Managers Diary Part One

It seems like years have passed since I felt these emotions, last season it all seemed so much simpler coming through the doors when things had already got under way. It was all go from the first minute and I never had what currently seems an eternity to think things through. Formations, line-ups, training schedules, tactics, player rotations now that I have had sufficient time to plan all these things in advance, all I seem to be doing is questioning my own methods. For every problem I have a solution and for every solution I find a contradiction. Thank god the season is only days away and rather than planning schedules and sitting around twiddling my thumbs, I will again be too busy plotting the downfall of my rivals, back in the media spotlight and back on the front lines in the dugout, that’s where I feel most at home. I can’t wait to enter the stadium at full capacity and take in the atmosphere, feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins and I’m even beginning to miss the taunts and hostility of the rival fans.

The main thing on my mind recently is do we have enough to be successful in division two, or more to the point were the signings I made sufficient and have I spent the clubs small budget wisely. If someone was to ask me this question before I sold Lauren and sacked Gilberto and Adams I would have said yes without hesitation but as good as the team was last season and it was an amazing unit. I stand by my opinion that it would have run out of gas and we would have found ourselves struggling to afford the quality needed in division one and now hopefully balance is restored with many players on the brink of making the starting line up. How I wish those players were ready now though.

My only escape from the day to day chores has been in training with the players and what a group I have to train with, I knew after the first game in charge last season I had been gifted a team which had no ego’s, worked for each other and still contained some astounding individual talents. The bond with the lads was immediate and they gave me everything that was in their lockers last season, I can only hope the new faces pick up on this vibe we have and don’t upset the dressing room spirit. For sure this will be our toughest season as we are in a transition player wise, waiting for the youth to reach the next level but if I can maintain the bond between myself and the players and get the same levels of desire form the key players and the work rate from defence this season could be even more successful than the last.

Bergkamp, Seaman and Henry are the key to my season and Lang may prove to have a massive influence also he has looked sharper than ever in training and when he feels like it there no stopping him. Bergkamp on the other hand is "Gooners", he is the heart and soul of this team and aswell as a special player he is a fantastic leader. I would say he is the reason for the unity in this team and for the amazing work rate from the players. He never goes missing in a game and has a never say never attitude that seems to rub off on everyone around him. If i can keep him in good shape and focused this season there is always hope, in the big games in the big moments he is always there. Seaman is legend in these parts of town, always reliable and rarely beaten from him I always know what to expect. Henry on the other hand has given me cause for concern, the quality of defences he now faces are going to be better and while i have no doubting in his ability, scoring goals is a confidence game. He must make a good start against PSV and Wright will need to find his scoring boots again to relieve some of the pressure from Henry also as Wright hasn’t been looking dangerous since our exit from the RMI cup.

I guess I must now just wait to see if everything has been done correctly and for the good of the club, I have so much riding on this season and have stuck my neck on the line with my transfer choices that means anything other than promotion and i would feel the wrath of the fans and possibly the board. Then again there is no bigger fan of this club than me and I could never see myself managing any other team after Gooners. It’s all too late now anyway I have made my decisions and if they work i will be hailed a genius and if not I guess I will have to answer the same questions over and over again in many press conferences. Atleast the waiting is almost over I guess I better stop writing now and begin thinking up my excuses for worst case scenarios and read all my books of footballing clichés.