LAURA WOODS: IS CARRICK RIGHT FOR UNITED IN THE LONG TERM?
LEAGUE THE PRIORITY FOR ARSENAL
Don’t get me wrong, the Champions League would be a massive accomplishment for Arsenal this season, but I do think the Premier League is more important. They’ve come so close in the last few seasons and it would be pretty tough to take if they came up short again.
The Champions League is the one Arsenal don’t have so while there’s a whole generation of fans that haven’t won the league, there are plenty that have – so the Champions League would be that jewel in the crown.
I think the last few weeks have shown how hard winning the league is in this era. I know Liverpool have fallen off this season, but they’ve been amazing for a long time before that. Then there’s been Pep’s Manchester City, so it’s been very, very competitive.
GYKORES COMING GOOD AT THE RIGHT TIME
I’ve been really impressed with him recently. I think it’s just taken him a bit of time to get up to speed with the Premier League because it is so tough and very different to the other leagues.
I think if he can just become a little more clinical in front of goal, I think there’s a real player there and one that can really help Arsenal.
He should suit the league because he’s very physical and doesn’t mind leaving a boot in and I think as his confidence grows he’ll develop and I can see him scoring a hatful of goals in the coming seasons.
UNDERDOG TAG NO BAD THING
Arsenal will be the underdogs in the Champions League final against PSG and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.
When you’re the underdog, there is less pressure, and the players can have a little bit more freedom.
Some might say Arsenal are a bit boring, but defending is an art and PSG adopted those sort of tactics against Bayern.
I don’t think it will be just attack versus defence and if Arsenal can do what they do well, they’ve definitely got a chance, particularly as I don’t think there’s going to be as much pressure on them.
WHO KNOWS WHERE NEXT FOR CHELSEA!
I have absolutely no idea what they’ll do now!
They’ve tried every type of manager and none of them have worked, so it’s so hard to know which way they should go this time.
It seems mental to me that this group of players can go from being really good in the FA Cup semi-final to seemingly downing tools against Nottingham Forest last time. It makes it a very unattractive job in my eyes for any prospective manager because it’s clearly a big proportion of the group that acts in this way.
I guess that means you need an experienced manager and one who knows the club, so I guess Cesc Fabregas would be an option but I’m not sure he’d want the job right now.
It’s still an attractive job given the size of Chelsea, but it’s so hard to know which way they’ll turn next.
NOT SURE CARRICK IS RIGHT FOR UNITED
If I was a Manchester United fan, I think I’d want someone a bit more experienced than Michael Carrick as the manager. If they are going to do this big rebuild they need a manager who has been there and done it.
I have a feeling Carrick might end up being like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer where things started really well before the results petered out. It just feels that way to me and that’s not what United need because they’ll just be back to square one again if that happens.
Luis Enrique is the one I’d go for as I think he’d be brilliant in the Premier League, but I think it’s virtually impossible he leaves PSG now. Unless they can get someone of that level, I think they probably have to go with Carrick because he’s done what he was supposed to and got them back in the Champions League.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
