill – also stood aside. This led Man U to have a new manager and new CEO in Ed Woodward.

A poor transfer window which saw the club miss out in a host of major targets, most famously Cesc Fabregas, Leighton Baines and Ander Herrera (who they signed the next year) and secure just one senior signing. Marouane Fellaini.

Moyes was sacked with a win percentage of 52.94%, which is favourable to the likes of Klopp (7001514000000000000♠51.4%) and Louis van Gaal (52.43%) and not too far of Jose Mourinho (57.97), who’s win %age is boosted through Europa League success.

Having been let go by Manchester United, Moyes tried his hand in Spain with Real Sociedad, before returning to England and being the man to finally get Sunderland relegated. You have to feel his reputation is now tarnished enough that he will struggle to get another Premier League job.

Replacing Moyes at Everton was Roberto Martinez. Another with a big reputation that was perhaps undeserved.

His reputation was built on playing free flowing football at Swansea City, and putting in a lot of the groundwork that saw Rodgers take them into the Premier League.

He then joined Wigan who he led to the FA Cup in 2013. Often praised for continually keeping Wigan in the Premier League against all odds, it was kind of forgotten that every time they found themselves 10 points adrift, he was manager. He was the arsonist who sets a fire and then puts it out so he can be praised as the hero.

A good first season at Everton saw them finish 5th. But they quickly slid down the table finishing 11th in the next two seasons and he was gone. It was not just the results but also the performances. Everton were trying to play like Barcelona with players who were more suited with being at Stoke.

Interestingly his replacement, Ronald Koeman has re-addressed the balance at Everton finished a solid 7uth last year.

Martinez is now manager of a very talented Belgium squad, who he has led to World Cup qualification – the first European side to be in the hat for Russia 2018 (bar the hosts). It will be interesting to see if he can complete his rehabilitation by taking Belgium’s Golden Generation all the way.

And lastly we get to Frank de Boer.

Many Arsenal fans wanted him when he was at Ajax. Partly to do with Dennis Bergkamp being involved as his assistant manager.

de Boer led Ajax to 4 consecutive Eredivisie titles, breaking a 7 year drought. Ajax have also failed to win the Dutch league title since he left. But it was a record in an inferior league. Like Brendan Rodgers in Scotland. Does it really count? Possibly not.

He went to Inter Milan in Italy, where he last 85 days before being sacked on 1st November 2016. At the time he claimed he “needed more time” in order to make a mark as manager.

A few months in the wilderness where he linked himself to many Premier League jobs, but ultimately failing to get beyond the interview stage, he eventually got himself a job at Crystal Palace.

His 85 days at Inter was beaten by his 77 days at Crystal Palace.

In hindsight, he was probably the wrong man for the Palace job.

They wanted him to change their style from a defensive, counter attacking to a possession based game. But the wish was to change tactics but without investment, using the same players who had been at the club for years. They wanted him to teach old dogs new tricks.

When Arsene Wenger came to Arsenal, he did not overly change the style of play of the club. It was still based on a solid defence, and pace upfront. It was not until his second generation of players, led by the likes of Theirry Henry and Robert Pires, when Arsenal started to play a more attacking style.

Palace seemed to demand change, but did not give him the resources for change.

He was further hampered by their two best players from last year – Sakho (unsigned) and Zaha 9injured) – being out.

After 4 games and 0 goals, Palace did the brave thing and realised that de Boer was the wrong appointment for them, Rather than battle through and risk being cut adrift before the clocks go back, de Boer was dumped.

In 2013, Arsenal had gone 8 years without a trophy. Arsene Wenger was entering the last year of his contract. Since that time, 4 of the names linked with replacing him have failed to win a trophy, have struggled at jobs big and small. In that time, Arsenal have added 3 FA Cups to the trophy cabinet.

Whilst Wenger’s time at the club is really up .The journeys of Klopp, Moyes, Martinez and de Boer over the last 4 years show just how hard it is to get your managerial appoint right.

Changing manager is no guarantee of success. And Arsenal fans need to realise that. The years of managers being in charge for 5 years, yet alone 25 years, have gone. When a man does come in to replace Wenger, it will feel like a breathe of fresh air. Until he loses that first game of the season.

I want a new manager at Arsenal .The majority of us do. But a change of manager will not guarantee a change of fortunes.

What started as a mini blog has ended up over 1,000 words as I babbled on. Sorry about that, and up The Arsenal.

Keenos

Bournemouth, Booing Sanchez, Title Rivals and Everton

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Bournemouth

We won, expected us to win, we did what was expected.

A bit like I expected us to lose at Stoke and Liverpool, Saturday was a routine win. Not much to get excited over.

Good post-game drink up though.

Booing Sanchez

Title Rivals

Early doors I know, but Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea look streaks ahead of everyone else this campaign. I expect United and City to start breaking away as their first XI’s and squads are incredible. Chelsea will fall away due to a thin squad – there last two title triumphs have been due to being able to keep a core 14 players fit.

With regards to everyone else, it is much of a muchness.

Thousands of column inches have been written about Arsenal’s crisis. And things are not great. But also a lot has been written about how great Tottenham and Liverpool are. That they are upwardly mobile, forward thinking clubs. 1 point splits the 3 clubs after the first 4 games.

