14 May 2018 12:54:21
Wether you like him or not, i can't think why rafa isn't in the frame for the job. He has won top leagues, both European trophies, various cups, got promotions, doesn't need to spend big money to do so. He has turned toxic teams and fan bases around and is a gentleman to boot. His record overall is absolutely fantastic and understands fans and football. I really can't see why arteta should be considered and rafa isnt. The man understands the premier league and europe.
14 May 2018 13:17:49
I totally agree Steve.
14 May 2018 13:38:29
I also agree. Even if he isn’t the one in mind! If we can’t get who we would like now, he would be perfect for next few years.
14 May 2018 15:08:09
Ed01 what did you make of Rafa’s time at Liverpool, if you don’t mind me asking.
{Ed001's Note - as a man, love Rafa, he is a brilliant guy and extremely good tactically as well. The problems he had at Liverpool were due to too many transfers, trusting his scouts to pick the right players rather than watching them himself, getting too involved with club politics and falling out with his number 2, as well as losing the best goalkeeping coach in Europe and being unable to replace him.
He needs a good staff of coaches around him, which he currently has at Newcastle and backing. He will improve players, if they listen to him, but they need to buy into his methods. At Newcastle, for instance, they have bought in, because the fans are 100% behind him over them, and you see how it has improved them. Dummett was a target for abuse until he got injured and Rafa called him a big loss and said he was an important player for the team. The fans got behind him and he has grown into a much better player due to it.
Whereas at Chelsea and Real Madrid, the fans were not with him and so the players could get away with not buying into his methods. Get behind him and he will take improve your weaknesses. That is what he does, he constantly analyses to find weakness and make it stronger. Not every player likes that, they want an arm round the shoulder and told they are great, when he will take them aside and point out why they are not great yet.
Probably exactly what Arsenal need...}
14 May 2018 16:10:32
Thanks for that ed, great insight and sounds exactly what we need, he could work well with our two new guys as well by the sounds of it.
Where did the goalkeeping coach end up, we could have done with him too.
{Ed001's Note - I don't know where he is now, he was at Real Madrid. He does more than coach keepers by the way, Torres said he was the main reason he scored so many for Liverpool. Valero would instruct him on the opposing keepers and their weaknesses, so he knew which side to put the ball and how high etc.}
14 May 2018 16:23:31
Ed 01 because of the liverpool conection, i know some chelski fans who were distraught to put it mildly that rafa was put in as their interim manager. Everone after, couldn't praise him high enough. The whole club was toxic when he went in. It wasn't when he left. I know some Newcastle fans who are adamant that rafa will end up at arsenal. It just seems odd he isn't in the frame.
{Ed001's Note - like I said I love Rafa, just wish he would stay out of club politics, but he is a great man, a genuinely lovely guy who does so much work for charity.}