Tag Archives: She Wore

What has happened to the heirs of Wenger’s throne?

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Over the years many a blogger has written many a blog about who will take over from Arsene Wenger. My own version of this was written way back 2012, when I came up with a Dirty Dozen who could replace Wenger.

Long time favourite of many Arsenal fans, Frank de Boer, is set to be sacked by Inter Milan (or has already been sacked, depending on when I schedule this blog for)

With it being an international break, I thought it would be an ideal time to revisit some of the many men who have made up the list of Wenger replacements over the years. Starting with Frank de Boer.

Frank de Boer

The primary reason people wanted Frank de Boer to come to Arsenal was due to who his number 2 was. Dennis Bergkamp. Even without Bergkamp, de Boer looked like a good candidate whilst at Ajax.

A legendary player in his own right, in 2010 de Boer took over an Ajax side that had not won a league title for 6 years. He revolutionised the club, bringing in ex-players to take up almost every coaching position in the club. He led Ajax to 4 league titles in a row.

He then got itchy feet, and began linking himself with almost every half-decent Premier League job. He issued come get me pleas to both Liverpool and Spurs, neither went and got him. He also reportedly applied for the Everton job which went to Ronald Koeman, but failed to even secure himself an interview.

Then this, he said his goodbyes to Ajax. Having let the tile slip to PSV on the last day of the season, de Boer called time on his Ajax career.

He ended up taking a decent job at Inter Milan, where his current record is P 14 W 5 D 2 L 7. A 35% win ratio that leaves Inter Milan 12th.

With the bond between Bergkamp (who did not follow de Boer to Inter) and de Boer broken, it is unlikely bringing de Boer to Islington would also see a return of Arsenal’s greatest ever player. So we can basically now scrub de Boer off the list.

Jurgen Klopp

A long term favourite for many an Arsenal fan. If there was a checklist of what you wanted from a manger, Jurgen Klopp would have ticked every single box.

At Borussia Dortmund he built the club into a European powerhouse. Finding unearthed gems and turning them into superstars. He was basically Arsene Wenger, but 20 years younger. Since he joined Liverpool, they have been transformed.

There will still be question marks around him as to whether he can make Liverpool consistent title challengers, and win trophies with them, but he has shown himself as adaptable and is doing a good job there.

For me, he would still be on the list of Arsene Wenger replacements. Why can’t we poach him from the Scousers?

David Moyes

When I put David Moyes on my list, he had been at Everton for 10 years. Often getting them to bat above their weight, with 8 top 8 finishes in a row, including 3 top 5, he was at the time the best British manager around.

With his record of developing youth (the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jack Rodwell, Ross Barkley) he was set to get an opportunity at a big job, despite having failed to win a single trophy with the Toffee’s.

He went to Manchester United, didn’t last the season (in hindsight probably unfairly sacked), had a stint in Spain with Real Sociedad, where he was sacked with a 28% win ratio, and now finds himself at Sunderland playing boring, losing football.

Not only will he probably never get a top job again, you have to wonder where his next move might be as well.

Owen Coyle

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It is unbelievable that 5 years ago people were calling for Owen Coyle to be next Arsenal manager. Based on what, I am not really sure.

Yes, he took Burnley up, took them to a League Cup semi-final (beating Arsenal and Chelsea on the way) and yes, Burnley won their first top flight home game in 33 years 1-0 against Man U, but it was, and is, laughable that the words “Owen Coyle” and “Next Arsenal Manager” were uttered in the same sentence.

Five years and 4 managerial jobs on, including a stint in America, Coyle now finds himself at Blackburn Rovers.

I read somewhere recently that, after being at Burnley, Bolton & Wigan, he is attempting to destroy every club in the Greater Manchester region.

Gary Monk

Was not on any sort of list very long. Basically his Swansea beat Arsenal twice in a season. Some idiots said they would take him as next Arsenal manager – the type of folk who would take anyone to replace Wenger, their hatred of the man is so high.

He got sacked and is now at Leeds United.

 

Up tomorrow: Jose Mourinho, Diego Simeone, Roberto Martinez and More

Keenos

Five Myths about Tottenham Hotspur

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Ok, I was a little bit fed up of a lot of the rubbish spouted by many Spurs fans, much of the media, and even some Arsenal fans, after the 1-1 North London Derby draw. So let’s set some of the myths straight.

