Life in Football Manager

Arsene Wenger has been in charge for more games at Arsenal then any other manager and as a result of winning the majority of those matches he is also the most successful manager in Arsenals history. But things could have turned out a lot different for the Frenchman. Wenger played football as an amateur player, at the same time he was studying for an Engineering degree and then did a masters in economics showing that can put his hands to anything. After his degrees he did become a professional footballer playing for his hometown Strasbourg as a defender but he didn’t make many appareances for the club, but did contribute to two games in a title winning season. Wengers management career started at Nancy but again that didn’t bring much success and actually Nancy were relegated, but things really started to kick off for Arsene in 1987 when he got the job at Monaco and after a year in charge managed to win the French league and able to attract names such as George Weah, Klinsmann and Glenn Hoddle to the squad. After a poor start to the season in 1994 Monaco sacked Aresne after he turned down offers earlier in the season to go to Munich. Aresne moved on to Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight again he was successful in Japan transforming a side from the bottom three to the runners up and winning the national cup in Japan. After 18 months he returned to Europe were he was to start his time at Arsenal and to date has won 3 Premiership titles and 4 FA cups.

So who is better suited to lower league management then Arsenal Wenger? He is able to bring in young players that no one has heard of and turn them into world beaters. He is able to put a side together with next to no money bringing his economics degree, all this and maintaining a top 4 finish with an Arsenal side the is worth a fraction of the price compared to teams around them. He is also been known for his tactical knowledge and able to turn games around playing entertaining attacking football. So can he do this in practise? Now we will get the chance to see as Arsene steps up to the Luton job, a team that is in financial trouble and needs a really bit of luck.

Season 2007/08

The first task for Arsene Wenger was to get some players into the side that could actually help them reach the goals that the board have put upon him. Luton who have recently just been demoted from the Championship are expecting to bounce back up and use Wengers skill to keep them there. First in was a big money transfer at £200k, Jason Puncheon to play on the left at 21 looks like a good all round player who is going to work hard for the side but blowing most of the transfer budget on him he will need to be good. Another attacking winger was also drafted in for the other side Tommy Black arrived from Southend to replace David Bell who left for Burnley for a princely sum of £450k so with Blacks fee only commanding £22k and not much between the two players it was a good bit of business. Ian Pearce came up from Fulham to add a little experience into the side and Everton graduate Nick Chadwick was snapped up. But Arsene didn’t forget the youngsters Medi Elito at 18 was a free transfer coming from Jose Mourinho’s Colchester. Going the other way alonh with Bell was Irishmen Stephen O’Leary, Lewis Emanuel and Paul Underwood were all deemed surplus to requirements at 34 and was allowed to leave the club.

Arsene’s first game in charge was against Gillingham away from home and things didn’t start well with a 2-0 defeat, but thankfully his first game Kenilworth Road against Crewe finished 2-0 to Luton which before losing 4-0 to Forrest kicked off a winning sequence. But as you maybe have already known from the last managerial reversal the league one competition was tight and there wasn’t many points between each club in the league and Luton were definitely up there with the best of them but missed out on a play off spot by one point a loss to relegated Doncaster on the last game of the season pushed Luton down the league at the last gasp a draw would have been enough on the day to take them into the play-offs. Luton also enjoyed a good cup run in the league cup going all the way to the 2nd round before meeting Aston Villa who took a 2-1 win a late goal from Maloney sealed the progression for Villa. The highlight of the run was beating Reading at home in a 2-0 victory. The FA cup was much different as Mansfield dumped them out at the first time of asking. Then the Johnstone’s Paint Trophey went to the the last four in the south beating the Posh at first but Bristol Rovers proved to strong and knocked them out in Luton’s own backyard.

Arsene Wenger opted for a conventional 442 were Sam Parkin was the star of the season and by a far way, scoring 25 goals in 49 games and scoring an average rating of 7.24. Dean Morgan the second striker who finished with 12 goals for the season has become really unsettled demanding his agent find him a new club, demanding to leave immediately, believing that he is now bigger then the club. Wenger did well in the transfer market though Puncheon contributed with 8 goals and 12 assists in a great debut season for the 21 year old. Nick Chadwick also played well as a backup in the side playing only 11 games but was able to able to score 5 league goals.

So overall it was an encouraging season, a few more players into the side and Luton really could push for promotion. I think it was really unlucky that they weren’t able to take a play off place this season, but Wenger will be looking at the side in the long run and not a short term. All Wenger really need to do is win those games that he should be winning, losing to Doncaster really showed a lot of what was happening in Luton’s season throughout.

