If we were (looking unlikely) to get a new manager, I would love to see Graham return to the fray.
I don't actually think this is based upon any reasonable rationalism, more pure romanticism. As bad a performance as the Wigan semi-final was, I have to say I enjoyed our 'back to basics' (Wenger's words) performance. The back to front, 4-4-2. The grit. The attitude of 'we know were are crap, but what are you going to do about it?'. We saw it against Spurs. I loved it in that match, despite our poor performances. And we only see these kind of matches with Wenger on a rare occasion.
Also, I love the thought of Kieran, Carl, Per and LK all tied to a rope in training, mastering the offside trap.
George Graham
posted on 5/5/14
I'm after Graham's time, having been born in '93. My dad's a gooner but as a kid I was never really interested beyond vague awareness during our successful years (I got called a glory hunter, when the reality was it was just my dad's team). I began getting interested in Arsenal in 05/06/07 with my love for Arsenal truly taking off at the start of the 2007/08 season. That was when I was taken to my first games, got my first shirt etc.
I fell in love with Arsenal because of the way we played. Arsenal made football interesting for me. I understood the midfield to be the crucible of proper football and I adored the movement.
If we were to get George Graham or adopt a similar type of manager now, I'd still support Arsenal. But the truth is, if we had done in 05/06/07 I'd have never fallen in love with the club.
posted on 5/5/14
In his last season with us, Graham led us (well, not entirely true actually, as he was banned before the end of the season) led us to 12th in the league.
We didn't have our own training ground, we had a stadium around 22,000 in capacity smaller than this one, and a turnover of less than a third of Man Utd's, and less than the likes of Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
On top of that, there was an alcohol culture in the club threatening to cut short the careers of a number of key players, many of whom were already approaching the dreaded thirty mark.
People don't appreciate the creolisation the club has undergone under Wenger. To suggest we would have been more successful had we stuck with the 'bung' accepting Graham is ridiculous.
Graham did a lot for the club, but we were beginning to fall well behind our competitors both in terms of on-the-pitch quality, and in terms of resources, infrastructure etc - which are vital for the continued success of any club.
Sacrificing league position and going all out in cup competitions shouldn't mask the downward spiral we were on.
posted on 5/5/14
Graham did great for us, but to suggest he is still relevant to football management now is a complete joke.
Plus the suggestion he was a strict 4-4-2 man is far from the truth.
posted on 5/5/14
Graham was sacked for taking illegal payments, surely a club with such high morals doesn't want a crook as manager.
posted on 5/5/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 5/5/14
We did have a few mediocre seasons under George Graham as well though. 1992/1993 despite winning the league cup and FA Cup we finished 10th in the league. 1994/1995 we finished 12th and were actually kind of involved in a relegation battle around February- March. All those scandals about George Graham clearly may have had a huge effect on the team during the season though.
posted on 5/5/14
Bring Back Don Howe
posted on 5/5/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 5/5/14
comment by THE ACE FACE (U18814)
posted 2 minutes ago
You'd want Graham back as manager? He was a dinosaur 15 years ago when he was managing Spurs. Is he even still alive?
You wanna stop sniffing the toilet duck sunshine, get some help.
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Tottenhams most succesful manager of the past 20 years!
posted on 6/5/14
Bring back Bertie Mee... even if he is dead