carlyluvsunited
03-11-2007, 12:52 PM
BOSSES' QUEST FOR PERFECTION
RIVALRY: Arsene Wenger
Saturday November 3, 2007
Arsene Wenger will confront Sir Alex Ferguson today with the belief that Arsenal
are the masters of Manchester United when it comes to attacking football.
Fergie will stare back at him and set up his team for the victory he will be just as
certain his team can achieve.
Both men will not step back from their convictions, both will be ready to perish
rather than put up the shutters and play for a draw. That philosophy is inbred in
them, the hunger to play to win, and with style. Arsene was once asked before a
Christmas programme what he would prefer as a present, nine points from the
three games, or a case of the finest Bordeaux red wine that he so enjoys. He
replied: “For nine points I would drink water for a year.” It perfectly sums him up.
And Fergie shares that rage for perfection and so I expect today’s confrontation
at The Emirates to be an exceptional exhibition of all that is best about two
brilliant sides.
People tell me Arsene and Alex are poles apart. Socially yes, they would not
want to mix with one another. Professionally, they are twinned by an ambition to
be the masters of all they survey.
To meet, both are affable, intelligent, and pleasant to be around. Arsene is not
the serious professorial figure who seems so intense.
He’s actually very sociable, somebody told me that he was seen dancing in the
aisles to the Abba musical Mamma Mia. As for Sir Alex, there’s much more to him
than you would imagine.
He is learning to play the piano, loves nothing better than a general knowledge
quiz and the racing pages. And has always been very supportive and helpful to
any manager who cares to ask him for advice. Me included.
For both of them, this game is vitally important and it matters not just that they
win, but how they win.
For both, attack is always the best form of defence, and that is the reason why
they have produced thrilling, exciting teams, where skill and ability is encouraged
to flourish.
Today’s massive confrontation will see Arsenal’s pace and power against a United
side who will be in their faces with their own brand of attacking play that, to me,
develops in intensity the longer a game goes on.
That’s because once they have a lead, they enjoy playing the game even more.
There is no question of them shutting up shop.
My only complaint about the game is the ludicrous time it is being played at.
Lunchtime kick-offs don’t have the right feel for such a big occasion.
The managers are also loyal. You cannot tell me Sir Alex over the last 20 years
has not had offers to go elsewhere, and Arsene is always being linked with top
clubs. If United and Arsenal were just another PLC company on the stock market,
then both would be regarded as captains of their industry.
Twenty years ago, when Alex first arrived at Old Trafford, what was his market
value? Martin Edwards apparently tried to sell the club to Michael Knighton, to
Robert Maxwell and to Sky for only a fraction of what it is worth today.
Its value now is almost unrecognisable, with every trophy won, the stadium
having been improved, a new training ground built and several teams
constructed.
For Arsene, it is only the Champions League trophy he is missing – but he has
brought the club even further.
There are some similarities between the two titans in their teams, and the way
they operate – one being they like two centre-halves up on the halfway line as
quickly as possible, and who are not scared of pace.
That enables the full-backs to venture into the opposition half more, as in recent
years Gary Neville and Dennis Irwin have done for United.
Arsenal full-backs Lauren and Ashley Cole have now been replaced by Bacary
Sagna, Gael Clichy and/or Emmanuel Eboue, with the same effect.
United and Arsenal’s passing is short and incisive. They ask players to be bright
and accept balls even when they are marked.
Michael Carrick excels at this for United because he has such quick feet and his
next pass will set up an attacking player. The same happens at Arsenal with
Mathieu Flamini receiving and passing the ball on to Cesc Fabregas, who Arsene
has decided is going to be their goalscoring midfield player.
Both teams have had fondly-remembered centre-forwards dropping off into
midfield. Eric Cantona linked up play, making and scoring goals. Then it was
Teddy Sheringham, and now it is Wayne Rooney.
Arsenal had Dennis Bergkamp – and if you had swapped Bergkamp for Cantona,
would it have affected either team? No.
Now Arsenal have Robin van Persie who drops off and Alex Hleb also looks like
he’s ready made for the role.
Arsenal under Wenger have always had one player up front with outstanding
pace, most notably Thierry Henry, and now Emmanuel Adebayor, with Theo
Walcott waiting.
Carlos Tevez fills that role for United, and his partnership with Rooney is starting
to look as dangerous as Alex always thought it would.
The managers will shake each other’s hands afterwards because Alex and Arsene
are civilised personalities.