Season 2008/09

The first move of the season was going out the door, another Irishman leaving, Keith Keane left for Scotland as his contract ended, money was made on a free transfer from last season Richard Jackson who left for £100k and also Alan Goodall who didn’t make many appearances last season. As with any lower league side, free transfers are the life blood of any squad. Wenger looked at his home country first an experienced right winger Fabrice Fiorese from Lyon and then a young Congo international Jina Lelo formerly of Marseille and free agent. Most of the budget went on former Newcastle man Kris Gate who arrived from Mansfield after a season commanding £325k. The right back looks a decent player but has plenty of time for him to improve and will have to judging by his statistics, a good tackler but could work harder to make decisions and concentrate, but at 24 has time on his side. The most notably signing was Gary Doherty a 29 year old who for a while didn’t know what position he was best at, he has now settled to play as a center back but with plenty of top football experience with Norwich and Spurs should be a snip at £40k and arrived in the January. Wenger also went out and signed the offspring of one of the most prolific strikers of recent times. Charlie Sheringham, who shares the same genes as Teddy, arrived from Crystal Palace to live up to his dad’s name working under one of the best managers of recent times.

Again everybody was expecting a title challenge and maybe even taking it at the play offs, but it wasn’t to be in what must be deemed as a nightmare of a season as Luton only finished 16th in the league table, maybe it was in coloration to Sam Parkins poor season in front of goal only scoring 9 goals although he did put performances in just not the ball, maybe he had put himself on strike as he was the latest player demanding a transfer to a bigger club. But goals did come from other players, Nick Chadwick managed 15 along with young Drew Talbot who actually had the best shots on target ratio. So not only can it be seen that this Luton team can get goals from up front but the two wingers were able to score 23 between them, Puncheon carrying on his scoring fashion and new signing Fiorese showing that Arsene definitely does have a talent of finding new players. But it was again the fact that Luton just conceded to many goals that killed off any title challenge, Dean Brill who is only 23 looks a decent goalkeeper but I think he hasn’t got what it takes yet to command his defense, Kris Gate played well but captain Chris Coyne was also a weak link in the defense a few signings in this area could do huge improvements for the Luton side, maybe the signing of Gary Doherty who arrived in the January window will sure up the back.

But Wenger did find some success at this lower league level, winning the lower league trophy, first beating Millwall at the Den, dispatching Brighton, Torquay and Swindon all with relative ease until they met Carlisle, which was the easiest game of them all. Wenger’s first visit to Wembley since the rebuild, he made sure the occasion was a time for his players to perform. Nick Chadwick really came to his own game scoring two goals in the final before Tommy Black nailed the final nail in the coffin to take the first piece of Silver back to Kenilworth for Arsene Wenger. The League Cup campaign ended though two rounds in, to Championship opposition Norwich, but the game was taken to penalties after a close match, but Mark Furlong wasn’t able to convert the 7th penalty in sudden death, and Joe Keenan scored to knock the side out. The FA cup was a better story though were Luton were able to get to the 4th round beating Ipswich along the way to set up a tie with Manchester United, a great day out for the lads and a chance for Arsene to remember what days at Old Trafford are like. United through played the young lads mixed in with the best first team regulars, and fringe players, it was a side that really should have done Luton some damage. But Luton were able to give a fight and came close to scoring on a few occasions, but it was an early goal from Fraizer Campbell that Luton were unable to get over.

Season 2009/10

With the poor season Luton was running out of money to spend and once again Wenger had to look around at the bargain bucket and clubs he could borrow from in order to find players for the new season. Able to keep all the important players there wasn’t any notable departures. In came another defender in order to sure up that defense which has been causing so many problems Andy Butler whose contract has ended at Scunthorpe, even though he played regular football he failed to agree terms, but he could come in handy for the League One squad. After the scouts went out to Eastern Europe to see if there was any hidden gems in that part of Europe they came up with Smajic from Bosnia a real short attacking midfielder who could play well anywhere across that midfield as long as he could hit it on his right foot, pacey and able to put a decent cross in or long shot would work well in the side and had been doing brilliantly in Bosnia. Michael Aspin was the last free transfer that came to the squad before Arsene looked in the Premiership to borrow some players who arrived towards the end of the calender year, Derby forward Anthony Robertson spent a few months at the club in August and Liverpool FA Youth cup winner Craig Lindfield arrived from Liverpool in October, a player who was marked as the best player of the League One season when he spent it at Crewe.

