Managerial Ping-Pong! And where the **** is Tschaempeeonshipe? « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger in all he does
Managerial Ping-Pong!
By Steven Hebert
Why is it that Managers can be sacked and replaced at any time of the year?
The acquisition and selling of players is, as we all know, restricted to two windows. This makes perfect sense as it brings certain stability to the season and benefits the players as much as the clubs.
Once the season has started, a player can get on with his or her job (yes women play football too) safe in the knowledge that, until January, they are part of the team. The club and most importantly the manager can also get on with his or her job (live with it) safe in the knowledge that they have a bunch of players, that for better or worse, have agreed to all play facing in the same direction come match time. The collective noun being “a team” of course! (interestingly this is also the collective noun for Horses, Oxen and Ducks – make of that what you will).
Now, why is it that players are bound by such bi-annual transfer restriction and yet Managers are not? How could it be that, quite rightly, players cannot leave or join a team outside the two regulated transfer windows and yet Managers are not protected by such a set up.
You might argue otherwise but for me it is clear that once a club has appointed its manager come the start of the season, then they should bloody well live with that decision until January or June, whichever comes around first.
You could also argue that a team can obtain an unfair advantage by changing managers after the team have suffered a bad start or bad mid- to late season. It has happened countless times that a new manager has turned around the ailing fortunes of a club just before the impending doom of relegation to, I am told, a dark and horrible place called “Tschaempeeonshipe”. (Never been there so i am not sure about the spelling) Trust me; it’s a bad place where evil mythical creatures dwell. (I here that the half-time entertainment includes a Ping-Pong table and Badger Baiting! – yeah, best not go there then. )
Anyway, my point is this. Clubs should select a manager within the confines of the two transfer windows and not whenever it pleases or suits their wants or needs. It’s become far too silly and arbitrary for my liking and needs to stop.
I for one welcome the fact that our lordship, the Duc de Strasbourg has signed a new contract and look forward to four more years of solidity, growth and peace of mind.
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