Sometime last season, reports suggested Arsenal’s long serving no.2 and former club player Pat Rice was taking a forced bow from the backroom staff set up as he was struggling with a chronic knee condition. The reports also suggested he was to take his leave at the end of last season, but a plea and subsequent conviction from long time friend and boss Arsene Wenger made him delay his retirement for one more season.
Having begun his footballing career in 1964 as an apprentice with Arsenal, before going professional in 1966 and being a member of the double winning team in the ’71 season, Rice departed for Watford for a four-year spell before calling time on his playing career in 1984.
He subsequently returned to Arsenal in the same year as youth team coach before taking over as caretaker manager after Stewart Houston resigned prior to the hiring of Wenger in 1996.
Rice was appointed assistant manager to the Frenchman and held this post until the conclusion of the current campaign. He has been an integral part of Wenger’s reign at the helm of affairs and he is one to be sorely missed.
Born in Belfast in 1949, Rice spent 44 years in loyal service to the Arsenal, and took his place on the bench for the last time for the club against West Brom last week. As youth team coach, he twice won the FA Youth Cup and seven trophies as assistant to Wenger.
As his retirement was confirmed, everyone wondered who his replacement would be and it was of little surprise when Wenger named another from within the Arsenal set up to take over from Mr. Rice. This being Steve Bould.
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Bould played for hometown club Stoke City through his youth career and subsequently joined and played in the senior side for eight years between 1980 and 1988, he also endured a loan spell at Torquay United in 1982 before moving to Arsenal in 1988. His playing career with the Gunners ended in 1999 and he ended up at Sunderland before calling it quits in 2000.
As the Arsenal youth manager, Bould won the Premier League Academy Award twice and led his side to the FA Youth Cup.
Many have hailed the appointment of Bould to assistant to Wenger as the right choice, as he has done a great job as the youth coach of Arsenal football club. In deciding whether the appointment of Bould is the right choice, one must consider many variables relating to this. Like Rice, Bould for one has been with Arsenal firstly as a player before he went ahead to coach the youth team. His time with the youth setup has seen some senior players pass through his tutelage and he’ll have some familiarity with them now that he is going to be working with the senior side. The time Bould has spent in service to the club and most importantly with Wenger as a player then as a coach means the Stoke-on-Trent-born defender will have a good understanding of the Frenchman’s philosophy and style of play, and this should suit the coaching set up in Arsenal. Thus this should be a seamless transition for Bould from youth coach to assistant manager and also from Rice to Bould for Wenger. Another factor to consider is his experience as a defender and the fact that this present crops greatest undoing is their defensive frailties under pressure.
I reckon his addition will bring more defensive steel into the team, as he will have more time and impact directly with the senior set up. Considering his age as well, he could be a potential replacement for the Wiley Frenchman as well as. His age of 49 puts him in the same age range of the likes of Jose Mourinho or, better yet, modern day managers.
Overall I think the appointment of Bould is a statement of intent on the long-term front and seriousness of the Arsenal hierarchy to continue with the club’s present philosophy. This appointment, or move, in my opinion, answers the question ‘who will replace Arsene Wenger’. I’ve always said replacing Wenger would be best from within the club.
I truly believe Bould’s appointment is a step in the right direction, and it would only be a win-win situation for the club and all concerned.
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I am staggered that you think Wenger will listen to Bould about defensive players or defensive orgainisation – or anything else. Wenger accepts advice from nobody and takes a long time to change his opinions. He is regarded by those inside the club as every bit as obstinate as his reputation.
Thats really intresting, how long have you worked for wenger or even been in the same room as wenger? All your basing that on is what you read in The Sun or The Daily Mail, you actually have no clue at all what Wenger is like…Stupid Comment
It is absolutely NOT based upon newspaper comment. And I AM in a position to know. Are You ?
Unfortunately, even Pat Rice does not share your opinion about Wenger!
Chris from Cambridge,
Some what contradicts a post left by ‘Chris from Cambridge’ on Just Arsenal Fans, I quote:-
“You will find it is in Mr.Kroenke’s court. He controls the ownership of the club.”
Reply to STU. No contradiction at all. There is a difference between controlling the club’s finances (which Kroenke now does) and dictating whether we use, say, zonal marking (which Kroenke would not attempt). It’s not rocket science.
I agree with Chris. During the cl a few seasons the gunners defence with Senderos and Kolo conceded the least goals under the guidance of Keown.After the latter left,the defence went on a self destruct note. I don’t know but Keown could have been over ruled by the FM.Clichy himself said the defence did not practise drills.
Hopefully Bould is no yes man and would speak up on tactics,etc.It’s plain to all . Wenger’s all out attacking can be nullified by anti soccer many times.
Chelsea have shown you can win the cl playing ugly. Unless there is a radical shift in Wenger’s policy ,the gunners would at most finish third or fourth.
Exactly right. Wing backs, not full backs. Ball players not big defenders. No drills no tactics, nothing.
Keown left because he was allowed no scope. Adams stated he would LOVE to come back to Arsenal but it would not work because ARSENE would ” never allow the essential changes to be made.” Petit said he was busy anyway but he knew very well Arsene did not like a ” shadow over him.”
George Graham drilled the old back 4 or 5 over and over.They were one of the best defences ever. Tht was what Wenger inherited. Since he started with his own blank sheet of paper …. nothing. 7 years so far.
Or is it 8 by now ????
When we had Senderos large sections were claiming he should be sold, worst player in the team and all that. Funny how you guys change your arguement to suit your agenda.
What is the relevance of that STU ?
Bould was also the cheap option.
i dont think its a step in the ryt direction….. We want fresh ideas… All these coaches in arsenal all beliv in Wenger’s (failed) philosophy! We want sumtin New… Dis can happen by bringin in defensive minded coaches 4m Italy
My question is:
Does Steve Bould n Banfield have a winning mentality?
When Arsenal finally move on Liam Brady then I will know there is hope for the Academy!
I will tell you after 3 games if the 2 new appointments will be added value to the coaching staff!
Overall, as seen over the past 8 yrs, the poor performances of Arsenal’s defence is clear evidence of Wenger’s inability as a manager. How many games have we seen when, despite being ahead or being level with the opponents, the defense crumbled.
make we pray say our Aw buy players b,cos d way things dy go we dy trouble….d way I see things is that he want d person he fit d control pat done wired of he control na make he dy run no be say like way to,stan,our chairman and aw go and make our sound shareholder take over and make things change for good for once in 8years of our support
The fact we have been leaking more and more goals every season is alarming, Bould was an excellent reserve manager, whether he will be any good as number 2 as the dictator has no plan b, no clue about defending, no clue about tactics or formation, and the dictator like the board only want yes men, we will go on charging the highest prices in Europe with nothing to show for it, all you AKB are brainless and clueless like the dictator himself. We will have another poor season where we celebrate finishing above the Tiny Totts, there was a time where we would celebrate first place and winning the PL in our rivals backyard. Now we have a manager who touchline antics are a joke and he celebrates finishing third as a trophy, yet it was his fumbling in the Summer which led to our 8-2 defeat and poor results. Yet the spin that spouts from his vile mouth is a disgrcae and the tourist AKB suck up every word
Champ, take am easy wit the pidgin English now, no be all man wey dey this site dey decode am.