The media didn’t expect much this time around predicting a mid table place for Luton Sam Parkins had yet to leave Luton and doesn’t look like he is going to anytime soon, but his outburst earned him a place in the reserves only to be replaced by Sheringham who managed 10 goals equal with Drew Talbot. The performances overall from the side had been very little improvement on any of the previous two seasons. But the fact that they could again get goals from the midfield, as well as keeping it tight at the back earning them 81 points, enough to clinch the second automatic promotion spot and only two points behind The Posh. Both the loaned players were able to contribute 15 goals to go with the rest of the squads Puncheon continuing with his great form and Nick Chadwick showing his determination through the season. Passes from the wing backs Kris Gate and Sol Davis showed just how Arsene was playing, everything started at the back. The defenders being expert passers and completing the majority them all season to set up plays throughout the field. In the cup competitions there isn’t much to report, Luton being knocked out early in all of them and not in any spectacular fashion, maybe not being involved in the competitions kept there concentration on performing in the league.

Season 2010/11

To keep Luton in the Championship it was obvious that Arsene Wenger was going to have to make changes to the squad and out went alot of the previous seasons signings that had helped them get to where they are. Lelo was allowed to leave after not showing any promise at Luton, but more surprise came when they didn’t renew many of their players contracts. Maybe it had something to do with the change of league made them demand high prices but Smajic left on a free after a season were he performed well, he went to Championship rivals Nottingham Forrest for nothing. Fabrice Fiorese retired, Sol Davis went to Stockport, Sam Parkins was at last allowed to get out of his contract and later signing for Brentford, Tommy Blacks contract was not renewed either. Captain Chris Coyne left along with Gary Doherty who traveled to Scotland. The only player to actually make some money for the team was Andy Butler defender departed for Hull at a fee of £275,000.

But out with the old and in with the new and again with money tight it was careful consideration to who to bring in. The change in personnel also brought down the average age of the squad to just 23. The first young player came from Monaco, Guillaume Gigliotti a small center back who looked pretty average at the moment. Definitely not the player to replace Gary. Nicolas Cheryon also came from France, a wing back that looks really good at 22 will be an improvement on Sol Davis and a freekick expert to get those all important set pieces. Aston Villa graduate Barry Bannan came to add depth into the midfield along with a few other youngsters that were able to come straight in and back out again on loan. Looking to France again Loic Antheunis was another defender who arrived who looked like another young defender that could go along way. Luton added an array of younger players that were going to drop into the reserves for a few seasons. Adding a bit more to the first team was striker Nathan Tyron and Andrew Davies from Leeds, Steve Finnan brought a little experience, but at 35 it is doubtful if he will play many games.

The media predicted relegation for Luton this season, so they didn’t have much to live up to. So anything other then relegation in the season will be seen as success and at 19th they just missed it by two points above fierce rivals QPR. But with the season staying in the Championship alot of good came out of it, first of fact that Charlie Sheringham had a great season able to score 18 goals, Tyson also had a good season scoring 10 goals and to show that Luton won’t miss Drew and Perkins who left. Puncheon also proved that it wasn’t just League One in which he could get goals in, Puncheon is proving to be a legend at Luton, consistently performing each season. 19 year old Montserrat international Harvey Smith also showed signs of more great players Wenger has spotted. But what could have proved really crucial in the season was the strong two defenders that Cheryon and Nestor whose defensive duties probably saved Luton’s Championship status.

Season 2011/12

Luton have kept themselves in the Championship, now it is time for them to strengthen to give them a little more security in the league. But yet again Arsene decides to stick by the players he already has available at the side in the hope that they develop into a better side. Two players arrived in both on free transfers, first of all Kevan Hurst a huge attacking midfielder who will add to a growing amount of talent on the wings. Also Aaron Burton arrived after being released from Sheffield United he will go straight into the reserves. Again it was more players from the League One days leaving as contracts end. Nick Chadwick was allowed to leave, youngster Elito, James Dayton never impressed the French manager. A little bit of money did come in to the club, but not much £18,000 in total. Shelton Martis and Dominic Searle leaving to Walsall and Dagenham and Redbridge respectivley.

