da bet7： The start of the Premier League season has already brought to light two very similar and intriguing, yet also, very contrasting managerial situations at two of the top flights longest running clubs; Arsenal and Everton. Both Arsene Wenger and David Moyes have found themselves immediately under pressure this season, and if truth be told, the pressure was mounting even before a ball was kicked. Both have come under the heavy scrutiny of their supporters, whilst also being caught in the spotlight of the media’s glare, for similar reasons, yet under very different circumstances. It’s the tale of two managers.
da winzada777： Both Everton and Arsenal have had less than ideal starts to their campaigns – and that was even before their first games were played. The failure to add to their squads sufficiently during the summer months saw fans from both clubs questioning the management. But the results that followed only served to intensify the pressure. Arsenal began under the cloud of both the Fabregas and Nasri transfer situations which led to both influential players being left out of the squad for the opening game of the season, away at Newcastle. Yet the game was still deemed very much winnable for Arsenal, as Newcastle themselves, under the cloud of Barton-Twittergate, were said to be enduring their own mini crises with key players leaving their squad during the summer and adequate replacements yet to be found. Arsenal failed to shine, playing out a 0-0 draw whilst seeing their debutant forward sent-off. Next, a far from convincing first-leg home win in the Champions League Qualifiers against Udinese, then came Liverpool at home. Whilst Fabregas had now left, Nasri was restored to the starting-11. However, injuries and another sending off saw Arsenal crash to a 0-2 defeat – this time, against a top four rival. With suspensions, an ever-growing injury list and the loss of one (possibly still two) key players, Wenger’s decision not to spend on adequate quality reinforcements was now highlighted even more – and the results so far, gave no solace. Many tipped Wenger to walk, under the most difficult period at the club, under his reign.
Everton’s season didn’t even kick-off at all. Well, not with the rest of the league anyway. The riots in the Tottenham area saw the Toffees’ game at Spurs called off. Not that Everton fans were too disappointed with the decision. An air of pessimism had been growing all summer at Goodison, with once again, the club having very little transfer activity. In fact, this time, they were the only club in the entire division not to make a single purchase – and the fans wanted answers. Everton’s manager David Moyes publicly backed his chairman immediately prior to their first game of the season, at home to newly promoted QPR, who were thumped 4-0 the previous week by Bolton. During the game the home supports mood darkened when the unthinkable happened – QPR scored. Then, something even more unimaginable happened to turn the mood even darker. Chasing the game, Moyes elected to substitute his only striker…for a midfield player, whilst two other strikers lingered on the bench. The home support was left seething as the final whistle blew. Everton had lost and the local radio stations bore the brunt of the backlash with many calling for Moyes’ to walk.
So, both managers now find themselves under intense pressure from their own fans due to bad starts and failure to address the need for a bigger squad. However that’s where the similarities end. Moyes publicly backed his chairman Bill Kenwright, who was incurring the supporter’s wrath for not providing Moyes with funds for new players, because the club has no money. Kenwright issued a statement informing supporters that the club’s bank is unwilling to lend the club any more money, therefore none is available. Whether or not adequate attempts have been made by Kenwright to find investment for Everton has already been discussed here. However, as it stands, Everton have no resources and Moyes has no money for reinforcements. The only ‘failures’ so far this season, are his questionable tactics and substitutions.
Lack of resources is one excuse Arsene Wenger cannot use. Money is there at Arsenal and has been available for spending all summer, even before the sale of Fabregas. It’s not the Wenger hasn’t spent, but who he’s chose to spend it on. Both Jenkinson and Oxlade-Chamberlain are far from the established, experienced type of player Arsenal fans are crying out for, especially after the loss of Fabregas. But Wenger’s insistence on buying the ‘unfinished article’ has led to his current predicament of being under fire from much of his own support.
So the current tale of two managers comes down to resources. One has them, the other doesn’t. I know which has my sympathy.
If you want to read more from myself including news, thoughts and views you can follow me on Twitter @fantasista1077 thanks!
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]