It’s football that changes them, and the welfare of their beloved teams.
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php
RIVALRY: Arsene Wenger
Saturday November 3, 2007
Arsene Wenger will confront Sir Alex Ferguson today with the belief that Arsenal
are the masters of Manchester United when it comes to attacking football.
Fergie will stare back at him and set up his team for the victory he will be just as
certain his team can achieve.
Both men will not step back from their convictions, both will be ready to perish
rather than put up the shutters and play for a draw. That philosophy is inbred in
them, the hunger to play to win, and with style. Arsene was once asked before a
Christmas programme what he would prefer as a present, nine points from the
three games, or a case of the finest Bordeaux red wine that he so enjoys. He
replied: “For nine points I would drink water for a year.” It perfectly sums him up.
And Fergie shares that rage for perfection and so I expect today’s confrontation
at The Emirates to be an exceptional exhibition of all that is best about two
brilliant sides.
People tell me Arsene and Alex are poles apart. Socially yes, they would not
want to mix with one another. Professionally, they are twinned by an ambition to
be the masters of all they survey.
To meet, both are affable, intelligent, and pleasant to be around. Arsene is not
the serious professorial figure who seems so intense.
He’s actually very sociable, somebody told me that he was seen dancing in the
aisles to the Abba musical Mamma Mia. As for Sir Alex, there’s much more to him
than you would imagine.
He is learning to play the piano, loves nothing better than a general knowledge
quiz and the racing pages. And has always been very supportive and helpful to
any manager who cares to ask him for advice. Me included.
For both of them, this game is vitally important and it matters not just that they
win, but how they win.
For both, attack is always the best form of defence, and that is the reason why
they have produced thrilling, exciting teams, where skill and ability is encouraged
to flourish.
Today’s massive confrontation will see Arsenal’s pace and power against a United
side who will be in their faces with their own brand of attacking play that, to me,
develops in intensity the longer a game goes on.
That’s because once they have a lead, they enjoy playing the game even more.
There is no question of them shutting up shop.
My only complaint about the game is the ludicrous time it is being played at.
Lunchtime kick-offs don’t have the right feel for such a big occasion.
The managers are also loyal. You cannot tell me Sir Alex over the last 20 years
has not had offers to go elsewhere, and Arsene is always being linked with top
clubs. If United and Arsenal were just another PLC company on the stock market,
then both would be regarded as captains of their industry.
Twenty years ago, when Alex first arrived at Old Trafford, what was his market
value? Martin Edwards apparently tried to sell the club to Michael Knighton, to
Robert Maxwell and to Sky for only a fraction of what it is worth today.
Its value now is almost unrecognisable, with every trophy won, the stadium
having been improved, a new training ground built and several teams
constructed.
For Arsene, it is only the Champions League trophy he is missing – but he has
brought the club even further.
There are some similarities between the two titans in their teams, and the way
they operate – one being they like two centre-halves up on the halfway line as
quickly as possible, and who are not scared of pace.
That enables the full-backs to venture into the opposition half more, as in recent
years Gary Neville and Dennis Irwin have done for United.
Arsenal full-backs Lauren and Ashley Cole have now been replaced by Bacary
Sagna, Gael Clichy and/or Emmanuel Eboue, with the same effect.
United and Arsenal’s passing is short and incisive. They ask players to be bright
and accept balls even when they are marked.
Michael Carrick excels at this for United because he has such quick feet and his
next pass will set up an attacking player. The same happens at Arsenal with
Mathieu Flamini receiving and passing the ball on to Cesc Fabregas, who Arsene
has decided is going to be their goalscoring midfield player.
Both teams have had fondly-remembered centre-forwards dropping off into
midfield. Eric Cantona linked up play, making and scoring goals. Then it was
Teddy Sheringham, and now it is Wayne Rooney.
Arsenal had Dennis Bergkamp – and if you had swapped Bergkamp for Cantona,
would it have affected either team? No.
Now Arsenal have Robin van Persie who drops off and Alex Hleb also looks like
he’s ready made for the role.
Arsenal under Wenger have always had one player up front with outstanding
pace, most notably Thierry Henry, and now Emmanuel Adebayor, with Theo
Walcott waiting.
Carlos Tevez fills that role for United, and his partnership with Rooney is starting
to look as dangerous as Alex always thought it would.
The managers will shake each other’s hands afterwards because Alex and Arsene
are civilised personalities.
It’s football that changes them, and the welfare of their beloved teams.
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php