BRENDAN’S DREAM ROLE
dilemma. The ex-Celtic and Liverpool supremo, 46, is the leading choice to replace Unai Emery after his sacking on Friday.
But with Leicester set to demand £14million compensation
– and Rodgers deliberating the wisdom of switching at this stage of the season
– a deal could be shelved until June.
Much will depend on how things work out for Freddie Ljungberg in the next few weeks.
The Arsenal interim coach has an attractive set of fixtures – starting with today’s trip to Norwich and he said: “It’s about the team and the club.
“I’m trying to concentrate on the game. We’ll try to was changed virtually every match by Emery. He shuffled his rearguard in 23 of his last 24 games. Bonkers. In midfield, with talent like Mesut Ozil and Lucas Torreira deemed not good enough to start and Swiss flop Granit Xhaka having public spats with the fans. Crazy.
In attack, with prolific strikers, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette refusing to extend contracts. Madness.
Hard to blame either – given the atmosphere is so toxic around the stadium. The Arsenal fans, having finally forced through their divorce with Wenger, are lost as to who and what they want as their new partner. They are angry and hurting. Should we be surprised? No. An acrimonious fallout after such a lengthy union is inevitable. Take a look at Manchester United post Fergie. Despite Sir Alex leaving behind a title-winning dressing room and choosing his departure date – unlike dumped Wenger – the Reds still went into decline. Ultimately, it took an interimwin that and if there are a few other games, we’ll see.
“We haven’t had some results and that’s what we’ve got to address. But how we address that, I’ll probably keep to myself.”
Ljungberg has revealed no timescale has been set for his spell in charge.
He said: “No, no indication of how long or how short.”
turned-permanent manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to win over the restless Old Trafford fans.
Do not expect the Gunners’ very own version, Freddie Ljungberg, to repeat that unlikely trick.
Invincible Highbury hero, maybe, yet the Swede’s experience of first-team coaching is non-existent – save for a few confusing months alongside Emery, whose inability to communicate in anything but pigeon-English had become an utter nonsense.
Which is a fitting way to describe Arsenal ahead of their trip to fellow strugglers Norwich today.
They are a broken mess – in urgent need of major restoration and rebuilding.
Finding an individual both willing and capable of masterminding such a huge project will be tough.
For starters, the new gaffer must ensure The Emirates is full every week if he is to hang around.
But that will take consistently decent performances allied to genuinely good results.
Which is easier said than done when you have a squad so drained of confidence, belief and, most recently, desire.
Whoever lands one of the greatest jobs in the land better be prepared – and a miracle-worker to boot.