The good news -- that the team won 50 games this season. The other news -- that they did so with an odd assortment of flawed parts and beat up on the weaker portion of the league in the second half to get there. Sure, you play who you play, but it is not as though the team plowed through the guts of the West to get to 50 games.
The bad news -- where to start, so here goes:
1. Boston out-toughed the 76ers, had a better strategy and had more complete players in the NBA semi-finals. Atop that, they beat the 76ers in 5 without their two best players. And the 76ers' head coach, a likeable fellow, was outcoached by the next "superstar" coach in the league, Brad Stevens. By the way, this author grew up loathing the Celtics and still roots hard against them, but let's give credit where credit is due. And Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens merit a lot of credit.
2. The 76ers have a bunch of on-the-court issues to sort out, and, it seems, no player is immune. So, in no particular order, the following:
a. Ben Simmons did not show up in the NBA semis. He is reluctant to shoot, has an odd shot and a bad shot at that. Of course, if he had a good shot, he might be the next uber-star, but right now he is an enigma who good coaches can figure out how to defend. Most great players can shoot the rock; Simmons cannot. Atop that, his coach offered that the team would only make minor tweaks to his shot. No less an authority on good, clutch shooting -- Kobe Bryant -- offered his opinion that the team needs to reconstruct Simmons' shot, period.
b. Joel Embiid presents a high-class problem if he gets healthier, can practice with the team, and gets into much better shape. He is an amazing talent, a very complete basketball player, and compelling because he is so tall and so skilled. That said, he needs to turn the ball over less while the team needs to use him better. Running the offense through him at the high post seems to be misguided. And no one can guard him down low, and, if someone could, that person wouldn't be quick enough to stay with him outside.
c. Markell Fultz right now looks to be a bust. Sure, he's young, and I am empathetic, but he is what his record says he is. He's a talent, he's fast, he's strong, he had a triple double, but he cannot shoot. Period. There are many guards out there who have that talent profile -- most are playing overseas or in the G League. Adding insult to injury, the 76ers traded up to of all teams Boston to grab him, and Boston took Jayson Tatum in the draft, the player that they would have taken had they had the first pick. Put differently, the Fultz situation looks like a bunch of dominos that are knocking each other over, and someone needs to pick up the pieces, rebuild his shot and have him play a lot this summer to test it out.
d. Robert Covington made the first-team all defensive team but lost his way on offense on many occasions. He just had surgery on one of the fingers on his shooting hand, so hopefully the finger was the root cause of the woes. If that's the case, he should improve.
e. The team's bench scared no one defensively. Yes, one had to guard Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Bellinelli and T.J. O'Connell, but they are not lock-down defenders and Bellinelli is a flat-out defensive liability. And J.J. Redick is no defensive stopper, either. It's hard to believe a team can carry Bellinelli and Reddick unless they cannot find a more athletic alternative to Bellinelli.
And then there is the off-the-court stuff, as follows:
1. The Bryan Colangelo affair. No need to repeat what has been blasted all over the sports world yesterday through today. Suffice it to say that if it's true, the ownership will have no alternative but to fire the general manager.
2. The dispute between Colangelo and Brown over whether the team should sign a high-profile free agent. Brown has said yes, Colangelo has been demure. As for the latter, if that's his thinking, it's one thing, but if he's channeling the ownership, sheesh. The fans want a high-profile free agent; they want to contend now.
3. The fact that Simmons has bought two very expensive cars in two years and dropped a girlfriend because she was acting too much like a Kardashian only to start dating Kendall Jenner, who is a Kardashian. Note to Ben: how many of the Kardashians' relationships are private, lack drama and go well?
4. That Fultz might not want to play summer league ball. Say what? There is only so much riding of a stationery bike that one can do to say in shape.
5. That Embiid is playing playground ball in South Philadelphia. I like the grass roots appeal, but Joel, don't step into a pothole when you land after posterizing an off-duty Philadelphia parks and rec official.
What free agent would want to join this team, especially with Colangelo's credibility and integrity on the line? What season ticket holder will be happy if management closes ranks behind Colangelo, risks losing the team in the process? What season ticket holder will be happy if LeBron James or Paul George or Kawhi Leonard does not join the team?
The team should be on the upswing after a 50-win season. Instead, it is doing damage control, big-time damage control, hoping to improve some talented if flawed parts and get ready to take on the juggernaut -- mentally and physically -- that is the Boston Celtics.
