Next Arsenal manager?

[Power n Glory]

if he wins the carling cup he can take over at arsenal one day.

Quit stalking me, dude. Get over it.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

stalk.

awful walk.

[Tipsychubbs]

For years we've had an emphasis on tippy-tappy and a glaring absence of hard defensive teamwork of the ball, which includes positional discipline, covering spaces, timing when to press and more elements from front to back and other tactics.

Can we persuade Heynckes not to retire please? This is what i want from the next manager:

"You have got to analyse the other team and I did that," said Heynckes. "How do they play? What is their style? Where do they move? You have got to have something to hold against that and I did that.

"I had a powerpoint presentation to show the different ways Barcelona work and move. My team was very tactically disciplined."

[IBK]

For years we've had an emphasis on tippy-tappy and a glaring absence of hard defensive teamwork of the ball positional discipline, covering spaces, timing when to press and more elements from front to back and other tactics.

Can we persuade Heynckes not to retire please? This is what i want from the next manager:

"You have got to analyse the other team and I did that," said Heynckes. "How do they play? What is their style? Where do they move? You have got to have something to hold against that and I did that.

"I had a powerpoint presentation to show the different ways Barcelona work and move. My team was very tactically disciplined."

You raise an interesting question. Has Barca style football had its day? Barca are walking the Spanish league, yes, but the dearth of competition in La Liga means that this isn't quite the achievement it might be - and they still have the world's best player, who can win games on his own when fully fit.

But other decent teams now seem to have worked Barca out - and Bayern showed that with efficiency, work ethic and tactical discipline you can hurt them badly.

German style football does seem to be the way forward...which bodes badly for Wenger's Arsenal.

[Özim]

Barca's style of football only really worked due to the exceptional players they had, it had been illustrated a number of times though that with the right tactics and style you could nullify them, Chelsea showed this a few times, restricting them to a handful of chances.

I think it's foolish to adapt their to style of play, it's too one dimensional and too technical and relies on exceptionally accurate passing and movement. Teams are starting to realise how you need to pay against them more and more now and so despite their ability it's not so easy for them.

Pacey football is not only more exciting but generally also more devastating, especially if you can revert to a plan B tactic when things aren't quite going to plan. Barca have no plan B, if their style doesn't work they have no alternative.

[IBK]

Barca's style of football only really worked due to the exceptional players they had, it had been illustrated a number of times though that with the right tactics and style you could nullify them, Chelsea showed this a few times, restricting them to a handful of chances.

I think it's foolish to adapt their to style of play, it's too one dimensional and too technical and relies on exceptionally accurate passing and movement. Teams are starting to realise how you need to pay against them more and more now and so despite their ability it's not so easy for them.

Pacey football is not only more exciting but generally also more devastating, especially if you can revert to a plan B tactic when things aren't quite going to plan. Barca have no plan B, if their style doesn't work they have no alternative.

Now where have I seen that before?

Side question - Fabregas at Barca - success or not?

[Kano]

Barca's style of football only really worked due to the exceptional players they had, it had been illustrated a number of times though that with the right tactics and style you could nullify them, Chelsea showed this a few times, restricting them to a handful of chances.

I think it's foolish to adapt their to style of play, it's too one dimensional and too technical and relies on exceptionally accurate passing and movement. Teams are starting to realise how you need to pay against them more and more now and so despite their ability it's not so easy for them.

Pacey football is not only more exciting but generally also more devastating, especially if you can revert to a plan B tactic when things aren't quite going to plan. Barca have no plan B, if their style doesn't work they have no alternative.

they haven't needed to find an alternative due to how overwhelming effective it has been. throw in a world cup and and two euro's to boot. of course, no style can dominate forever, so it may have run it's course for now. but at the height of their domination, the ultra defensive approach only worked on a handful of occasions.

[Marc Overmars]

I don't think the style of play has had it's had it's day but opponents now have become more adept at dealing with them. PSG more than held their own in the last round and AC were solid for half the tie at least. They even struggled to polish off Celtic in the group stages.

Bayern have a lot of physical strength (most of those fuckers are 6ft+ tanks) but they also happen to be technically sound as well.

Barca are a team of Hleb's, players who gain more satisfaction from great build-up rather than being selfish enough to take chances on themselves. If Messi is not on it they are just as vulnerable as everyone else because they don't have another way to play.

[Tipsychubbs]

The speed of the counters really worked as well as the off ball work ethic, and bits of delayed possession, intricate passing patterns, intelligent movement/runs, and bits of fast wingplay and crossing. Thats the way forward, a well rounded amalgamation of styles, an unpredictable, tactical manager who can vary things.

[Özim]

Now where have I seen that before?

Side question - Fabregas at Barca - success or not?

Not really had the chance to shine IMO, until he becomes a regular you'd have to say he hasn't been a great success.