This is in response Rick’s previous article. A very interesting point offered by our host. Personally, I would love to have Wenger to be our manager forever! But in reality it’s not possible. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not proposing who should replace Wenger, but it would be an interesting thought to talk about the successor, even just on paper!
For me, I would perfer our next manager to have an Arsenal ROOT, that would make me feel more ARSENAL! Ideally move Wenger onto the board, and let him to play a consultant role for the new manager.
So much has been said about Wenger’s ability to spot the fine rocks and turn them into diamonds. But one overlooked aspect of Wenger’s managment skills is his KNOWLEDGE of the player market.
For examples, I once asked myself: Why did O’Leary spend a fortune at Leeds to buy many English players while he could save a lot had he chosen to buy the foreigners? Now I think the answer is not every manager knows too much of the players overseas. The players they known, often are players with big reputation. Those players aren’t cheap. Just check out the players Ferguson bought comparing to Wenger’s.
Should Wenger still be around when our next manager is in charge of the team, he could offer his insight and tips of the raw talents around the globe to Arsenal’s new boss.
And who should be our next manager? To me, it’s Mr. Arsenal Tony Adams of course!
Not only that Tony is a natural leader, our youngest ever captain. He has the fortune to play under two of the finest managers the English football has ever seen - George Graham and Arsene Wenger.
Better still, the two managers have a completely different type of management style. George was a master tactican, who instilled a tremendous discipline and fighting spirit into his team. George’s team was also the best DEFENSIVE team at his time.
Wenger gives his players freedom to express themselves. And he transformed Arsenal from the best defensive side in England to the best ATTACKING side, while playing one-touch, quick, powerful, all movement attacking football.
Had Adams learned a thing or two from days playing under them, and if he’s able to combine the different methods from both managers into his own side - both great on attack, and solid on defence. Wouldn’t it be a mouth-watering prospect?!
8 Responses to “Arsenal’s next manager??!!”
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October 28th, 2004 at 1:26 pm
Well, before I would give the managers position to Tony Adams… he would certainly have to get some experience under his belt AND be successful as a manager at a reasonable level of football.
From that standpoint… right now… he would not be a better choice than either O’Leary or Rice…
A great player does not necessarily (or usually) translate into a great manager.
October 28th, 2004 at 1:34 pm
Its a beautiful theory?one man embodying the opposing forces of two great men via osmosis?I just don’t know if it works that way.
Will a new generation of Gunners have the same respect for a man simply because he wore the kit so many years ago? A kinship, perhaps, is inevitable. But if I’m a rising football talent, I want someone, as Stagg has suggested, that has been successful. Even Wenger was Japanese manager of the year in his first year in top flight.
My true feeling is that Wenger will scout his replacement, like others have suggested here, and find someone who shares his particular philosophy on winning. While TA may end up utilizing his skills with AFC in some capacity, I have to think it will be one outside of the manager’s role.
October 28th, 2004 at 1:40 pm
This is all rather irrelevant anyway, by the time Wenger retires from management, which I believe (& hope) is at least 10 years away, the choices out there will be completely different from the current crop. Perhaps someone like Ray Parlour or Manu Petit goes on to become a great manager - who knows. Who would have thought that Iain Dowie would stand out so ? Certainly there is no correlation to being a great player & becoming a great manager. For all his defensive attributes David O’Leary was awful with ball - his idea of distribution was to reach the corner of the penalty area and punt the ball to the diagonally opposite corner of the opposition penalty area. Iain Dowie wasn’t exactly pulling up trees as a player.
As for whether they have an Arsenal pedigree or not I couldn’t care less as long as they play football the right way and are highly likely to build on Wenger’s success. At that point in time we’ll probably be the richest club in world football anywa and will be able to pick & choose from the best..
October 28th, 2004 at 2:15 pm
Remember 1996 when fans were going A. Wenger who?? Well he came, did and doing a wicked job but in football anything can happen in 2 yrs or 10 yrs from now whether he steps down or not.
Wait and see.
October 28th, 2004 at 3:36 pm
If Big Tone managed Arsenal it would be great and an honor. But if Big Tone also manages Arsenal we will 100% be back to the hoof and hope category like the spurs play.
We will be back to the boring ways, the GG way in which Adams is in love with. He even has criticised Arsenal recently of being TOO GOAL HAPPY.
There is only one choice ofr manager and that is yours truly.
My Championship Manager 03/04 record speaks for itself
October 28th, 2004 at 6:17 pm
Oh guys, it was only one of my fantasty! Of course i realized good player don’t necessary make good manager. But still, we could all dream….!!
Btw, I do constantly keeping an eye on how Adams being doing at Wycombe. Really wish big Tone would do well! I don’t know how Adams’ management skills really is, but at least he keeps his head levelled, and started from the basic. Didn’t do a Bryan Robson to jump onto a bigger club, with a fortune to spend. I’m sure Tony will learn more starting from the grass root.
October 29th, 2004 at 12:59 am
I have nothing to add to this discussion, just wanted to say that when packing my lunch for work today, I didn’t even hit me as to what I’d brought until I was halfway to work:
Campbell’s Chunky Split Pea and Ham.
BWAH HA HA HA
— Geoff
October 29th, 2004 at 3:18 am
They say that a week is a long time in politics, well four years is a lifetime in football. Cast your minds back to the year 2000, who knew of Mourinho back then. As for Adams I think of the other return of a loved son, ?Hoddle back to sp*rs?. Sometimes it?s best to have a good memory of someone you held in such high esteem as it?s only likely to end in tears. O?Neal is nothing but a good British manager and does not have the know-how to do it Europe and as for O?Leary, don?t make me laugh.
It?s too early to be looking at a replacement from what?s about and anyway who says that the great man is going to want to retire in four years, he may want to carry on and I don?t think he will run out of ideas like Fergie as he is light years in front of him when it comes to tactics and the science of football.
When the times comes to find a new manager I think that man should be chosen by the person who knows more about football than any of us, Arsene. I would trust his judgment in choosing us his successor.