This is the most important off-season for the 76ers in recent memory. It's off to a terrible start.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Observations at Health Clubs
I belong to a pretty large health club, both in terms of membership and offerings. Here are some general observations, from the bad to the indifferent to the good.
1. Don't Engage Me in Long Conversations. I am there to work out, and I am focused on a three-part workout -- some aerobics, some weights, and some flexibility. You want to say hello? Fine. You are a long-lost buddy I haven't seen in a while, we'll talk. But if you want to vector your political views onto me and vent about something, find someone else and somewhere else to do so. My time is precious, even more so as I get older. Let's say hello, a kind word, perhaps something at least mildly amusing, and then get on with our workouts.
2. Don't Talk on Your Cell Phone Loudly While on an Exercise Machine. I mean, really, aren't we supposed to go to the gym to get away from all sorts of media save the songs that you can listen to on your phone while you are working out? I really don't need to hear you counsel your parents, counsel your kids, catch up with a friend who seems to be very needy. There is a time and a place for that, but, most certainly, not right next to me while I'm trying to work my intervals on an elliptical.
3. Don't Hog Machines. Look, I get it, we all have routines and want to do certain machines in a certain order. But you must not commandeer two machines at once, by leaving a towel and your phone on one of them and then a workout bag or sweatshirt on another. Dedicated gym devotees tend to respect people's time and space, so there is little chance that someone else will prevent you from doing what you need to do on a machine.
4. Work Out Properly. Now, this one is up to the person, of course, but the Larry the Lolly-gaggers just slay me. You know the type, they get on an elliptical and stay there for an hour at a very low speed. I haven't the foggiest what they think they are getting out of this workout other than anesthetizing themselves that they are at the gym and, as a result, doing something to improve their health. This workout looks like an elliptical workout in slow motion. Didn't anyone ever tell these people that interval workouts are the way to go, to get one's heart going?
5. Work Out Properly, Parts 2 through Infinity. To anyone who concentrates in one area, how do you really feel? Do those who only lift feel flexible and enjoy good cardio health? To those who only do yoga have good bone density, have good cardio health and strength? Do those who only do cardio have good bone density, strength and flexibility? All three seem to be key to good health. You don't have to spend a half day at the gym, and there are a bunch of things that you can do at home. But staying fit requires that you focus on more than one area even if you love that area and don't like the rest. Listen, you have the gym membership, so you might as well take advantage of everything your gym has to offer.
6. Don't Insult Me. I made conversation with a guy who was wearing a college sports t-shirt; I went to a rival school. I asked if he went there; he said no, but that his son "played ball" there, as if I knew what ball meant and then he explained football. Now that school is viewed as one of the most snotty in its conference. I offered that I went to a rival for graduate school. Tough-guy dad then assesses me and says, "What, are you a Bernie Sanders supporter?" Now, I have not discussed politics on this blog and try to avoid the subject at all costs, and I will not reveal my thoughts on the Senator from Vermont. What was clear was that this fellow did not mean the question as a compliment, but the way he asked it -- aggressive -- was uncalled for. It then occurred to me that it wasn't just by chance why his two college-football-playing sons opted to live 3,000 miles away from dear old dad.
All in all, this bill of particulars is not all that terrible, as the good far outweigh the bad and there are so many offerings that I can get a good workout in a variety of ways. I often say that if the average American halved his/her sugar intake, stretched 15 minutes a day and walked 30 minutes a day 5 days a week the healthcare system and our fellow citizens would be in far better shape. There is a message in all of this -- instead of griping about the decline of the U.S. healthcare system, do what you can to control avoiding your own decline, as follows:
1. Eat right.
2. Don't drink too much.
3. Get a good night's sleep.
4. Try to stay mellow and get away from social media. People aren't trying to offend you personally or excluded you when they share their thoughts or gatherings. And if they are, make your world bigger so that it doesn't matter.
5. Exercise -- weights, flexibility and cardio. 5 days a week.
6. Don't be lonely, circulate. A lot. While smoking and overeating can kill you, so can loneliness. You might have a nice house with the 60-inch screen, a reclining chair and access to the best of Ben & Jerry's, but get out there and talk with people. You will be glad that you did.
