It's time to make a not-so-bold prediction: Charlie Patino will sign for Arsenal.
Why? It's simple: he lives in London Colney. The nearest training ground is Arsenal's, so why travel further away to Chelsea or Spurs? Money might swing him away, but unless his family want to relocate then it has to be Arsenal.
At this stage, for the average Arsenal fan, it's nothing to get excited about. Patino won't play first-team football for another 5 years, and maybe not even then.
Jack Wilshire has that some young prodigies come good, as he was signed up at the tender age of 9 by Arsenal. However, we shouldn't expect too much from Patino.
Let's not forget Luke Freeman. He was undoubtedly a young player with quality, but for some reason didn't really crack it at Arsenal.
The road to success is littered with broken dreams, but at least most of the players that don't quite make it at Arsenal forge a career at one the football league's lesser lights. That's why I expect we will here of Patino again, even if it's just a mention on Soccer Saturday when Jeff Stelling's doing his round-up of the lower leagues.
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Thursday 30 April 2015
Wednesday 29 April 2015
Are Arsenal right to snub Schneiderlin?
I'm going to answer that question in the title quickly for once: yes!
I even agree with the (un)official reason for Arsenal's lack of interest in a player that we've been long linked with: Coquelin.
Although I've rated Coq-au-vin from the first moment I saw him play, even I couldn't imagine he would develop into the midfield enforcer that he has in such a short space of time. It just shows what confidence and faith can do. One minute a virtual zero, next minute a bona fide hero! Talk about a footballing fairytale. We just have to make sure Coq-au-vin doesn't turn into pumpkin soup anytime soon, as we've only got Flames as back-up.
Here I am saying only Flames, but he's another favourite of mine. However, he's not been at his best latterly, so I can see him moving on this summer.
Maybe we should get Schneiderlin after all...as back-up to Coquelin.
Apart from transfers, and for once I'm not sure we need a lot of new blood, the only thing on my mind is the FA Cup.
Please Mr Wenger, start with Ospina in goal and our two most in form full backs (I'm not naming them now, as it varies). Please don't take Villa for granted like we did Reading, as they won't hand us the trophy without a fight. So we need to field our best team this time. Somehow I don't think we will, but as long as we end up winning even if it is a white-knuckle ride then all is rosy in the garden of Arsenal fans...especially if we secure Champions League football for next season as well.
Right now, we're probably the second best team in England, which is why Chelsea celebrated their draw with us so much. It'll be us and them next season fighting for the title next season, I should think unless any of the other big clubs can bring in Luis Suarez, an Alexis Sanchez or someone else of that ilk.
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I even agree with the (un)official reason for Arsenal's lack of interest in a player that we've been long linked with: Coquelin.
Although I've rated Coq-au-vin from the first moment I saw him play, even I couldn't imagine he would develop into the midfield enforcer that he has in such a short space of time. It just shows what confidence and faith can do. One minute a virtual zero, next minute a bona fide hero! Talk about a footballing fairytale. We just have to make sure Coq-au-vin doesn't turn into pumpkin soup anytime soon, as we've only got Flames as back-up.
Here I am saying only Flames, but he's another favourite of mine. However, he's not been at his best latterly, so I can see him moving on this summer.
Maybe we should get Schneiderlin after all...as back-up to Coquelin.
Apart from transfers, and for once I'm not sure we need a lot of new blood, the only thing on my mind is the FA Cup.
Please Mr Wenger, start with Ospina in goal and our two most in form full backs (I'm not naming them now, as it varies). Please don't take Villa for granted like we did Reading, as they won't hand us the trophy without a fight. So we need to field our best team this time. Somehow I don't think we will, but as long as we end up winning even if it is a white-knuckle ride then all is rosy in the garden of Arsenal fans...especially if we secure Champions League football for next season as well.
Right now, we're probably the second best team in England, which is why Chelsea celebrated their draw with us so much. It'll be us and them next season fighting for the title next season, I should think unless any of the other big clubs can bring in Luis Suarez, an Alexis Sanchez or someone else of that ilk.
Sent from my iPhone
Friday 10 April 2015
In praise of Wenger's macro management
Although I'm not an AKB by a long stretch, I thought it's about time I wrote something in praise of Arsene Wenger. The team's impressive recent results has not happened by accident, and the manager must take some credit.
Earlier in the season, it was obvious that the players were allowed to dictate the slightly more defensive policy on the pitch, as Arsenal final recorded an away victory at Man City. At the time, I received some criticism for daring to suggest that Wenger had relinquished control to the players for that game. However, I wasn't being critical. Far from it. Instead, I was lauding Le Boss! He was seeing the bigger picture: empowering the players (tying in with the idea that most of the team are captains) and applying macro management skills to great effect.
Directly opposed to this approach is the micro management of Jose Mourinho, with his obsession with tactical details. Of course, this is also a winning formula and I'd still like to see that added to Wenger's repertoire of management skills. It's never too old to learn if your nickname is 'The Professor'.
Sent from my iPhone
Earlier in the season, it was obvious that the players were allowed to dictate the slightly more defensive policy on the pitch, as Arsenal final recorded an away victory at Man City. At the time, I received some criticism for daring to suggest that Wenger had relinquished control to the players for that game. However, I wasn't being critical. Far from it. Instead, I was lauding Le Boss! He was seeing the bigger picture: empowering the players (tying in with the idea that most of the team are captains) and applying macro management skills to great effect.
Directly opposed to this approach is the micro management of Jose Mourinho, with his obsession with tactical details. Of course, this is also a winning formula and I'd still like to see that added to Wenger's repertoire of management skills. It's never too old to learn if your nickname is 'The Professor'.
Sent from my iPhone
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