Another Monday morning and off to work for many faced with the negative banter that an Arsenal defeat brings. But worse, not just any defeat the Spuds have turned us over, years of disingenuous crowing at our North London neighbours is coming home to roost today. All that “I can’t wait to get to work” of previous years, doesn’t work so well today does it?
To make it worse we Gooners have that sick feeling that all is not fair in our footballworld, another improbable killer goal hit from outside the area just like the efforts in recent years by Bentley and Rose. How many first team appearances have those two made since, did they ever score again?
Having pulled back from another refereeing disaster, when he missed in the build up to the first goal a blatant hand ball that my cat would have spotted and she has been dead 5 years, bless her. You would have thought that was enough, but no, not this day not after all the pain we have inflicted on the spuds at their manor in years gone by. What self-respecting Gooner doesn’t know that we have won the league more times at the lane than the Lilywhites themselves? So take your victory you spuds, enjoy it doubly, knowing but not admitting that it was a mickey mouse win. Give us back our stick, whilst smirking at the thought that we have lost our most experienced and effective defender with a broken leg.
So is it the end of the world? Nah, never, we face a tough season yes, injuries as ever drag us down, I wonder how long before some joker on a blog blames the medical team for Sagna’s injury. We have been here before, tough seasons are nothing new. What is new is the blog world and its outpourings of guilt, bile and criticism. Well let’s have it today and then recognise yesterday for what it was, a brave if less than perfect performance by a team in turmoil from injury and change.
They say that “those who the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”, well it’s up to you fans, if you want to destroy our great club keep on being mad at players and staff. On the other hand if you wish to carry us through and back to greater heights, do what us older fans have done with generations of past Arsenal teams support them through their suffering, accept it isn’t our year, but it is our team and look forward to the circle turning, Lady luck smiling on us and better days ahead.
Match report
A defeat at the hands of those shag-eared canker-blossoms from down the road always hurts.
It’s even worse when the defeat is LITERALLY at their hands (or, rather, their arm in this case).
And there was an outpouring of understandable negativity in the Arsenal Arsenal comments last night.
The aim of this match report is to offer a bit of perspective and to look for the positives out of what was, in the end, a disappointing day.
Overall it was a fairly even game between two decent teams. I would say we shaded it and deserved at least a point, probably all three.
The Spuds started brightly and gave us a few scares, but after the first 10 minutes we took complete control of midfield and looked the better side.
Gervinho had a great chance to put us ahead but shanked a low shot just past the post – what’s happened to his pre-season form, when he was banging them in for fun?
People will slag him off, but he was always willing to take on the defenders and regularly got past them, even if his ensuing use of the ball was less than perfect. Maybe he needs to polish that great domed forehead a bit more to blind the opposition.
Song, after a dodgy few minutes, settled in to his defensive duties really well, but his passing was off-key, frustratingly leading to us losing hard-earned possession without making the scumbags work for it.
Ramsey was busy, but his passing was also well off and several times in the final third he took the wrong option, killing promising attacking moves. I wrote a piece supporting Aaron last week, but he did not cover himself in glory in the NLD.
Just before Van-der-Cheat scored the opener we were looking very comfortable and I was beginning to relax. Silly me.
A quick counter-attack, a pass out to the left of the box from the otherwise ineffectual Adebarndoor and Van-der-Cheat clearly brought the ball down with his left arm before passing it into the net.
Such is our luck with decisions these days that neither the lino nor the ref spotted it, although I felt our closest defenders (mainly the BFG) could have done more in making vociferous appeals for handball.
Half time 0-1.
The start of the second half was delayed because of a problem with one of the goal nets. Apparently Harry got a job lot from a bloke down the market.
For the first few minutes of the second half we again looked shaky, but then Song made a powerful run from the back, got to the by-line like a winger and put in a good cross. Aaron Ramsey was on hand to skillfully divert the ball into the roof of the net.
When it came to passing, Ramsey’s radar appeared to have been borrowed from the Exxon Valdez, but he showed his ability to be in the box at the right time (a rare skill among Arsenal players in recent years) and will continue to score goals for us.