7. Try to enjoy life's good things on occasion and celebrate when it is time.
8. Help others, reach out to those in need.
There are many other adages, of course, and there are many elements to one's physical and mental health. For sure, you aren't going to look like a CrossFitter or swimsuit model, but who does? And you aren't going to change your habits in a week or lose ten pounds in a month. But you have to start somewhere, and there is no time like the present.
Get going!
1. Don't Engage Me in Long Conversations. I am there to work out, and I am focused on a three-part workout -- some aerobics, some weights, and some flexibility. You want to say hello? Fine. You are a long-lost buddy I haven't seen in a while, we'll talk. But if you want to vector your political views onto me and vent about something, find someone else and somewhere else to do so. My time is precious, even more so as I get older. Let's say hello, a kind word, perhaps something at least mildly amusing, and then get on with our workouts.
2. Don't Talk on Your Cell Phone Loudly While on an Exercise Machine. I mean, really, aren't we supposed to go to the gym to get away from all sorts of media save the songs that you can listen to on your phone while you are working out? I really don't need to hear you counsel your parents, counsel your kids, catch up with a friend who seems to be very needy. There is a time and a place for that, but, most certainly, not right next to me while I'm trying to work my intervals on an elliptical.
3. Don't Hog Machines. Look, I get it, we all have routines and want to do certain machines in a certain order. But you must not commandeer two machines at once, by leaving a towel and your phone on one of them and then a workout bag or sweatshirt on another. Dedicated gym devotees tend to respect people's time and space, so there is little chance that someone else will prevent you from doing what you need to do on a machine.
4. Work Out Properly. Now, this one is up to the person, of course, but the Larry the Lolly-gaggers just slay me. You know the type, they get on an elliptical and stay there for an hour at a very low speed. I haven't the foggiest what they think they are getting out of this workout other than anesthetizing themselves that they are at the gym and, as a result, doing something to improve their health. This workout looks like an elliptical workout in slow motion. Didn't anyone ever tell these people that interval workouts are the way to go, to get one's heart going?
5. Work Out Properly, Parts 2 through Infinity. To anyone who concentrates in one area, how do you really feel? Do those who only lift feel flexible and enjoy good cardio health? To those who only do yoga have good bone density, have good cardio health and strength? Do those who only do cardio have good bone density, strength and flexibility? All three seem to be key to good health. You don't have to spend a half day at the gym, and there are a bunch of things that you can do at home. But staying fit requires that you focus on more than one area even if you love that area and don't like the rest. Listen, you have the gym membership, so you might as well take advantage of everything your gym has to offer.
6. Don't Insult Me. I made conversation with a guy who was wearing a college sports t-shirt; I went to a rival school. I asked if he went there; he said no, but that his son "played ball" there, as if I knew what ball meant and then he explained football. Now that school is viewed as one of the most snotty in its conference. I offered that I went to a rival for graduate school. Tough-guy dad then assesses me and says, "What, are you a Bernie Sanders supporter?" Now, I have not discussed politics on this blog and try to avoid the subject at all costs, and I will not reveal my thoughts on the Senator from Vermont. What was clear was that this fellow did not mean the question as a compliment, but the way he asked it -- aggressive -- was uncalled for. It then occurred to me that it wasn't just by chance why his two college-football-playing sons opted to live 3,000 miles away from dear old dad.
All in all, this bill of particulars is not all that terrible, as the good far outweigh the bad and there are so many offerings that I can get a good workout in a variety of ways. I often say that if the average American halved his/her sugar intake, stretched 15 minutes a day and walked 30 minutes a day 5 days a week the healthcare system and our fellow citizens would be in far better shape. There is a message in all of this -- instead of griping about the decline of the U.S. healthcare system, do what you can to control avoiding your own decline, as follows:
1. Eat right.
2. Don't drink too much.
3. Get a good night's sleep.
4. Try to stay mellow and get away from social media. People aren't trying to offend you personally or excluded you when they share their thoughts or gatherings. And if they are, make your world bigger so that it doesn't matter.
5. Exercise -- weights, flexibility and cardio. 5 days a week.
6. Don't be lonely, circulate. A lot. While smoking and overeating can kill you, so can loneliness. You might have a nice house with the 60-inch screen, a reclining chair and access to the best of Ben & Jerry's, but get out there and talk with people. You will be glad that you did.
