The cavalry are coming and the managers are going
Add comment February 10th, 2009
It’s been a mad old 24 hours in the Premier League, with two managers dismissed: one a former stalwart of ours, and one a close rival. I can’t possibly let those pass without comment, but first the news more directly related to Arsenal:
There is rather a lot of pressure on the two men pictured above. Both, to a degree, remain unknown quantities. Whilst Eduardo looked like a natural goalscorer in his first eight months at the club, we do not know what long-term effects the horrendous injury he suffered at St. Andrews may have had. He has also undoubtedly seen subject to the gross exaggeration of a player’s ability that seems to occur when they are on the sidelines for a prolonged spell. I remember the anticipation ahead of Gilberto Silva’s return from a spinal injury: Gilberto was undoubtedly a fine player, but you would’ve thought his compatriot Pele was about to make a long-awaited comeback. Eduardo’s return will undoubtedly provide a boost to both morale and our striking options, but when last available he was only first-choice because of Van Pesie’s injuries, and was occasionally a peripheral figure. The most important thing is to show patience with the Crozilian’s rehabilitation.
Eduardo himself seems fully aware of the psychological hurdles he is yet to clear. When asked if his mind was clear of the fear of a crunching tackle, he replied honestly:
“I do not know yet. I would like to have the right match to test it, just like this in Bucharest.”
The “Bucharest” game Eduardo is referring to is a friendly with the Croatian national teams, where he is expected to get at least half-an-hour as a substitute. I can also envisage an appearance from the bench in the cup game against Cardiff, particularly if the tie is going in our favour.Â
One can understand the expectation that surrounds Andrey Arshavin, if only because he is (in all probability) our record signing. When a player arrives with that kind of price-tag, their performances will undoubtedly face close scrutiny, and some commentators, such as Stan Collymore (who knows a thing or two about being a flop) are doubting the Russian’s capacity before he has even taken the field.
Arshavin himself, however, is determined to live up to the supporters’ hopes:
“My whole future is linked to Arsenal now. My contract is until 2012. I’ll do my very best to be useful for the club and hope they will never regret buying me.”
It looks increasingly like the Russian will make his debut on the 21st Feb in the game at home to Sunderland, and whilst I would urge patience with him too, I have a hunch he will begin to justify his signing between now and the end of the season.
Robin van Persie is certainly looking forward to having these two available, saying:
“Eduardo has been working really hard and everyone is just really happy that he is back. He has been out for 12 months now. Hopefully he can play, the sooner the better. And Arshavin has looked good in training – they both have. I really believe in their qualities so there is more to come.”
For the sake of our Champions League place, I hope he is right.
And so to the sackings. First Tony Adams: I have to say I feel very sorry for him. The Portsmouth job looked ideal on paper – he had done good work on their coaching staff, had been to university to study sports science and had spells working out in Holland – he seemed ready. But he took over a team and a club in turmoil. The owner has stopped bank-rolling the side, he lost his two best players in the transfer window, and the senior players were obviously still reeling from Redknapp’s exit. Whoever took over at Portsmouth was going to have a hell of a job on their hands, and I can’t help but feel that Adams was the fall-guy. In recent days, I have read countless pundits saying “it’s amazing that he couldn’t coach their defence”. Well, who do you think was coaching it for the past two years when it was one of the best in the league? It certainly wasn’t Harry “Just-get-out-there-and-run-about-a-bit” Redknapp. I think he’ll certainly struggle to climb back onto the managerial ladder now, but if we know anything about Adams it’s that he’s a fighter. I can only wish him the best of luck.
Oddly enough, there are parrallels with Scolari’s situation at Chelsea: a squad still mourning the loss of a former manager, and an owner who has stopped throwing millions at the club. But whilst Adams has no track-record to fall back upon, Scolari is one of the great managers of the modern era. He has Brazilian Championships, Copa Libertadores medals – hell, even a World Cup - to his name. Granted, results haven’t been good of late, but it’s clear to me the fault lies more with the players who have so blatantly underperformed – Didier Drogba, to name but one – and the club’s failure to back the manager and bring in the creative players he so patently requires. The short-termism in football is spiralling out of control. I, for one, have always had a lot of time for Scolari, and am in some ways pleased to see him no longer associated with one of our rivals.
Just how it affects our season, if at all, will depend largely on who Chelsea appoint in his place.
