New manager

[AFC Leveller]

People who know me from AHFC days (and 606, if anyone still remembers that!) will tell you that I've generally been one of Wenger's biggest supporters over the years, and I still very much take the position that things are nowhere near as bad as we like to make out (in fact, all things considered, we're actually in tremendous shape as a club), and that Wenger isn't the total mug that we like to make him out to be? On the one hand you could argue that his inaction in the transfer market, and obvious weaknesses in certain areas (tactics, fitness, etc) is the reason why we continually fall short, but on the other, you could argue that he must be doing a lot of things remarkably well as a coach, because (even if you blame him for all of the following problems) we're still up in the CL places, and on for the FA Cup, in spite of having a thin squad who look dead on their feet, no decent strikers, no pace or power in the side, and no thought about tactics? He may cause a lot of problems for himself, but to then guide us through a season with all those problems, and still come out near the top, must take some doing?

That being said, the idea of change doesn't terrify me in any way - I think we're in a great place as a club right now, and I think whoever comes next will have every tool at his disposal to be a success. Like Bumble says, Wenger is 64 now and will be 65 in October, so this is something we're going to have to deal with before too much longer anyway - even if he'd won everything in sight for the past 9 years, and everyone was super-keen for him to stay, it wouldn't change the fact that he's fast approaching / already at retirement age, and we'd only really be buying ourselves a little bit of extra time to get prepared for what comes next. For me, it's all kind of inevitable, and I think how quickly it happens all hinges on who's available and when: if we have our eye on someone specific as a long-term appointment, but he's not available for another year (for example), then I can see Wenger staying on, and keeping us ticking over until we can get our man; but if that person suddenly becomes available now, then I wouldn't be adverse to seeing him step down, and for the change to happen pretty quickly.

Personally speaking (and this is pure fantasy football for the moment), I'd be sounding out Klopp - him and Arsenal would be a match made in heaven, IMO. We share an almost identical philosophy, we can give him the kind of long-term security he'd need, and (crucially) we now have the financial muscle for him to be able to keep his teams together, and actually augment them with whoever he wants. I think we'd represent an extremely interesting proposition for him, and visa versa...

Klopp would be a bad choice because as soon as we lose a couple of games, the healdines wil be about "Jurgen Flopp".

Seriously though, he would be the perfect man for us. The way his teams play, the way they pres as a team and playing attacking aggressive football, he'd be a really good choice. Speaks perfect English too and would have a few German players to touch base with at first.

[Letters]

No! (EDIT: To Henry)

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Not one person in this thread has convinced me that letting Wenger go is the best decision.

[I am invisible]

What would people think about bringing in Henry, once Wenger leaves? Guardiola did pretty well for having never managed before. I think its underestimated how much it means to understand how a club is run from top to bottom, and having the respect of everybody who works/plays for the club, when it comes to managing.

As a coach, somewhere at the club, then yes, but not as the head coach - I don't think he's ready for that. Guardiola had paid his dues coaching at various levels in Barca's academy before taking over the first team, so it's a slightly different situation - to my mind, Henry doesn't have any coaching experience yet?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Henry, Sean Dyche, Owe Rosler

Forget it.

[I am invisible]

Klopp would be a bad choice because as soon as we lose a couple of games, the healdines wil be about "Jurgen Flopp".

Seriously though, he would be the perfect man for us. The way his teams play, the way they pres as a team and playing attacking aggressive football, he'd be a really good choice. Speaks perfect English too and would have a few German players to touch base with at first.

I just think he's got to be looking at the situation in Germany and thinking 'what's the point?' None of the other clubs are ever going to be able to compete with Bayern on a financial level, and when you try to compete by other means, as Dortmund have, Bayern just pick your team apart every summer! He's not gonna get the job at Bayern any time soon because of Guardiola, so that pretty much leaves him looking abroad if he wants to really build something and achieve sustained success - someone's going to get him at some point, so why not us? I think we've got a really interesting project to offer him here...

[Marc Overmars]

Henry.

Hell no. I'm not adverse to appointing someone who's relatively inexperienced because I think we have a great platform here for anyone to grow and develop into a top manager, however I certainly don't want someone essentially cutting their teeth with us because we need someone who's already sure of themselves and their philosophy.

Klopp is the man. Gazidis should be sounding him out, not necessarily for an immediate appointment but maybe in a year or 2. Get his turned now because whenever he decides to leave Dortmund we'd have to join the queue.

[I am invisible]

Henry.

Hell no. I'm not adverse to appointing someone who's relatively inexperienced because I think we have a great platform here for anyone to grow and develop into a top manager, however I certainly don't want someone essentially cutting their teeth with us because we need someone who's already sure of themselves and their philosophy.

Klopp is the man. Gazidis should be sounding him out, not necessarily for an immediate appointment but maybe in a year or 2. Get his turned now because whenever he decides to leave Dortmund we'd have to join the queue.

That's how I see it, and I half suspect that's why there's currently so much confusion about the new deal that's been offered to Wenger, how long it's for, and whether or not it's been signed? At this point, I think his legacy will be more important to Wenger than one last crack at the same old trophies, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was timing his retirement around when they can get his successor?

[Munchies]

Klopp/Martinez

[JonasTC]

As a coach, somewhere at the club, then yes, but not as the head coach - I don't think he's ready for that. Guardiola had paid his dues coaching at various levels in Barca's academy before taking over the first team, so it's a slightly different situation - to my mind, Henry doesn't have any coaching experience yet?

Nah, he only managed Barca's B team for one year before going on to the real deal.

Cant see why we couldnt do that with Henry, i believe he has a proper winning mindset, mentality and an inspiring personality to lead a top club like ours, he's been a captain here, so its not new to him to lead a team.