Will Wenger suffer for the rise of the old school manager?
Modern coaching techniques proving less popular than ever
Following Arsenal’s sorry performance at the Britannia Stadium, Arsene Wenger has sounded like a man who is full of excuses but lacking in solutions. For the first time, Wenger’s status in north London is being seriously questioned, and this may have more to do with the current managerial climate of the Premiership than his shortcomings.
With his strict diets, motivational handouts and precisely designed training ground routine, the French Professor is the poster child for modern coaching techniques. Over the past few months, however, the new school of coaching appears to have become very old fashioned, while the traditional managers are enjoying a renaissance.
Think about it: Luis Aragones won the European Championships, Sir Alex picked up silverware here and in Moscow, Harry “just fucking run around” Redknapp and Joe Kinnear are revitalising their respective clubs, Tony Pulis just drank Arsenal’s milkshake, and even Big Phil Scolari is reticent to use too much modern coaching. Meanwhile, Juande Ramos and his fancy diets have been sent packing, and Professor Wenger is feeling some serious heat.
It certainly seems that manliness, shouting and getting the job done with the minimum of fuss are better qualities than intellectualism, empirical training techniques and holistic psychology.
So, do Mr Wenger’s methods appear outdated in the old school manager revolution, or is there still a place in the Premiership for his gigantic brain. Let us know with a comment below.
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