It just shows how the media can spin your perspective on things. Arsenal are not as bad as many make out. Liverpool and Spurs are not as good as they make out.

Expect it to be close between all 3 for 4th place spot.

The caveat is however that Arsenal will not be in the title race this season. It is OK being like Nelson Muntz and pointing and laughing at others misfortune, but we are in a bad position. We should be talking about competing with City, United and Chelsea, not small clubs like Liverpool and Spurs.

Everton

Talking of small clubs, it seems to have gone unnoticed about how poor Everton have been this season.

The talk over the summer was about brilliant they had been. Their new majority shareholder – Arsenal’s ex share holder Farhad Moshiri – had breathed new life into the Scouse club. Attracted massive new investment and made funds available to buy in players.

And they bought in a lot of players. 14 in total. £133,100,000 spent. There was talk about how they would be a threat this season. That they were showing Arsenal how to do it. That with a top manager and funds spent, they would be challenging for the top 4.

After 4 games, they have 4 points.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have both spoken in the past about buying too many players. Admittedly Arsenal did not buy enough this summer, but I laughed in August when people were demanding the club buy an additional 5 or 6 players. They pointed at Everton as a club doing it the right way.

But the fact is, Everton were like Spurs when they lost Gareth Bale. They sold their best player (Romelu Lukaku) and replaced him with a load of mid-table averageness.

4 points in 4 games and just 2 goals scored. Well done guys.

Keenos

 

The unacceptable abuse of Tony Adams

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I am conflicted over the Tony Adams situation.

He is an Arsenal legend. Mr Arsenal. My first footballing hero (soon dropped for David Seaman – I had a pony tail as a kid). He, like any other ex-player, fan or pundit, has a right to an opinion.

But like any other ex-player, fan or pundit, he does not deserve abuse for his opinion.

I have seen it both ways over the years. Players abused for defending Arsene Wenger, players attacking for criticising Arsene Wenger. Neither side of the fan base covers themselves with glory. And both sides change their opinion on whether ex-players should be allowed an opinion depending on if it suits their opinion.

Adams has his opinion, and it might be a valid opinion, but he needs to be careful, as it feels like he is becoming a bit of a rent-a-quote.

He clearly feels the club owe him for his decades of service. He clearly feels like he should be working for the club still. He clearly blames Arsene Wenger for not getting a job. And whilst Wenger might have blocked him – for whatever reason – the fact is he is not working for the club, and he seems to be very bitter about it.

Adams talks about being able to do a job on the training pitch. That he feels he will be of some use. He has the experience, the knowledge, and is Arsenal through and through, but is that enough?

His coaching career to date has not exactly been sparkling.

A handful of failed managerial jobs, and some very well paid coaching roles in the Middle East and China. Has he really proved himself as a top coach? Perhaps he should not have turned down that youth role to chase the money in China?

Maybe he needs to take a step back and realise he is simply not a good coach. He lacks the charisma. The knowledge. The ability. A top player does not make a top coach. Just look at Glen Hoddle or Roy Keane (It is interesting how relationships between managers and their leader break down (Adams & Wenger, Keane and Fergie), or any number of other former world class players who struggled to transition to coach.

Perhaps he should become an ambassador of the club first of all. A similar role to that which the likes of Martin Keown and Robert Pires have held over the year?

If hosting Legend Tours is not too small for the King of Highbury – Charlie George, why not Mr Arsenal – Tony Adams – offer do get involved in that? Get a foot back in the door with the club?

Personally, it feels every time Adams has a book to sell, or wants to put himself on the market for a job, he attacks Arsenal. It is a way to get publicity. A way to get his name in the market once more.

I think back to the early 00’s. David O’Leary. His tally of 722 appearances for the club still stands as a club record. It will never be beaten. He went into management. Had some success. He really should have been first in-line to take over from Arsene Wenger. It never happened. He does not seem too bitter about it.

Other players, the likes of Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, Alan Smith, have spoken out against Wenger in the past. They have been abused by some fans for it as well. It is a disgrace how some of our fans treat legends. Treat each other.

The thing is when Wright, Dixon and Smith spoke out, it came across as an honest opinion, usually in the course of doing their job as a pundit. When Adams speaks it, it feels contrived, that he has an axe to grind, and will take an opportunity given to him to stick the knife in.

Tony Adams is an Arsenal great. He is a legend. He is Mr Arsenal. He owes us nothing. We owe him everything. He should not be abused. Ever. No matter your opinion on his opinions, or your agenda. My only wish for Adams is when he does conduct interviews, he would come across as a little less bitter.

Adams is right when he says that Wenger should have left in May (although it should have been May 2014). Where he comes across has a bitter, angry man is when he says Wenger did not teach him anything.

Wenger cleary did teach him a lot. He even wrote about it in his first book. Wenger improved Adams as a player. He extended his career. He saved his life.

It is an undeniable fact that Tony Adams helped Arsene Wenger. And that Arsene Wenger helped Tony Adams. They are both club legends.

Tony – I love you, you are still Mr Arsenal, you do not deserve any abuse. But just try a bit harder to show that you are not bitter.

Keenos