The Round Ball Game - II

[teamsaint]

End of an era at Arsenal then.


They have certainly played some wonderful football during his reign.

[Lat-Literal]

End of an era at Arsenal then.


They have certainly played some wonderful football during his reign.

Very sad news. Only the name of the club and its colours will remain. He would have to have been in place until 2022 to have managed the club for 50% of the time that I have been a supporter. That always seemed unlikely. He is, though, for most Arsenal supporters under 30 the only manager they have known. Still, they are mostly somewhat less concerned.

To my mind, this period is all a bit 1918-19 which is to say that we've known for quite some time that the old century was over but now we really know. Wenger joins my personal long list of 21st century losses which includes Highbury, popular music as we knew it, the Rottingdean pitch and putt course, being employed, bearable volumes of traffic, the golden age of comedy, physical health, belief in the political system, a lot of friends and family, attendance at sports events and music festivals, parents who are recognisable, regular holidays, most decent radio and television, economic security, knowledge that there isn't a cold war and normal springtime weather. York City's ground will be going in 2019. Half of my neighbours are about to move or drop dead. Additional green spaces are soon to be lost to housing and fracking. Sometimes I feel that if I had moved abroad, the world wouldn't seem any less alien. When I think of my parents at my age now in 1985, most things from their perspective were reasonably stable, utterly familiar, albeit slowly changing, and unequivocally improving.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43834283

[Stanfordian]

End of an era at Arsenal then.


They have certainly played some wonderful football during his reign.

Play pretty football at times in recent years but a terrible lack of trophies with culture of mediocrity becoming the norm. For a club of its magnitude it hasn't won the premier league since 2003/04 and its recent European record is woeful winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup back in 1994. The FA cup has saved his bacon for some time but in truth that's a competition that has become of lesser status.

A massive clear out of players is on the cards. I can see them going for a safe choice as manager rather than a more volatile Diego Simeone figure.

Joachim Löw or Luis Enrique are the best men available for a big job such as this.

[cloughie]

Play pretty football at times in recent years but a terrible lack of trophies with culture of mediocrity becoming the norm. For a club of its magnitude it hasn't won the premier league since 2003/04 and its recent European record is woeful winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup back in 1994. The FA cup has saved his bacon for some time but in truth that's a competition that has become of lesser status.

A massive clear out of players is on the cards. I can see them going for a safe choice as manager rather than a more volatile Diego Simeone figure.

Joachim Löw would be my main choice.

Mebbe so, but I think there are many of the clubs in the 110 or so below them in the leagues and non-leagues who woulld be happy to have Arsenal's record over the past 22 years, and their unequalled longevity in the top flight.

[Stanfordian]

Of course they would but Arsenal are a massive club. Ranked No. 6 in the Deloitte list of the 2018 Football Money League that charts the massive revenues of Europe's biggest football clubs.

Is its objective to excel and win major trophies or to play pretty football?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... and their unequalled longevity in the top flight.

They've never been relegated, but they've never been legally promoted either.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Glutton for punishment , eh ?

Talking of which, in a mad impetuous moment I bought a ticket for the semis...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think The Toon and Seagulls will be ok this season and The Toon must be rid of that Chairman!!!

Just about every Newcastle supporter I meet says the same.

[teamsaint]

Talking of which, in a mad impetuous moment I bought a ticket for the semis...

Me too........ and Mrs TS and the two lads.
I just couldn't look myself in the mirror, knowing I hadn't gone to a SF, when I had the opportunity.

Was at the semis in 76, 84 ( AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH) and 86, but missed out in 2003.

Due a win.

It could be a great day , Stoatfoe !!

( Incidentally, we are way off selling out, and Chelsea struggled to, and they let ST holders and members buy more than 1 each, which Saints haven't. People are blaming concession prices, which are very high, and generally high prices, but £30 tickets are plentiful , and the top price tickets mostly sold out . By comparison all full price match day tickets for Bristol City V Hull are over £30 ).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When I think of my parents at my age now in 1985, most things from their perspective were reasonably stable, utterly familiar, albeit slowly changing, and unequivocally improving.

What? The Cold War was at a peak - cruise missiles, SS20s.