Following the goal we completely dominated the game for about 20 minutes and could have had a couple more, but our attacks were frustratingly breaking down at the vital moment.
Then Sagna landed badly after a challenge by the touchline and went off on a stretcher with what is being reported is a broken leg. Jenkinson came on but our rhythm was disturbed and when Twitchy took the Cheat off and replaced him with the more combative Sandro, the game fell back into the balance again.
The second Spud goal game from a wicked long shot by Walker – another Danny Rose moment. If I was Walker I’d be worried that I was about to disappear without trace, just like Rose. The ball swerved viciously just before reaching Szczesney, who I thought did well to get a hand to it.
But in the run-up our defence looked far more stretched than it should have been at 1-1 in a NLD away from home: the familiar feeling of us chasing the win when we might have been better off shutting up shop for the point.
After that we huffed and puffed but never really looked like scoring and, far too often, we gave the ball away when not under direct pressure – a result of either nerves or tiredness.
Some perennial issues about the defence were raised: why were we playing such a high line? I don’t know the answer to that, but it seemed to work in terms of reducing the amount of Spud attempts on goal. The defenders were talking to each other and the offside trap worked well on several occasions.
This was a much easier defeat to take than some of the recent capitulations (against the Spuds and others). We played some good football, we looked the better team for most of the game and everyone seemed to give their all. I just don’t get the comments made last night about our players not trying.
We are a team in transition, following the extremely late moves we made in the transfer window and the succession of injuries and suspensions that have blighted us ever since. Apparently we have used more players in our EPL games this year than any other team (27, to be exact).
Players are still learning to work together and the hardest part to get right in this respect is in the final third. But we showed enough to make me believe it will come good sooner rather than later.
I thought there were many encouraging signs and some very promising performances, notably from Szczesney, Gibbs, Song, Mertesacker and Coquelin.
If the referee or linesman had spotted the Cheat’s handball, if Szczesney had managed a slightly firmer touch on Walker’s shot, if Gervinho had buried his (relatively) easy chance we might well be celebrating a win.
All the pundits have no hesitation in counting the Spuds and Liverpool as serious contenders for fourth place. We have played both and have been better than both, despite the fact that we don’t have a single point to show for either game.
It’s fashionable to slate Arsenal right now, but we’re in better shape than our league position indicates.
Player Ratings
Szczesney: Made some top class saves and the second goal was a harder save than it looked. 7
Sagna: Did well to keep Bale quiet and was his usual dependable self until the unfortunate injury. 6
Mertesacker: Played well overall, even though the high line probably doesn’t suit him. Got a bit lost for the first goal. 6
Song: Had Adebarndoor in his pocket for most of the match. His passing was occasionally erratic. 6.5
Gibbs: Worked well up and down the line all day long. His best game for us this season, although a couple of times he found himself the wrong side of his man. 7
Ramsey: Hard working but his passing touch was off all game. An extra point for the goal though. 5.5
Arteta: Good game without overly imposing himself. He always has time, seldom loses the ball and was the oil in our midfield engine. 6
Coquelin: What a prospect this boy is. Tackling, passing and positional play were all very good. He faded, but is definitely ahead of Frimpong in his development. MoTM, 7.5
Walcott: Did what he could, including trying a few long shots, but things didn’t quite come off. 6
Gervinho: I like his willingness to take on defenders but his end product needs to improve. Should have opened the scoring for us. 6
Van Persie: Showed his class whenever he had the ball, but the understanding with our front three is not quite there yet. 7
Subs
Jenkinson: I thought he did well when he came on, although he was not able to contain Bale as well as Sagna had. 6
Benayoun: Hustled and bustled, but couldn’t make anything happen. 6
Arshavin: Didn’t have much time to change things. But he’s the sort of player you’d hope would pull out a moment of magic. Sadly, he’s all muggle and no wizard at the moment.
Written by dandan and match report by RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning all
Two posts lucky me!!
Rocky had written a match report and dandan had sent in a post too that needs to be said this morning so I’ve combined them.
