Reasons for Wenger to stay seem to now be limited to: ** If he goes, things might get worse! ** You can't name anyone who could replace him This is extracted from http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/190796 . I think there's a number of better coaches than Arsene Wenger currently managing in world football but if I was to put together a shortlist of somewhat realistic targets it would probably be something like this (and these are all managers who I think could get a hell of a lot more out of the current squad than Wenger has been): These are the four I've put more than a little thought into and one is an obvious fantasy choice: Michael Laudrup - on the surface a bit early, perhaps, but dig a little deeper and realise that he's worked under financial constraints for almost the entirety of his managerial career thus far in both Spain and here, but has, thus far, shown enough in his fledgling career to suggest that he has a firm grasp of modern football, a good understanding of the market and a dedication to the kind of ball playing that would make Arsenal fans happy and an appreciation for the darker, more pragmatic arts that would make me happy. Jurgan Klopp - worked wonders with a Dortmund side whom he has nurtured and built largely from within. Adopts great philosophical theories to attacking and defensive strategy and wouldn't be daunted by having to work at the kind of strict budget that makes the Arsenal board one of the worst in football. He'd never leave Dortmund for Arsenal, however. Manuel Pelligrini - one of the world's most underrated managers and I'm still miffed as to why. Worked a minor miracle for years with no money at Villerreal in making them one of Spain's most consistent sides over a number of years and getting them regular European football they had no right to be anywhere near. Went to Madrid and lost out on the title by 3 points (he amassed 96) to a Barca side in the middle of their peak as a side and is now working small miracles at a Malaga side hamstrung by financial meltdown and the sale of their best player. Unsurprised to see Chelsea recently linked. DeBoer and Bergkamp - one, is a young up and coming manager currently working on implementing the kind of philosophy that would sit well at modern day Arsenal. He's worked with young players before and is currently putting together a core group of youngsters in the first team of a side performing admirably. He's progressive, he's pragmatic and he would surely relish the chance to transfer his current model of approach to an adaptable, bigger scale project like Arsenal. The other is an Arsenal legend currently garnering a lot of respect for the coaching he's thus far overseeing at the same club. Get them both here and let's take a step into this century. Ottmar Hitzfeld - the best manager in football and currently doing nothing with the Swiss national side. Exactly the kind of challenge that would once again prove to the world just why he is one of the greatest managers of all time and the kind of project in which his theories and philosophies could really take hold and begin to shape a new, exciting step forward, adding the professionally and tactical posturing we've not had at any point in Wenger's reign. Would never come to Arsenal and can't see him managing at club level again, to be honest. Doesn't have a thing left to prove. I also think the likes of Luciano Spalletti, Unai Emery, Benrd Schuster and a good few others could certainly wake this Arsenal side up from it's seemingly endless sleepwalk. For me, though, the next Arsenal manager doesn't even necessarily have to be an obvious one (many think it'll be Dragon Stoickovic currently coaching in Japan and a Wenger disciple) and even that doesn't scare me any as how many would have picked a manager wallowing in Japanese football as Arsenal next coach back in 1996? Look how well that [initially] turned out. I just think it's vital that change is made and the club duly gets shaken up and woken up. It's stagnated brutally now. === de Boer would be my personal choice.
Would you consider a straight swap for Rafa? No-one would have to do a big pay-off, both still in London.....it could work
A few things to consider A few years ago a lot of people wanted us to sack wenger and replace him with own coyle, because he has bolton playing nice football, a year later and bolton were relegated and coyle sacked. So let's not get carried away with flavour of the month managers like laudrop. When arsenal played villareal in the CL semi finals, I remember peligrini doing an interview, and it was in subtitles because he could not speak English, for me this would make it a big gamble despite him being a very good coach, ramos was a failure at spurs because his English was poor. Hitzfeld would be good but unlikely to want to come back into club management at his age.
Laudrup I was keen on, but not so much any more. He's benefited from his knowledge of cheap Spanish players (ie Michu) picked up from his time there. I wouldn't want to take a gamble on him. Klopp won't leave Dortmund. If Pelligrini can't speak English, that would be quite a problem, but does surprise me. Hitzfeld is older, but would be great. de Boer would be my choice. He would be fantastic. There's also Dragan Stojkovic & Reme Garde - Stojkovic is Wengers choice, while Garde is doing well in France currently.
Would Mourinho ever consider coming to Arsenal? $7 million a year with $70 million to spend and the use of our facilities and stadium may tempt him. Might depend on us qualifying for Europe though.
Doubt it, due to him having close ties with Chelsea. I think the board will put off many top profile managers.
He he. We could also take current Bayern manager when he makes way for Guardiola this summer Why not? He knows German football inside out, and Germany is new France on the transfer market.
Pellegrini has never won a trophy in Europe and is famous for getting Champion's League places with teams who operate on far tighter budgets than those around and above them - seems oddly familiar to me. He might well have achieved 96 points at Real but in reality spent a net 180m Euros to win nothing. I should add that there are some good suggestions on that list, though I think it'll be incredibly difficult to find managers who have far less to spend than United, Chelsea and City yet have the ability to overhaul them.
Klopp would ultimately be my first choice but he'll be a Dortmund for a good 3-4 more Seasons. Rijkaard would be a good option as would Hiddink.
More names: Walter Mazzarri, Napoli. Mircea Lucescu, Shakhtar. Marcello Lippi, currently managing in China and may want a return to Europe soon. Otto Rehhagel, one of the best managers (Greece 2004), but is 74.. Ralf Rangnick, Schalke and Hoffenheim, left management in 2011 due to exhaustion, but may want a return. David Moyes, might as well throw him into the mix since it looks like he'll be moving on in a season or two. Would take Hitzfeld or Klopp but we wouldn't get them. Pellegrini is my choice.
He makes good solid Everton teams, but they do tend to struggle to score. I'm not sure if it's down to personnel or the way he plays. I guess we are used to attacking style teams with Wenger.
I can see the Swansea anger now if you take Laudrup. I think Moyes would be a good choice for Arsenal, he would make you solid and hard to play against, something Arsenal have been missing for years now.