[Lat-Literal]

I don't think it is the right decision.

My list has little resemblance to the one at William Hill. Aptitude and success are important but tone is all. This at Arsenal should mean (a) civilised, dignified, respectful of the history and no arrogance and (b) in innovation, not following the herd but leading and really pushing the boundaries socially, albeit in a fairly conservative way as the club has always done.

No Euro "Gods".

Not Brendan Rodgers.

Lukewarm on Eddie Howe.

The first two speak for themselves.

1 Thierry Henry, 2 Patrick Vieira 3 Kelly Smith 4 Roberto Martinez 5 Roy Hodgson 5 Martin Keown 6 Tony Adams 7 George Graham 8 Mikel Arteta 9 John Motson 10 Mauricio Pochettino.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFWHAnVudZI

(actually, I'd add David Wagner to that list because of Arsenal's little appreciated but significant historical connections with Yorkshire/Huddersfield FC - also Wagner sounds like Wenger)

[Lat-Literal]

What? The Cold War was at a peak - cruise missiles, SS20s.

Well, yes, accepted, and sort of no - things slowly got better at, for example, Greenham from that point onwards.

Now that I have thought about it seriously:

1 Thierry Henry 2 David Wagner 3 Patrick Vieira 4 Carlo Ancelotti 5 Roberto Martinez 6 Roy Hodgson 7 Martin Keown 8 Tony Adams 9 Mikel Arteta 10 Kelly Smith*

(*yes - a woman on the short list - and why not?).

All of these would incorporate elements of the cerebral/thoughtful and kindness - and keep out the bombast prevalent in the current game.

Ranieri would be ok too.

[BBMmk2]

Sad news indeed hearing Wenger’s decision to leave. The players and the media have their wish granted..

[EdgeleyRob]

Quite a few teams not playing this weekend,a couple more leagues won today

Coventry City 3 Stevenage 1 Back to back league wins,remain in the play offs
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2 Conceded twice in the last 11 mins when 2-0 up
Watford 0 Crystal Palace 0 Now 6 points clear of the drop zone
Dundee 2 St Johnstone 1 Equalised on 85 mins,conceded the 2nd 3 mins later
Kilmarnock 0 Aberdeen 2 Scored in each half,up to 2nd
Partick Thistle 2 Hamilton Academical 1 Behind at the break,1st win in 10 league games
Bolton Wanderers 0 Wolves 4 2 goals in each half,Championship winners
Sheffield Wednesday 3 Reading 0 Straightforward win,now mid table
Wimbledon 2 Oldham Athletic 2 Took the lead twice,3 points above the relegation zone
Rotherham United 2 Bristol Rovers 0 Conceded in each half,winless in 4 league games
Exeter City 2 Crawley Town 2 Just 1 point off the automatic promotion places
Eastleigh 0 Macclesfield Town 2 Conference winners,back in the league after 6 years
Hartlepool United 1 Torquay United 1 Conceded a late equaliser
Leyton Orient 1 Wrexham 0 Play off finish is now not in their own hands
Blyth Spartans 0 Stockport County 1 Scored right on half time,looking set for 5th place
York City 2 Leamington 2 Conceded on 89 mins at 2-1 up,play offs looking unlikely
Chelmsford City 0 Havant & Waterlooville 2 1st defeat in 6 league games,still in the play offs
Truro City 1 Braintree Town 2 Outside the play off places on goal difference
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 Dunfermline 2 Conceded the 2nd on 95 mins when 2-1 up
St Mirren 2 Greenock Morton 1 1st win in 4 league games for the champions
Forfar Athletic 1 Queen's Park 1 Behind at the break,remain bottom
Edinburgh City 1 Clyde 3 3 down after 65 mins,no win in last 9 league games
Formartine United 12 Fort William 0 Crikey !

FA Cup semi final

Manchester United 2 Tottenham 1 Forum derby,Spurs Scored 1st,Reds Scored in each half

Chelsea,Southampton,Arsenal and manchester city play tomorrow
Newcastle play on Monday

I'm going to miss Arsene Wenger

[antongould]

“I'm going to miss Arsene Wenger”

Me too ER but I have it on reliable authority that he has bought a terrace house in West Hartlepool .....