There is such a massive contrast between José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. Two managers with the complete opposite philosophies. Arsene sends his players out onto the pitch with a blank canvas to express their art
A good afternoon to you,
Apologies for the lack of a blog yesterday but to those who missed Iron Man’s Nostalgia Corner, I would suggest you click on the article and have a read. Brings back some lovely memories.
I missed the Chelsea v Inter game last night, I was busy playing football and damaging my thigh but I saw the highlights. Samuel Eto’o’s (how do you write that?) goal was fantastic, such a good finish, following a Cesc like pass from Wesley Sneijder.
During the day I listened to José Mourinho’s press conference about how he had watched the first leg seven times, not just watched it but analysed how his former club had played and what he had to do to win the game. As much as I despise that man, he sure knows how to win big football matches.
There is such a massive contrast between José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. Two managers with the complete opposite philosophies. Arsene sends his players out onto the pitch with a blank canvas to express their art. Do what you’re good at, enjoy your football and concentrate on how good you are. Mourinho sends his players out with a canvas full of instructions, do as you’re told and not what you feel like doing.
It is easy to understand why players around the world want to play for Arsene Wenger. I suppose in an ideal world you would want the best of both managers but is that really possible? I don’t think it is.
Wenger has always said that his team do not worry about the opposition and I wonder how true that is. In our games against Manchester United and Chelsea this season I wished that we would have thought about the opposition a little more instead of just taking the game to them and leaving ourselves exposed. I am sure someone like Mourinho could have improved some of our players tactically and perhaps defensively but there is no doubt that many of our players would have lost the freedom and expression that they show under Wenger.
Give me Wenger’s free flowing, offensive interchangeability over robotic defensive football any day of the week. Pound for pound, I see no better manager in world football today.
Friday’s draw will be interesting, the draw is almost as nerve-racking as the games themselves. I expect a Messi inspired Barcelona to dispatch Stuttgart tonight. French champions Bordeaux are likely to be the favourites to progress. I am recording that game against Olympiakos, It will be a chance for me to watch Marouane Chamakh.
If I could choose a draw for the next round then I think Chamakh’s club would be my preference although I would love to watch an Arsenal vs Barcelona game, ideally that would be a final of finals. The Arsenal team that faced Barcelona were not as creative and inventive as our current crop.
Lionel Messi has been comparing his current team with his future employers (ah.. oh how I wish) and he is right to do so.
Messi said:
“Arsenal are a team to consider because of their fantastic build-up play.” “They are like us at Barca in so many ways. Rather than being from London, they should be from South America. Andrei Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas are touch-players I love to watch.
It is nice to see that we are appreciated by all around the world, even the best player in the world can give us such respect. It is a shame that those closer to home cannot do the same. Instead choosing to frown at our lack of ‘Englishness’
It is great that captain Cesctastic is back and hopefully ready to add to his goals and assists on the weekend. West Ham have been somewhat of a slight bogey side to us in recent fixtures. They stopped an Arsenal side depleted of attacking creativity due to.. yep you guessed it. Injuries.
This season at Upton Park we threw away a two goal lead to draw the game 2-2. How we could do with those two points now. I hope I do not end up crying at that result.
It looks as if Arsenal and Manchester United are once again scrapping after yet another youngster. This time Cardiff’s Adam Matthews is the reported target. First Ramsey then Smalling and now Matthews. It looks like Manchester United are joining the queue of following the ‘Arsenal model’
It is not the first time Arsene’s methods have been copied and I am sure it will not be the last. The cheque book manager is slowly dying out as money is not as easy to come by as it once was. Luckily our visionary manager has been one step ahead for a number of years now and plenty of clubs will be trying to play catch up. We have many age levels below our latest crop of youngsters full of ability and talent. A talented player will want to be developed by the best and I look forward to Arsenal continuing to be first choice for many years to come.
Speaking of which, Luke Ayling is the latest youngster to find another club to ply his trade. He will join Yeovil on loan and I wish him the best of luck. With three of our center backs into the latter stages of their Arsenal careers, the likes of Ayling and Bartley may get a chance along with Djourou to establish themselves in the first team squad.
First step is to impress on loan the way that the likes of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is doing at Doncaster and did do previously at Blackpool.
Back again tomorrow.
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