Warnock the novice needs to take lessons from Wenger the master
Neil Warnock has been blundering his way around the Premiership’s mind games and blame games all season, and a bit like his Sheffield United team his approach is pretty direct and none too subtle.
Warnock latest rant is a very personal and public one at fellow manager Gareth Southgate for fielding a “weakened” side against Manchester City. He even went as far as to accuse Southgate of throwing the game as a favour to his “mate” Pearce. Continuing with his rant, and getting to his excuses in early, Warnock even suggested that Southgate would help out his other “pal” Alan Curbishley and field a weakened side against West Ham, gifting them three points also.
I’m surprised that the FA have not stepped in and asked Warnock to explain his comments, because after all they do bring the game into disrepute. On the face of it Warnock has a point about teams fielding weakened teams, which goes against the FA’s long forgotten rule about fielding your best side, so maybe they just don’t want to get into that discussion, especially as the likes of Ferguson and Wenger have long used cup games as a means of fielding a “weakened” side.
However, Warnock goes right over the top in his criticism of Southgate. You could argue that the squad rotation system goes against the FA rules, but it is a fact of life, and Southgate’s side should still have been able to beat City without two of his key players, but to then accuse a manager of throwing a game in order to help out his mate is an outrageous suggestion. To then suggest that he will do it again next week slings even more mud at the integrity of the game.
Perhaps the FA realise that Warnock is just whinging because he’s trying to blame others for his team’s current predicament? So if Sheffield United go down, he will be able to point to Southgate and blame him, instead of looking to his own performance?
Warnock should look to Wenger the master of the blame game. His team is one of total football, with more talent in each player than Sheffield United could hope to find in their whole squad, but he is still not winning things despite their flair. Its true that he does have Henry and Van Persie out, but those remaining should be more than enough to win games.
In explaining his team’s recent run of poor form he blames the youthful naivety and the lack of physical stamina of their young limbs, and then reminds us of their future potential. I must admit I find this excuse of “jam tomorrow” a little perplexing, especially as Wenger is one of those managers who has, in the past, made use of that old adage “if they are good enough, they are old enough…..”
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10 opinions for Warnock the novice needs to take lessons from Wenger the master
Pocoyo
Mar 21, 2007 at 10:36 am
Idiot!
Was Fergi ever talked about like that when Man Utd won sweet fa?
I can’t believe that anybody that can string a few words together and want’s to write about footie decides that they should jump on the band wagon and join in with the ‘media’ treatment of Wenger and enjoy sending a few verbal slaps his way.
Weakened teams indeed… I thought I watched the Arsenal kids at a final against Chelsea’s top boys and run them off the park for most of the game… but hey you know what you’re talking about huh?
As for Warnock, he’s old school and still believes in sending a player out on the pitch with the express objecitve of nobbling the opposition’s most talented or threatening player… filth!
Anyway, well done for joining the ranks of the mediocre
Sack the Juggler
Mar 21, 2007 at 11:16 am
Pocoyo
Fergie was talked about like that actually - and the weakened teams bit was tongue in cheek as they nearly went all the way.
Oh, and thanks for the invite - but I think I’ll stay where I am….
Norton Lees Blade
Mar 21, 2007 at 11:58 am
Oh for goodness sake, if it were The Special One saying what Warnock said everybody would be hanging on his every word and coo-ing about what a breath of fresh air it is to have him in the Premiership. You’re allowing your preconceptions to get the better of you.
You might not like Warnock (actually, clearly you don’t) but I’ve always found that he tells it like it is…sometimes that rubs people up the wrong way. Who said it always has to be sweetness and light?
lfcrule1972
Mar 21, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I am surprised at Warnock, I remember reading that he was planning to do exactly what Southgate did at the weekend when Sheffield Utd faced Arsenal and then Middlesbrough on 30 Dec and 1 Jan.
Didn’t Warnock also do the same and field a weakend team against Swansea City in the FA Cup and lose that ?
So he talked about it at the end of the year when about to play Arsenal and then did it in the FA Cup but his short term memory loss leads him to attack Southgate and I quote “I know Gareth’s a friend of Stuart’s, but I don’t think a club like Boro should disrespect Sheffield United and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.”
Bitter taste my arse ! He now realises that Sheffield Utd are dangerously close to the drop zone and may have to compete to get out of it. Given their recent form it’s easy to see why Warnock is putting the excuses out now.
pokoyo
Mar 21, 2007 at 12:36 pm
[quote]the weakened teams bit was tongue in cheek as they nearly went all the way.[/quote] Suck the Juggler wrote “I must admit I find this excuse of “jam tomorrow” a little perplexing, especially as Wenger is one of those managers who has, in the past, made use of that old adage “if they are good enough, they are old enough…..”” -
Mate, you’re a fool… and now you’re trying to fool me that it was said tongue in cheek!
PS… I didn’t invite you to anything, can you not read properly, or is your grasp of the language as bad as your grasp on footie?
Rich
Mar 21, 2007 at 12:56 pm
I reckon Warnock was bang out of order saying what he said - but I would hardly use Wenger as the beacon of light he should strive to reach! I most definately applaud Wenger in the use of his youth team this season and most would agree the future looks bright for them. Having said that, I would put Wenger in the top three, if not the top for the Premiereship’s worst losers! He’s great at soaking up and agreeing with the plaudits when they come - and as they did with the great results the youngsters came up with. But as soon as things go wrong for him he manages to blame just about anyone except himself or his team! Even to the extent where he’ll manage to dodge questions about his team’s performance in press conferences by bringing up issues from the previous game - and by making such a fuss distracts all attention away from the result of the game his team has just played in.
lfcrule1972
Mar 21, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I don’t think anyone can deny that Wenger is THE master of the blame game !!
Charles
Mar 23, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I am tired of these half-ass so called football writers or whatever they decide to call themselves making a story out of Arsemnal and Mr. Wenger.
I not concerned of what Warnock said or did not say, he is entitled to his opinion. My greviance with this incoherent article is the constant reference to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.
Its true that Arsenal hasn’t won any trophy in 2 seasons,Tothnam and Newcastle to mention but few have not won anything in over ten yrs and they have out spend Arsenal in the tranfer market during this ten years.
So my friend, their is what they call “living within your means”. someone should have told Leed united about it few years ago.
Sack the Juggler
Mar 23, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Charles, glad you got that off you chest - are you feeling better now? So what you’re saying is that Arsenal are going backwards because they can’t afford to compete with Chelsea or Man U in the transfer market?
I wouldn’t have said that, I just think they are going backwards because Wenger believes he can get back that winning formula he once had. They still play lovely football, but they just can’t win anything. Maybe he’ll find his touch again one day, but for now, he’ll continue going backwards (and if he keeps losing he might even slip out of the top 4…)
lfcrule1972
Mar 26, 2007 at 7:40 am
As much as I hate to admit it you need mega cash these days to be succesful regularly.
Arsenal were probably the last team to win the Premiership by out playing rather than out paying the opposition. Now to do the former you need the latter as well.
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