But obviously Wenger has a talent for spotting ability as his attributes and performance suggest so the team that he has been building for the last couple of season was always going to perform for the former Arsenal manager. Charlie Sheringham continued to develop into a prolific striker scoring the same amount of goals in the league as he did last season but adding to his goal tally in other competitions for a total of 21 goals. But Charlie’s success hasn’t been too good for Luton as he becomes the latest player to want to move on to a bigger better stage and judging by his performances a Premiership side will snap him up sooner or later. It was the same old players that were putting in the performances once again as Wenger has developed a consistent squad and added to it well when he has brought player in. Kevan Hurst was only beaten by Sheringham as the best player statistically this season, grabbing 10 goals from the right wing and also being a player that is setting the goals up aswell matching each goal scored with another set up. The press did expect another relegation battle this season, but Luton were able to prove them wrong managing to finish 10th, bringing together what they were good at in League One, the ability to win when it matters and grind out results with a steardy defense, wins against Wigan and results against Reading the top players in the league really showed what they were made of.

Luton also enjoyed a good cup run in the FA cup after being dumped out early of the League Cup by Bournemouth. But in the FA cup it looked like an early struggle at Colchester drawing 1-1 at home, it wasn’t until Luton went down to Essex till they turned there game on Hurst and Sheringham scored either side of the half to set up a tie with Southend. Again it was Sheringham that disposed of Southend scoring the winner to get Luton into the 5th round, were Arsene would meet his former employers Arsenal. The Gunners fielded a team of youngsters for this game as they often do for any cup game underestimating Luton Town, but many of these players in the side had worked under Wenger before, many of them being his signings when they were unheard of, but he knew how to hit them. Which they did Sheringham continuing his scoring run in the Cup and knocking out Gunners with a brilliant performance. But Charlton didn’t underestimate Arsene Wenger when they went to Kenilworth Road and two early goals by Papadopoulous made it hard for Luton to come back and they finally lost the quarters finals 3-0.

Season 2012/13

Again another season of tight budget handling, but plenty of players movements in the squad and it’s not the fact that they have no money as the clubs value is rising every year and taking out a loan they have got money in the bank to spend, but Arsene would rather do it his own way. A new deal with Napoli as a feeder club means that they will be sending their players to England. First in was Domenico Zanardini. Most of the signings that arrived to Luton were young players that were going to make up the squad of tomorrow. Shaun Cooper arrived as squad fodder along with a 33 year old Malbranque. Defender Pat Baldwin from Nottingham Forrest another backup for the defenders and Kieran St Aimee another attacking midfielder that can play across the field and coming to that age were he is beginning to put those performances, attribute wise he looks average though. But it was a sad day for Luton as Jason Puncheon left the club again another good player allowed to leave for nothing along with Gigliotti and Kris Gate. But the fans are trusting Wenger, he is very good at seeing when players are past their best and getting them out of the squad.

But even though some of the best players of the past have been able to leave in Gate and Puncheon, Luton also had there best season under Wenger and managing to get themselves into the last play off place winning it by a point separating 6th and 9th. But it was surprising when you consider how bad Luton’s home form was, if they would have improved the home form could have easily improved league standings and maybe pushed for automatic promotion to the Premiership. So it was Luton’s away form that was the secret to the successful season that Luton enjoyed and an impressive defense which was probably a secret to those away games playing on the counter. Sheringham was hit by injury through alot of the late season and he wasn’t performing like the player he was in previous season and only managed 7 goals all season, Tyson and Harvey Smith did try their best to fill the gap that Sheringham left and did it well and it was Giannone another Napoli player that was drafted in late in the season that give Luton the push they needed late in the game to push them up the league. Wenger carried on with a long tradition of good signings as St Aimee had a great debut season. Cheyron and Neston continued in good form the latter being named as a favoured personnel for the Luton fans. It was Coventry in the play-offs and it was again the home form that let Luton down and kept them out of the final, losing at home 1-0 and only able to take a draw at the Ricoh Arena. Harvey Smith’s early goal was cancelled out 10 minutes later, but it was surely a good sign for the future that Wenger is able to take the side from League One to Championship play-offs in such a short time.

The improved league performance came with an improved cup performances, a League Cup quarter finals first disposing of League One opposition in the form of Preston 2-1, before facing their first Premiership opposition in the 3rd round. Derby at home were able to take Luton to all the way to a penalty shoot out before former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll missed to make it 5-4 as all the Luton players were able to take the pressure. Wolves next again at Kenilworth road, showing that Luton knew how to win games at home but couldn’t transfer it to the league, Luton was another side the went to penalties and again Luton didn’t miss. Everton were next and scored early through David Bentley, but once Cheyron was sent off followed quickly by Harvey Smith which made it impossible for the fight back, Karim Zani sealed the victory. The FA cup threw up some difficult ties for Luton and got the fans excited when first of all Tottenham were knocked out, fielding a strong side to go out and win after seeing what Luton were able to do against their rivals last season, but Sheringham was out to prove a point to show the Spurs fans that he is just as good as his dad who scored so many goals for Spurs. After Briant was able to convert an early penalty it was Sheringham who in the space of a minute was able to put two goals past Paul Robinson to knock them out. The next round in some bizarre fate pulled up Arsenal for the second season running for Arsene Wenger. After last seasons lesson The Gunners put out a strong side, but again it wasn’t enough, Arsenal just like Spurs went in front first but on loan striker GIannone quickly equalised before Harvey Smith came off the bench to fire the ball past Akinfeev. But when it came to playing a side on the same level Luton failed losing to Cardiff with no reply in the 5th round.

