Originally Posted by
Niall_Quinn
We're looking for a lot more in a manager than how he performed as a player for the club. We really don't know too much about how individuals were perceived behind the scenes and what input they had. Merts hasn't shown up for 2 seasons as a player, but apparently he was important off the pitch. Maybe that's true, maybe it's not. We don't know. Personalities are important too. I'm not so sure Henry would make a great manager on that basis. He's shown in the past he has very little patience when things aren't going right.
Conte is still my top choice. I just have a gut feeling about him. Jardim would be next, because he's shown the flexibility both attacking and defensive that will be required to put our rather wrecked squad back on track. But if we have to have a young, inexperienced manager I'd take Arteta over Henry and Vieira, because Arteta has been positioned best to pick up directly relevant experience as a coach in a winning environment. The other two were much better players, of course.
I also like the idea of Alonso as a number 2. He should have been an Arsenal man a long time ago but Wenger penny pinched. What a great pro though, another guy who has seen it all at the top level.
PnG is right. We are in a low risk, potentially high reward situation here. And the beauty, if it doesn't work out we aren't left worried about sacking some permanent fixture that built the stadium with his bare hands and was the first man on the moon. If it doesn't work, boot him and bring in somebody else. Where were we going under Wenger? Nowhere, faster and faster. Another season going nowhere is what we had in store anyway, but at least now there's the possibility of something different.
Let's give Arteta a go and see how it works out. I have a suspicion things are going to be better than expected. Not miraculous, not instant magic, but better than slowly fading into mid table mediocrity and certainly more entertaining for the fans.