Spurs are closer to Arsenal then they have every been

WRONG. In 2006, they were a dodgy lasagne away from finishing above Arsenal. Going into the last game of the season, Spurs were a point clear of Arsenal. They shat themselves. Fast forward 10 years to 2015/16, Spurs went into the last day of the season 2 points clear of Arsenal. They shat themselves. Yes, they have moved forward in 10 years, but so have Arsenal.

In summary, Spurs are no closer to Arsenal now than they were 10 years ago.

Spurs play attractive football

In the last 7 games, Spurs have scored 4 goals. 3 of which have been penalties. So 1 goal in 7 games from open play. In the same games, Arsenal scored 19 goals. Spurs must be brilliant to watch…

Spurs Invincibles v Arsenal Invincibles

11 games, Spurs are still unbeaten. Arsenal went an entire league season unbeaten, won the title on the ground of their rivals, and set a English top flight record of 49 games undefeated and got a gold Premier League trophy. Spurs are 5th. And have not won a league game in over a month.

Spurs great form

So they might be unbeaten in the Premier League so far this season. But they are now 7 games without a win. In the same 7 games, Arsenal have won 5. Infact, in all competitions, Arsenal have lost just once in 27 games. Spurs have lost 7 games in that same period. Who really are the in form team in North London?

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Arsenal are scared of Spurs

We did the Wembley thing 16 years ago. We did the stadium thing 10 years ago. We have won more in 3 years than Spurs have won in the last 16. 0 league titles in 55 years. 0 FA Cups in 25 years. A new stadium with 12 extra seats means nothing if you are not a threat on the pitch. And the reality is, over the last 2 decades, Spurs have barely threatened Arsenal. Spurs are simple obsessed with Arsenal. They want to be Arsenal. There fans hate their dads for making them support Spurs.

Have a good evening!

Keenos

Dejected Arsenal, Delighted Spurs

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As the final whistle went yesterday and we trudged out of the stadium, dejected, annoyed, frustrated, I heard a racket behind me, some sort of mass celebration. I looked over my should and spotted Spurs fans in their corner of our stadium going mental, limbs everywhere. They were celebrating a 1-1 draw like they had just clinched the title at our ground.

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But they hadn’t.

The response from both sets of fans to what was a fair result, a bore draw, shows the difference in expectations between the two sides. Arsenal were frustrated with a draw when a win would have seen them go top. Spurs were delighted with a draw that saw them remain 5th

The celebratory Spurs fans will point to the fact that they went 1-0 down, that they are still the only unbeaten team in the Premier League, that they are still in the title race, as reasons for their excitement. But the reality is very different.

Spurs have now not won a game in any competition since the 2-0 victory against Manchester City On October 2nd. That is over a month ago. 7 games without a win represents poor form, not a top side. As for the title race, they now sit 5th, 5 points off top. Whilst it would be too early to write them off – as we have seen with Chelsea – they are starting to be cut adrift due to their inability to win games.

In those 7 games, Spurs have scored just 4 goals. 3 of which have been penalties. So 1 goal from open play and no wins in 7. You can understand why I was confused when they were celebrating so vigorously.

Whilst on reflection, a 1-1 draw was the right result in which neither team created too much, it was only Arsenal who looked like they were trying to win.

Spurs’ 3 at the back very quickly turned to 5 at the back, and their game plan was to disrupt the play, hoof long balls forward and time waste at every opportunity. Signs that Spurs have not moved forward in 2 decades of Arsene Wenger, no matter what their fans might say.

Wenger rolled the dice bringing on Aaron Ramsey for Francis Coquelin in an attacking move. Olivir Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were also both bought on in double quick time.

Meanwhile, Spurs subbed laboured off. Harry Kane got a little confused when being subbed off and went for a wander. Every chance they could get to time waste they did. At one point with 10 minutes to go Spurs tried to take it to the corner flag.

As Arsenal fans, we had every right to feel disappointed. A chance to go top lost against a poor Spurs side riddled with injuries. Spurs had no right to celebrate. And the fact that their fans did celebrate shows just how different both sides expectations are this season.

Keenos