Posted this on the tail of yesterday’s post:
So I’d like to take stock of the first 7 games and see how far behind last season we are at the moment. Compared Swansea to Blackpool.
match……2010/11…….2011/12….cum pts diff
A Toon………D……………..D…………0
H Dippers…..D……………..L…………-1
A Utd…………L………………L…………-1
H Swansea…W…………….W……….-1
A Blackburn…W……………L…………-4
H Bolton……..W…………….W……….-4
A Spuds……..D…………….L………….-5
So in reality we have got enough opportunities to pick up results to get us back to Top4 (and looking at the accounts it’s a must -unless lack of spend is based on not qualifying for CL). We are good enough I’m just not sure the players know it.
I could pick three home games where we should pick up on last years total (Blackburn, Sunderland and Newcastle). Then there are some away games too (Wigan, WBA, Bolton). That could provide a positive swing of 14 points against last year which more than compensates for the early season form.
All that said the loss of Bacary Sagna is a hammer blow, perhaps a change to 3-5-2 is necessary, how those that demanded the sale of Eboue must be feeling now, I know I’d feel happier with him in my squad right now.
New post to read
DanDan thanks for the rallying cry, much needed right now, and Rocky continued with a more positive look on that match than most will muster this morning.
As DanDan says there is very little we fans can do to change anything, we can though support the team through this dark hour. I feel another trip to the Emirates to add my voice to the backing of this team.
Can people see Song and Coq playing midfield together? I think they would work better than Pong/Song.
I thought the BFG had a pretty good game yesterday, it was just a shame, as Rocky says the high line doesn’t favour him but his intelligence and reading of the game puts him in the right position more often than not. Song covered well when necessary too.
Great posts, thanks boys.
When will the footballing gods decide we’ve been tortured enough?
It’s almost as if the constant negativity surrounding the club at the moment is sucking in all the hideously bad demons into our games.
We’ve now lost four times and only one of those was justified.
On a lighter note, I bought Aguero for my fantasy team this week and he lasted 20 minutes before going off injured. Who shall I curse this week?, now let me see…….
Deluded with as many excuses as wenger, as long as we have people like you lot supporting our team wenger can take our team to hell in a handcart and you would all go along with it, and to spout how long and what eras you have supported Arsenal through means what ? ive been there since the 60’s what does that mean ? that i put up with the dross and shite for the dearest ticket’s in football anywhere in the world ! I support Arsenal NOT Arsene Wenger so should you lot
Yesterday’s Post was entitled “The Road to Hell” (is paved with good intentions). And reading the comments pre-match they were mostly upbeat and looking forward, altho’ with some trepidation.
After an eventful, and no doubt to the neutral an entrancing game, we were all disappointed with the result and some of us were totally devastated by a game that we could just as easily have won.
This has all been said much better in the very good Posts above.
What is unfortunately also true, is that the good intentions of not overtly criticising our brave lads went out the window, and there was an immediate bout of navel gazing and condemnatory comments made by the usual suspects, once again, concerning the worth (or lack) of individual players, the lack of depth in the squad and …… well you all know the rest of it.
There is no doubt a grain of truth in every criticism, but this is often turned into a mountain of criticism. If this formula of a grain converted into a mountain could be applied to gold, those concerned would be multimillionaires.
We were every bit as good as Spurs yesterday and frequently much better.
Leaving aside the hand of Lady Luck, the referee and a spectacular pot shot, there was a defining moment which decided the game.
AW sensing we could win the game stayed true to his principles and decided not to sit tight and take the point, but to go for the win.
Instead of bringing on Frimpong and Santos, he elected to bring on Benayoun and Arshavin instead.
This attack minded decision, coupled with the unfortunate forced substitution of Jenkinson for Sagna, opened the game up and left us wide open to counter attacks.
But I for one love him for that attitude!! No “park the bus” mentality for AW and that is why I love Arsenal. We are cavaliers not boring, boring roundheads and with any glimmer of fortune we could and should have deservedly won that game!! 🙂
Morning Lionheart,
I don’t know how long you’ve been reading the site or whether you are just responding to today’s post.