7. Try to enjoy life's good things on occasion and celebrate when it is time.
8. Help others, reach out to those in need.
There are many other adages, of course, and there are many elements to one's physical and mental health. For sure, you aren't going to look like a CrossFitter or swimsuit model, but who does? And you aren't going to change your habits in a week or lose ten pounds in a month. But you have to start somewhere, and there is no time like the present.
Get going!
Tuesday, May 08, 2018
Reflections on the 76ers
You might like them because they are bold, they have swagger, their ownership knows how to market with "Trust the Process" and "Welcome to the Moment." For us oldtimers, these are echos of either "We Owe You One" or "Come Buy the Seat You'll Never Sit In," with the latter accompanied by images of great plays by the likes of Dr. J that would have you jumping out of your seat.
But swagger, sizzle, whatever you call it, only gets you so far. The teams in the late 70's and early 80's were more mature, more formed, more ready for the big time. This amalgamation of all sorts of parts has been compelling to watch -- at times -- and frustrating at others. The bottom line is that if you had told an average 76ers' fan that the team would win 50 games and get to the second round of the playoffs, he would have taken it -- at the season's outset.
But the publicity machine, the hype machine, the huckster machine, could not leave well enough alone, could not be humble, got too big for its britches. The Boston Celtics have been around for a while, they have an apparently transcending coach and a philosophy for attracting talent that says everyone must be able to handle the rock and shoot it -- inside and outside. Brad Stevens is the new Greg Popovich, the Celtics the new Spurs -- perhaps. Suffice it to say that the 76ers are not as good as some thought they were during the 16-game winning streak or as bad as some are saying now.
It would have been nice to see some humility from the organization, more respect for the league and the Celtics and even for the intelligence of the fans. The owners -- led by Josh Harris -- owe the fans a debt of gratitude for staying with the team during a miserable process and for signing up for tickets when, qujte frankly, there was much more hope involved than a track record of excellence. Series expose flaws, especially in young teams, and the gap between a 3 seed and a 2 seed seems great. Pick positive adjectives and then the opposite and assign them to the Celtics and 76ers respectively, and you'll sum up the series, the 76ers' solid game last night notwithstanding.
This is a key off-season for the following people: GM Bryan Colangelo, head coach Brett Brown, point-something Ben Simmons, swingman Robert Covington, center Joel Embiid and guard Markell Fultz. Colangelo needs to make the right decisions on the trade and free-agent market, Brown needs to find his coaching voice, align it with those who select the talent, and adapt. Simmons needs to build a reliable shot. Covington needs to find the tonic for his disappearing acts. Embiid needs to get in better shape. Fultz needs to find his shot as well.
Those are a lot of variables for a team on the rise, a team that some have hyped should be a repeat visitor to the NBA finals.
They also should tone down the hype machine, manage expectations, add a dose of humility to their cocktail and work their tails off to become more consistent and develop a consistent ability to finish off opponents and to step up and tangle with and defeat the best teams.
This past season was a good start.
But to get to the elite level, there remains a significant amount of work to do.
But swagger, sizzle, whatever you call it, only gets you so far. The teams in the late 70's and early 80's were more mature, more formed, more ready for the big time. This amalgamation of all sorts of parts has been compelling to watch -- at times -- and frustrating at others. The bottom line is that if you had told an average 76ers' fan that the team would win 50 games and get to the second round of the playoffs, he would have taken it -- at the season's outset.
But the publicity machine, the hype machine, the huckster machine, could not leave well enough alone, could not be humble, got too big for its britches. The Boston Celtics have been around for a while, they have an apparently transcending coach and a philosophy for attracting talent that says everyone must be able to handle the rock and shoot it -- inside and outside. Brad Stevens is the new Greg Popovich, the Celtics the new Spurs -- perhaps. Suffice it to say that the 76ers are not as good as some thought they were during the 16-game winning streak or as bad as some are saying now.
It would have been nice to see some humility from the organization, more respect for the league and the Celtics and even for the intelligence of the fans. The owners -- led by Josh Harris -- owe the fans a debt of gratitude for staying with the team during a miserable process and for signing up for tickets when, qujte frankly, there was much more hope involved than a track record of excellence. Series expose flaws, especially in young teams, and the gap between a 3 seed and a 2 seed seems great. Pick positive adjectives and then the opposite and assign them to the Celtics and 76ers respectively, and you'll sum up the series, the 76ers' solid game last night notwithstanding.
