"Playing for George Graham was like living in Iraq"

[Dan_85]

Reading Alex Fynn's "The Making of a Modern Superclub" at the minute, lots of quotes in there to back up what Anders says here.

I remember a quote from Graham, something along the lines of "you have to be a dictator to succeed"

[clockender1]

he's scottish. enough said.

[Nos89]

Frankly, Graham put us back on the road to success after , brought in the defence that won more trophies under Wenger, so how he did it I don't really care, we won trophies in those 9 years.

[Rosie_titters]

Super George can do no wrong in my eyes

[flash gunner]

Can we not get Graham back as defensive coach

or at least negotiating contracts

[Top Londoner]

Can we not get Graham back as defensive coach

or at least negotiating contracts

What about transfer deals?

[Vinny1967]

Personally thinking I have no doubt that GG was a bully and dictator, but I think that worked at the time. Fergie was and still is to an extent like that but I don't think it would work now if you want to stay at the top with players having much more of a say. I still think an iron hand works though.

I don't think GG ever got the nationwide credit he deserved as there was some seriously good football played particularily in '89 and '91which not only was based on sound defence but a cracking midfield. As well as that all the home grown players that were used was phenomenal and he certainly didn't get the credit for that. Just look at the credit red nose got from the press a few years later.

Anyway the point I wanted to make and ask others.
Ian Wright..........A legend. But when GG changed tactics to conquer Europe and brought Ian Wright in the midfield became a functional unit and gone were the days of Rocky, Micheal, the two Pauls and so on. Our goals dried up from midfield. Wrighty was banging them in from everywhere but I don't think his total was enough and GG brought workers into midfield to replace some seriously good footballers.
Was it the change of tactics, Wrighty's selfishness (I mean this in a good way as every top striker should have a selfish streak imo) that led to the goals drying up elsewhere or was it just the way it developed ?

[I Hate Hleb]

As I remember things, at the end of the triumphant 1991 season, Graham said he wanted his side to play even more attacking football then they had just played. However an opening day 4-0 defeat at Man United soon changed his mind. Similar thing happened after our (unfortunate, in my opinion) defeat to Benfica in the European Cup. George didn't like losing so he made adjustments to the team and although it paid off in the Cups and in Europe to some extent, we never really put in another decent title challenge after the change in style.

[QuartzGooner]

1992+ Wright was pretty much the only reliable goalscorer, Merson the only other creative player that I can remember.

The classy Davis stayed in the squad but seldom played, Rocky had injury troubles and got sold.

The ethos became defensive minded.

Midfield packed with hardworking but uncreative players.

[Herd]

I had a few Jars with him in Miami when we played Independiente in 1989 . Was relaxed chatty and seemed alright but u could tell the players were all on their best behavior.
His only concern was that DB10 would nip across the water and shag his missus whilst he was gone !
He was my Hero then and remains so today and proved beyond any doubt that you can make a silk purse from a sows ear !

[northbankbren]

I had a few Jars with him in Miami when we played Independiente in 1989 . Was relaxed chatty and seemed alright but u could tell the players were all on their best behavior.
His only concern was that DB10 would nip across the water and shag his missus whilst he was gone !
He was my Hero then and remains so today and proved beyond any doubt that you can make a silk purse from a sows ear !

Innit son, reminds me of the time e askd me if id shag iz sista aalllll wite!!!!

Ad to hold er fella off but,, bish bash bosh, get in son,

georgy boy paid up...sunshine....pure sunshine.....

Av it.

[Herd]

Can I have half a gram of what your on Bren !

[donaldo]

To realise what a great manager George was you would have had to had been following the club in the early eighties.The club was going nowhere fast. He gave us our pride back.He put Arsenal back at the top table of football.When fans talk about the modern Arsenal it was George who built it

[REB]

To realise what a great manager George was you would have had to had been following the club in the early eighties.The club was going nowhere fast. He gave us our pride back.He put Arsenal back at the top table of football.When fans talk about the modern Arsenal it was George who built it

never forget it was he it was who gave us back our pride, so what if he got rid of players he felt he didnt need with exception to rocky but graham knew back then he was never going to the same player he was in 89-90-91 .
wish wenger was so ruthless with the crap we have hanging around our squad these days and all on big money

[DB10GOONER]

His only concern was that DB10 would nip across the water and shag his missus whilst he was gone !
He was my Hero then and remains so today and proved beyond any doubt that you can make a silk purse from a sows ear !

Thanks Herd. To be hero worshipped for fucking a man's wife is a new one on me but hey - I'm Oirish and we do like to fuck!!

Fucked if I know how to make silk purses though!