A Storm Is Coming: The Godfather v - Don Conte.

Antonio Conte arrives at the Bridge on the back of a very impressive Euro 2016 tournament with one of the least talented Azurri sides in history. His exploits with that team will surely have many blues fans foaming at the mouth. I doubt they needed any convincing though. Conte was the brain behind the Juventus resurgence and the continued dominance they enjoyed after. Chelsea is in a relatively better state than Juventus were when he took over, so reviving their fortunes could prove a less daunting task. But as the cliché goes, this is the premier league and it could tear anyone apart.

Tactical discipline and supreme levels of concentration are needed to be able to thrive in any Conte side as a player. Strong and compact defensive structures make his teams a very difficult nut to crack, with very little inch given for chance creation by an opponent. This could be frustrating to any team in the world. Frustrations could be further compounded if you’re caught out by any of the brutal and vicious counter attacks his teams employ. Quick, effective and direct. These on their own aren’t out of the ordinary in terms of tactics, but combine it with Conte’s supreme man management skills and you have yourself a real threat. He’s been famed for being able to make his players want to run through brick walls for him. Can he make his Chelsea players run through 38 walls this season? Some brick and others not so much.

His ultimate failure has always been his inability to get Juventus to the pinnacle of European football. European dominance was always out of his grasp, often suffering early group stage exits in the Champions League, something his successor has come close to achieving. He never really did. It could be said that he faced tougher teams to the ones his successor had to tackle, but in the Champions league, everybody wants a fairy tale. It’s been murmured in certain circles about the apparent lack of a plan B. Let’s wait to see how that peters out in this cut throat league.

Chelsea had a disastrous season last year, putting up the worst title defence in recent memory. They are eager to retake their place amongst the premier league’s elite and by extension, Europe’s elite. Well blues fans, don’t fret. The Godfather, Don Conte is here and he promises to make the premier league an offer we can’t refuse. 38 walls coming up.

Kaizer.

A Storm Is Coming:The Fourth Chapter (Pun Intended)

Arsene Wenger is the most experienced manager in the premier league, but he hasn’t always made it count. All that could change this season.  He is entering the last year of his current contact and would love to sign off with aplomb. This would make him a fierce competitor and other managers should not count him out. He is the greatest manager in Arsenal’s history after all. He has done it before and you can bet against him doing it now, though it’s a long shot. This season, he has it all to do to convince frustrated gunners fans that he is the man for the job.

Arsenal have always played fantastic football-possibly the best in the league. The possession-based style has always been eye catching and entertaining to say the least. The slick passing, the scintillating one-twos and the all-round exuberant play have excited many fans-gunners and rival fans alike. If there is a goal that summarises the Wenger philosophy, its Jack Wilshere’s goal against Norwich two seasons ago. It shows you the movement and ingenuity that Wenger’s team embodies. They do have the proclivity to over-elaborate at times, but that’s just part of the fun the beautiful game guarantees. Wenger is a professor of the beautiful game. This will be put to test this season as he will seek to balance tradition with adaptation. Culture is dynamic.

Mental toughness is something his team has often been accused of lacking. They may be smooth and silky when the whole show starts, but often when it gets to the business end of things, they crumble under the pressure. This could be as much the fault of his players who fail to stand up and be counted. Injuries often expose the lack of squad depth in Wenger’s team, often leaving him with a bare-boned squad at important junctures in the season. It could be that Wenger’s miserly nature in the transfer market has prevented him from adding to the squad and fleshing it out. All these played their parts in causing the 9 year trophy drought that plagued Arsenal. He managed to break it and win successive FA titles. But Gunners fans would undoubtedly want the League title-or if he could manage it, the Champions League. Old big ears has eluded Wenger throughout his career. His team does manage to qualify for the Champions league every season, so I guess he must be doing something right.

The name Arsene Wenger shall forever be synonymous with Arsenal and though some fans think its way past time he left-Hi Piers Morgan, he is still at the helm. Some Wenger faithful still remain and he will be out with a vengeance to make them proud. The greatest manager of Arsenal FC is under scrutiny for the umpteenth time in his Arsenal life. He has shown he can deliver, but football fans have very short memories and all counts for not when failure comes. He is Mr Arsenal for the foreseeable future and fans should get behind and back him to the hilt. He has to give them something to work with though. Hopefully he will play his part in this managerial melee and come out with his Gunners firing on all cylinders like the pissed off pistols they are.

Kaizer