Season 2013/14

Once again Luton failed to tie in any of the top players into long term contracts, Tyson left to join the Wigan reserve side Kevan Hurst which also leaving which meant that around 25 goals were lost for nothing that the players were able to contribute between them. Napoli continued to send players, but no one of any real quality to fit into the Luton squad. To replace Tyson, Wenger went for a young player and looked to France Marc Cloarec arrived, a player that will thrown himself at every ball, run at defenders and has the pace to do so. In fact it was a French player that also replaced Hurst as well 21 year old Larrieu came from Metz. Jerome Thomas was the token experience former Premiership player for the youth to look up to and Portaguese striker Tomane joined in Feburary as squad fodder. So most of the signings were basically to add a bit of depth to the squad, Wenger will be looking to get more out of the young squad this season.

Luton were now an establish Championship side and there was no question of any relegation battles this season and Wenger’s plan again coming together as you would think. It was two young strikers that stole the show for this season, Harvey Smith and new arrival Cloarec both lethal in front of goal. It was more or less business as usual, the two wide players getting in on goal and doing well in front of goal as usual and play starting at the back with brilliant passing from the defenders. Overall a good season for the players who performed well and the young players coming through especially. But nevertheless Luton didn’t improve their league performance finishing with 68 points which was one less then last season, but with all the other sides around them spending money on their squads improving them enough to move the teams forward and Luton finished 9th way behind the play-offs this time, showing you just can’t rely on youth players coming through to take the club forward. The casualty of the season though was Charlie Sheringham after causing some unrest about wanting to leave last season has dropped down the pecking order and actually only played 5 (9) games at 26 now and sitting on the bench this could really hamper his career.

The League Cup campaign started off at Hereford, the League Two side was passed easily in 3-0, before Stoke took a trip down to Luton in a tricky tie which was won on penalties, something that Luton seem to be an expert when it comes to cup competitions. But Luton were unable to live up to their giant killing status which they have earned in the last couple of seasons, meeting Aston Villa this time in the 3rd round, Agbonlahor and Dia scoring goals in a game, Luton dogged with injury and dismissals. The FA cup only last ed two rounds this time, Preston again meeting Luton in the cup and losing 2-1, Sheringham trying to make a point to Wenger and managed to grabbing both goals. The next round was against Fulham in a close game Luton almost took it, Harvey Smith scored early in first half before Preston gained a penalty. David Nugent though had different ideas and at the last shot of the game managed to put Fulham through.

A consistent season for Wenger and to improve they need to start spending money as has often been the case with a few of these sides unable to take clubs forward due to lack of funds from the board. But Wenger will not see any part of the next season as come June he decided at 65 it was time for him to retire, he had set the foundations at the club it was down to the next manager to take them forward.

After Arsene Wenger

The guy that was in charge of taking the club forward was Stuart Gray and Stuart was dogged again by lack of renewal of contracts, Sheringham was out and left for Plymouth and St Aimee went to Huddlesfield and again Gray didn’t splash the cash. After two good season in the Championship, Luton finished rock bottom in the league, Stuart Gray was quickly replaced by the goals kept coming for the team, but the tight defense that has come so evident of the Luton side crumbled losing them games and putting them back in League One. But with the drop of the league came a mass exodus of players and in the last season and although Mick was able to recruit well, it wasn’t enough and Luton stuck at mid-table in League One, but there is still plenty of potential in the club and they would be more than capable with the right leader and a few more players of getting back into the Championship once again.

If there was ever any evidence to show that clubs are made by their managers and not the players it is here, Arsene was able to put a squad together who played well and on their day could beat anyone. Wenger established a side that was in the Championship and looking for promotion to the Premiership in a few seasons after spending only £650,000. Then when it came for him to leave and for a new manager to take over they couldn’t perform the wonder Wenger did and soon took the team into League One once again.

Best Eleven

Arsene Wenger