I coach a bunch of 11 year old boys. Good lads. Talented. When I am tired and am happy with them, I give them a session that I know that they will like. Some small-sided-games with limited touches. Make it a lighthearted competition. They love that. All can enjoy. Smiles everywhere, including from me. Easy streets.
The sessions that turn talent into results, individual defending, keeping a solid line, communication when without the ball, defending set pieces and applying pressure, they hate. Boring, hard work, no showboating. But we do them anyway. One has to, and they know that. But they hate it and its hard work for me.
A few years ago Wenger said he wanted to grow a squad, a happy, talented squad of friends. Friends that love to come to work every day and enjoy it. We know they play a lot of 4 a-side, one and two touch. It's well documented. Anyone think they do defending, shadow-play, set pieces ? Of course not. Do they ever alter formation or tactics to adapt to the opposition? Of course not. Boring. Hard work, all of that.
They are a light-weight, under-prepared, under coached bunch of chancers. They have inflated senses of their talent and most can't appreciate the work required to win. And its because they never do it in training and few have the natural desire to overcome the inadequacies in Wenger's approach. Fabregas is the exception that proves the rule.
Bottom line. Forget the lack of spending and stubborn refusal to cast aside players that underperform. We all know about that. The biggest issue at arsenal is wengers inability/desire to actually coach.
Arsenal is a defenders graveyard. All defenders that have come to or through arsenal under Wenger have damaged their careers (Cole apart). Kolo, Sol, Senderos, Gallas all left with their reputations damaged and Clichy and Sagna are going that way fast. They live in a coaching vacuum for defenders. They live in a club where defence is optional.
Look at Song. We waited 4 years for that lump to develop into a decent defensive midfielder, and now he's a star, he doesn't wanna do that. He wants to attack. He leaves Wilshere to hold the shape of the team. Jack, a player 6 inches smaller, 2 stone lighter and 5 years younger, is required to hold the team together. And Wenger allows this. Think Fergie or mourinho would ? Me neither.
Mark" saddened to have to write this" johnson