This is a key off-season for the following people: GM Bryan Colangelo, head coach Brett Brown, point-something Ben Simmons, swingman Robert Covington, center Joel Embiid and guard Markell Fultz. Colangelo needs to make the right decisions on the trade and free-agent market, Brown needs to find his coaching voice, align it with those who select the talent, and adapt. Simmons needs to build a reliable shot. Covington needs to find the tonic for his disappearing acts. Embiid needs to get in better shape. Fultz needs to find his shot as well.
Those are a lot of variables for a team on the rise, a team that some have hyped should be a repeat visitor to the NBA finals.
They also should tone down the hype machine, manage expectations, add a dose of humility to their cocktail and work their tails off to become more consistent and develop a consistent ability to finish off opponents and to step up and tangle with and defeat the best teams.
This past season was a good start.
But to get to the elite level, there remains a significant amount of work to do.
Tuesday, May 01, 2018
Farewell, Arsene Wenger
Most of us cannot choose when we go out. Do we leave when they love us? Do we leave too early, as if we know that if we stayed too long we might get exposed? Or do we leave too early and be missed, only to go to the next place and figure out that we might be exposed? Or do we stay too late, failing to see the signs, keeping to the old methods, talking about the old days and not enough about the future? Or, are we just fine, and, well, sometimes those in charge don't see eye to eye with us or we with them? Departures, then, are a mixed bag. There are always stories and facts, errors, omissions, the truth of the victors, the complaints of the vanquished, a sense that life is flawed, unfair, decisive, skewed, accelerated, too forgiving, not understanding enough, right, overdue, just plain wrong, or a combination of some or all of the above.
At the end of the day, Arsene Wenger is leaving Arsenal. Leaving as a legend after arriving as a relative unknown asked to replace a legend in George Graham. A manager who made a quick mark on a hallowed club, got them to a high water mark with the Invincibles in 2004, only not to win another Premiership thereafter, not to win a Champions League, a Sisyphian struggle for the Gunners and their fans, still managing to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League for 20 straight years, always able to spot and develop young talent, and noteworthy for his steering the club through waffling ownership (the Kroenkes historically have owned their trophies but not done nearly enough to make them win) and finances taxing enough to compel him to sell contracts before he wanted to part with players. A proud legacy, a successful one, but one that leaves an odd taste in the mouths of everyone involved.
Could it have gone more smoothly? Could it have happened earlier? Why did this exist have to be so public and so prolonged? What are the Kroenkes up to?
The latter question is the most compelling. There is a striking parallel to their ownership of American football's Los Angeles Rams, where they were loyal to a head coach (Jeff Fisher) who will be mostly remembered for three things -- his inability to coach offense, his ability to coach defense, and his inability to develop quarterbacks. Fisher languished in mediocrity so long that he gave rise to the following joke, told in mid-summer. "Hey, today is Jeff Fisher Day." "Why's that?" The punchline: "It's July 9. 7-9, get it?" For those across the pond reading this, we Americans list the month first and then the day of it, not vice versa as many of you do. Fisher's tendency for sub.-500, 7-win seasons drew a lot of notice, none of it favorable.
The Kroenkes were very loyal to Fisher, declaring their public support for him in the 2016 season and even giving him a contract extension. Then the season ended badly, and the Kroenkes and Los Angeles Rams let him go. The speculation was that the Rams would recycle a former head coach, the same way many English Premier League teams hire a Sam Allerdyce, Tony Pulis, David Moyes, Mark Hughes for one of their vacancies. But instead, the Rams made an inspired choice. They hired the 31 year-old offensive coordinator from the Washington Redskins (far from a good team right now) named Sean McVay.
All McVay did was turn the Rams into one of the NFL's most dangerous teams, earning him coach-of-the-year honors. He took a quarterback (Jared Goff) who was a disappointment under Fisher and whom some were already calling a bust into a formidable threat. His team stood toe to toe with the best of the league and had a great year.
So now let's bring the spotlight back to Arsenal. There are "dream jobs" in college football and college basketball in the United States, the heralded franchises with great traditions. The same holds true in international football. Who wouldn't want to coach at United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, as well as the hugely financed squads at Chelsea, City, PSG?
