One Wilf Copping
08-18-2013, 11:40 PM
This was an interesting comment I heard recently from someone who told me that Arsenal's Plan B to replace Wenger if he doesn't renew his contract and leaves at the end of the season is limited to just one name and one name only: German national team coach Joachim Löw.
They've hinted this to me a few times now, but were much more insistent this time.
If it's true, it would be an interesting strategy. When Wenger one day goes, the temptation (and probably the inclination among fans) would be to appoint a different type of manager: a dynamic man motivator like Jürgen Klopp perhaps or an arch pragmatist like Pochettino. Löw, however, in some ways would seem like Wenger 2.0.
The more one considers Löw, though, the more interesting the choice seems. In some ways he has many if not most of Wenger's advantages without the frustrating failings. Yes, he is a good talent-spotter, is brilliant at identifying and developing youth talent and has a good awareness of European talent. He also favours a fast, attacking game based on technique and passing ability.
Unlike Wenger, however, he is tactically flexible, can change mid-game and is decisive (and more importantly lucky) in his use of substitutes. He is also organised and audacious in his thinking and it's nigh impossible to imagine Löw letting a squad get so threadbare or being so reluctant to spend. if he thought it would give the team a 2% edge, then you feel Löw would do it.
Some might say that like Wenger he is overly loyal to some players (eg, Klose, Podolski), but he can also be ruthless when necessary as seen by his support for Lehmann over Kann at the 2006 World Cup. It wasn't Löw's call, but he was a key supporter of the idea.
Löw to replace Wenger? Why not. Puma would love it...
They've hinted this to me a few times now, but were much more insistent this time.
If it's true, it would be an interesting strategy. When Wenger one day goes, the temptation (and probably the inclination among fans) would be to appoint a different type of manager: a dynamic man motivator like Jürgen Klopp perhaps or an arch pragmatist like Pochettino. Löw, however, in some ways would seem like Wenger 2.0.
The more one considers Löw, though, the more interesting the choice seems. In some ways he has many if not most of Wenger's advantages without the frustrating failings. Yes, he is a good talent-spotter, is brilliant at identifying and developing youth talent and has a good awareness of European talent. He also favours a fast, attacking game based on technique and passing ability.
Unlike Wenger, however, he is tactically flexible, can change mid-game and is decisive (and more importantly lucky) in his use of substitutes. He is also organised and audacious in his thinking and it's nigh impossible to imagine Löw letting a squad get so threadbare or being so reluctant to spend. if he thought it would give the team a 2% edge, then you feel Löw would do it.
Some might say that like Wenger he is overly loyal to some players (eg, Klose, Podolski), but he can also be ruthless when necessary as seen by his support for Lehmann over Kann at the 2006 World Cup. It wasn't Löw's call, but he was a key supporter of the idea.
Löw to replace Wenger? Why not. Puma would love it...