Telling Storey’s For A Song And Succession Planning

Anyone who doubted whether Arsenal would bother complaining about tapping up from Barcelona, received further evidence this morning as to why it is simply not worth it. According to The Guardian, FIFA is still investigating the allegations made against Jose Mourinho, Chelsea and Pini Zahavi over the meeting with Ashley Cole ahead of his transfer in 2006. Three years down the line, the Gnomes have been too busy tending various gardens and making no head way whatsoever on any issues to do anything but issue repeated statements that “the investigation is ongoing“.

Vaguely on the subject of Cesc, Daily Telegraph hacks inform us this morning that the player has been the subject of ‘fevered speculation‘ recently. Presumably the fevered speculation referred to is in no way the same that the Telegraph is indulging in when they observe that the player is on his way back to the club yet no decision has been taken about whether he will turn out for the Spanish national team.

Alex Song received high encouragement from Frank McLintock:

When they have three in the centre of midfield and they leave Van Persie up front, it’s making us stronger in midfield. We always played 4-4-2 with Peter Storey as the anchor man in midfield and he was very protective of the back four. Song is one of those players who can do the same kind of job as Peter Storey.

Storey would probably miss half a season through suspension in the modern game, tough tackling being a tad of a euphemism. He is underrated though when people reflect on the early 70s, Hunter, Bremner, Giles, Smith tripping off tongues rather more easily that Storey. Perhaps it is because he was not an England stalwart, not a regular in the Golden Age of 1966-1970 rather than Storey’s era of the Great Depression 1970 – onwards.

It is, at long last, decent recognition of his efforts to find consistency in the team though, no doubt aided by a regular starting place alongside Cesc and any of the others who happen to have a fleeting moment of fitness.

Arsene meanwhile has observed that he will not be naming his successor and will only offered any opinions if asked. Nothing unusual in that and provided he is not leaving under a cloud, you would suspect that the Board will ask for those opinions. Few candidates emerge if you glance internally at the club, and few, if any ex-players from outside are anywhere close to being good enough at this moment in time.

Wenger wants to leave the club in good hands and when the time comes, no doubt a proven manager will be appointed. Having taken a risk with Wenger at the time, foreign coaches being less welcomed than a dose of the clap in the mid-90s, the club is appreciably different to then. The players, the expectations, everything will scream for a proven winner, capable of challenging for and winning silverware consistently.

Should he move into a Board role, you would expect him to be hands on in the appointment and quite possibly making the announcement. One danger in that though is that Wenger would still cast a large shadow over the club, rather like that of Sir Matt Busby at United after his departure. A proven manager would be able to handle that, or at least should be able to, whereas a relative novice may be intimidated in those circumstances.

Given that such movement is seemingly some way off, it was a curious conversation to arise but it does hint at some succession planning being required. Perhaps someone like Bould has already been identified and may over time move up to first team duties. We shall see.

’til Tomorrow.