Roberto Martinez

[g88ner]

Guardiola knows how to win

So would my mum if she managed Barcelona!

He walked into the best job in the world based, mainly, on his reputation and attributes as a player - and not anything he'd done in management.

He was handed a team with 3 of the best players of a generation (Messi, Xavi and Iniesta), had Basquets and Pedro ready to progress from the youth team, had a quality captain in Puyol, a decent 'keeper, had Pique desperate to go home, and a budget that allowed him to bring in top quality players to supplement his inheritance like Dani Alves and David Villa - and now Cesc (another homesick catalan) and Alexis Sanchez.

Basically, he walked into the dream job under dream circumstances.

Now, tactically he seems to have pulled off what I would have considered impossible - taking world class creative players and getting them working together, as a unit, so hard and well drilled that they're as good defensively, and at winning the ball back, as they are going forward.

It's an incredible achievement, but until he manages a less fortunate club, there's always an element of doubt as to whether his success is more talent than good timing, or vice versa.

That said, I'd suggest it's talent - and I'd love to see him at the Grove.

[djhdjh]

Wigan look goners already

He appeared to do quite well at Swansea, although I don't know enough about the financial circumstances, as having money in the lower leagues makes things much, much easier.

Swansea didn't have much money and stormed L1 by 10 points, then nearly made the play offs again in the Championship. However his spell at Wigan has been rubbish, Jewell and Bruce both got them into mid table safety (Jewell had a relegation battle too) and he hasn't managed it and is getting them relegated now. Too focused on pwetty football and not enough on doing what is required for results.

Seriously, how low do people think we've fallen that the best we can do is the manager of the team bottom of the Premiership? We should be looking at the 2nd tier of top European managers (Ancelotti, Van Gaal - though I think he's 1st tier personally, Hiddink - that sort of level) or an up and comer who has done well in winning something or doing something exceptional with a team from the lesser European leagues/the Premiership itself.

Read the comments again mate......nobody is saying that martinez should replace wenger but we are saying that down the line he could be a potential AFC manager. It's funny that owen coyle is continually lauded as a future manager but is in charge of a bolton side in real danger of being relegated this season despite having a lot more money at his disposal than martinez

I knew that but I wanted to try and make the point as forcefully as I could (evne if it involved a bit of exaggeration).

The bloke has done jack at Wigan, he's done a bad job, no two ways about it. His only top flight experience and he's done badly. He did well in the third and second tier for Swansea, a club that he was so revered at as a player that they sacked a really successful manager principally for falling out with him. Good for him. But he's not got Arsenal credentials on his record and his style leaves much to be desired - puts style over substance and doesn't have any tactical variation at all.

Glad you mentioned Coyle, can't stand him as a person, I think he's a hypocrite and a bloke who has a reputation based on hot air. Didn't get St Johnstone up, got Burnley up by spending more than their annual turnover on wages. Kept a decent Bolton side up and got a lot of credit for improving their results and style (for all that matters) even though they were still in the bottom 7 and still play a lot of long balls up to Davies. Another one with an inflated reputation.

Just don't understand why we're even considering them. They're average Premiership managers at best. The equivalent players would be like signing Ben Watson of Wigan and Paul Robinson (the Bolton one). They do a job for someone but they're simply not Arsenal quality.

[SteveO 35]

I like Martnez as a bloke and think he talks intelligently about the game, and agree that Wigan play a decent style of football which is very admirable given their size and situation each season. He also brings through players that end up being sold on for a lot of money - Palacios, Valencia etc.

But to be honest, I think that he is not taking Wigan forward. Jewell got them promoted and in the first season they finished in the top half (admitedly slipped down in 2nd season). So despite all of the above, has Martinez really moved them on as a club; not really.

If I look at Moyes at Everton or what Coyle did at Burnley and carried on at Bolton (OK, this season not great so far), then I would say they have been much more progressive. Lambert at Norwich ditto and Rodgers at Swansea, but both early days for those guys

I think Martinez is the sort of guy that Arsenal might consider employing in the future and in terms of his style of play I can see why people might think he has a chance...but personally I'd like to see a bit more of a track record first

[RocastleRock]

Needs to step it up to the next level before the step up to our great club.

[olgitgooner]

Guardiola knows how to win

So would my mum if she managed Barcelona!

He walked into the best job in the world based, mainly, on his reputation and attributes as a player - and not anything he'd done in management.

He was handed a team with 3 of the best players of a generation (Messi, Xavi and Iniesta), had Basquets and Pedro ready to progress from the youth team, had a quality captain in Puyol, a decent 'keeper, had Pique desperate to go home, and a budget that allowed him to bring in top quality players to supplement his inheritance like Dani Alves and David Villa - and now Cesc (another homesick catalan) and Alexis Sanchez.

Basically, he walked into the dream job under dream circumstances.

Now, tactically he seems to have pulled off what I would have considered impossible - taking world class creative players and getting them working together, as a unit, so hard and well drilled that they're as good defensively, and at winning the ball back, as they are going forward.

It's an incredible achievement, but until he manages a less fortunate club, there's always an element of doubt as to whether his success is more talent than good timing, or vice versa.

That said, I'd suggest it's talent - and I'd love to see him at the Grove.

+ 1

The proof of a good manager is to win trophies without a huge chequebook.

Am I becoming an AKB again?

[hugh jardon]

Looks like Wigan are going down, great shout.

[paperclip]

He also brings through players that end up being sold on for a lot of money - Palacios, Valencia etc.

A very good point, apart from the fact that both had left Wigan before he'd arrived

[Bendtners Drinking Buddy]

Certainly not saying he will be the favourite for the job, or even my first choice - more that when i was considering him there was a lot of overlap with what he does / believes in and the club - certaly a lot more than coyle / moyes etc.

Like i said, it would be a shame if he does end up sacked / relegated and falls back into the abyss of the Championsip as i think he has something, i certainly think he could be of benefit to our coaching team as a whole.

[flash gunner]

I'd rather boil my own head than have Martinez at Arsenal

Wigan are not bottom (and only luckily escaped relegation last season) by accident