What will the brain trust at Arsenal do? Hire the young up-and-comer, or the tried and true veteran. The speculation abounds. That said, the pressure on this manager will differ from the pressure that was placed on David Moyes, who was named to replace United's legend, Sir Alex Ferguson, several years ago. Moyes was expected to win right away. The new Arsenal manager will be given some time. The Gunners don't have the talent to compete with the top four teams in the league, but that can change quickly, the same way it did at Liverpool when Juergen Klopp took over. The comparisons to Wenger will not be nearly as tough as they were for Moyes to Ferguson, as Wenger's teams have struggled under the brightest of lights in recent years. Those facts, in and of themselves, present Arsenal as even more of an attractive opportunity.
Arsene Wenger deserves many accolades, left a huge mark on the game, the game is better for it, and he will go down in history as an all-time great. Now it's time for Arsenal to start writing a new chapter, one that evolves its approach and game and makes the first team better able to compete for the top spot in the EPL.
At the end of the day, Arsene Wenger is leaving Arsenal. Leaving as a legend after arriving as a relative unknown asked to replace a legend in George Graham. A manager who made a quick mark on a hallowed club, got them to a high water mark with the Invincibles in 2004, only not to win another Premiership thereafter, not to win a Champions League, a Sisyphian struggle for the Gunners and their fans, still managing to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League for 20 straight years, always able to spot and develop young talent, and noteworthy for his steering the club through waffling ownership (the Kroenkes historically have owned their trophies but not done nearly enough to make them win) and finances taxing enough to compel him to sell contracts before he wanted to part with players. A proud legacy, a successful one, but one that leaves an odd taste in the mouths of everyone involved.
Could it have gone more smoothly? Could it have happened earlier? Why did this exist have to be so public and so prolonged? What are the Kroenkes up to?
The latter question is the most compelling. There is a striking parallel to their ownership of American football's Los Angeles Rams, where they were loyal to a head coach (Jeff Fisher) who will be mostly remembered for three things -- his inability to coach offense, his ability to coach defense, and his inability to develop quarterbacks. Fisher languished in mediocrity so long that he gave rise to the following joke, told in mid-summer. "Hey, today is Jeff Fisher Day." "Why's that?" The punchline: "It's July 9. 7-9, get it?" For those across the pond reading this, we Americans list the month first and then the day of it, not vice versa as many of you do. Fisher's tendency for sub.-500, 7-win seasons drew a lot of notice, none of it favorable.
The Kroenkes were very loyal to Fisher, declaring their public support for him in the 2016 season and even giving him a contract extension. Then the season ended badly, and the Kroenkes and Los Angeles Rams let him go. The speculation was that the Rams would recycle a former head coach, the same way many English Premier League teams hire a Sam Allerdyce, Tony Pulis, David Moyes, Mark Hughes for one of their vacancies. But instead, the Rams made an inspired choice. They hired the 31 year-old offensive coordinator from the Washington Redskins (far from a good team right now) named Sean McVay.
All McVay did was turn the Rams into one of the NFL's most dangerous teams, earning him coach-of-the-year honors. He took a quarterback (Jared Goff) who was a disappointment under Fisher and whom some were already calling a bust into a formidable threat. His team stood toe to toe with the best of the league and had a great year.
So now let's bring the spotlight back to Arsenal. There are "dream jobs" in college football and college basketball in the United States, the heralded franchises with great traditions. The same holds true in international football. Who wouldn't want to coach at United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, as well as the hugely financed squads at Chelsea, City, PSG?
What will the brain trust at Arsenal do? Hire the young up-and-comer, or the tried and true veteran. The speculation abounds. That said, the pressure on this manager will differ from the pressure that was placed on David Moyes, who was named to replace United's legend, Sir Alex Ferguson, several years ago. Moyes was expected to win right away. The new Arsenal manager will be given some time. The Gunners don't have the talent to compete with the top four teams in the league, but that can change quickly, the same way it did at Liverpool when Juergen Klopp took over. The comparisons to Wenger will not be nearly as tough as they were for Moyes to Ferguson, as Wenger's teams have struggled under the brightest of lights in recent years. Those facts, in and of themselves, present Arsenal as even more of an attractive opportunity.
Arsene Wenger deserves many accolades, left a huge mark on the game, the game is better for it, and he will go down in history as an all-time great. Now it's time for Arsenal to start writing a new chapter, one that evolves its approach and game and makes the first team better able to compete for the top spot in the EPL.
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