To suggest that bloggers who support AW are the problem is as ludicrous as those who blame the supporters when we lose a game.
The ‘you lot’ you refer to implies that we are all of the same mind and that is not the case – there is no ‘site line’ that bloggers are expected to adhere to, we just choose to debate in a friendly way.
Lionheart,
When you say, “you all”, who exactly do you mean?
This blog has a wide range of views on it.
The constant insistence by certain sections of the support to label people as either this or that, black or white, does you no credit at all.
totaly agree Lionheart! hes has done wonders for the club but his magic has ended maybe by his own stubborness or maybe by the bullshit thats going on in the dark halls of pocket-lining power! one thing is for sure kronke needs to grow a pair and we need a change and it has to be the manager! injuries bollo@ks it just shows we dont have a bench anymore and its the manager and board that have allowed this to happen! stadium bollo@ks we were told that it would not have a financial impact on the team!
we are filled with pr crap every week, we just want the truth we deserve it.. i will continue to support the TEAM as I AM arsenal but we should be shown the same respect from the club as they excist because of us.
i am extremly angry (as if you couldnt tell) because i care deeply, i just wish the board would as well.
cut me i bleed red and white (and sorry but arsene doesnt know best anymore)
Lionheart,
There seems to have been a mistake.
The definition of Lionheart is “someone who is courageous and brave”, which from your sneaky little scattergun hit and run does not describe you, at all.
Sadly, there are many who no doubt think you are a miserable little fuck — but I am not allowed to say that, of course.
RA!
Lionheart I think you’ll find most of us here support Arsenal. And it’s very testing at the moment. To suggest the authors would be happy to see us be taken to ruin is plain stupid. It’s akin to the fans who would rather us lose as that may mean Wenger will be sacked, they have an agenda and their hopes that we lose to justify sacking Wenger is as much the opposite of supporting Arsenal as you say supporting Wenger is.
For some of us we need things to cling to and believe in otherwise we may as well not bother. It means turning up at the Emirates every week supporting the team not with the sense of dread that will see us look for, and as RA says, exponentially compound and multiply the negatives. I walked off the tube against Bolton and proclaimed we would win 6-0, I was looked upon as a nutter by fellow Gooners, but it’s my default position.
Before yesterday’s game most said we would be on the end of a drubbing, well why all the hand wringing today and post match, surely a 2-1 defeat was respectable given expectations were so low?
And regards paying the highest ticket prices in World Football I assume you have tickets on the halfway line, front row upper tier? If no I suggest you do some research and maybe you could start by looking at our near neighbours to see how we compare for the majority of tickets. Then I suggest you look at the accounts and see that footballing profit was £2.2m and ask yourself who will pay for the Investment in the squad that everyone so craves.
Thanks DanDan for your uplifting words and Rocky for your fantastic match report: it is well-balanced and very accurate – a ‘joy’ to read.
I thougt that our defence did very well, after a difficult start – given the circumstances. The same goes for our central midfielders in the first half. Arteta, Le Coq and Ramsey took good possession of the midfield. However, in the second half Ramsey and Arteta seemed to get tired after 70 minutes, and together with the sad loss of super-Sagna and bringing on Sandro by the Spuds, it proved to be our undoing. Both need more stamina and general fitness if they want to make it in our 4-2-3-1 system (although it did not help we had nobody on the bench to help out in those positions, except for Yossi).
For me Arteta and Ramsey are too similar. I see them both in the ‘Wilshire’ role next to Song in our 4-2-3-1 structure. They are both great players, but something is missing in terms of controlling, masterminding and especially driving the game and Wilshere is the obvious candidate to take over the Cesc role (middle of the ‘3’), behind RvP. Jack is injured and we cannot buy anybody for a while into that role, and with Diaby seemingly out forever and Rosicky not able to play regular games at the required fitness/stamina levels, this is were I feel our main problem is.
We were better than the Spuds yesterday, but we could not make it count after we equalised. Which was very un-Arsenal like. Our strike-force should have done better during that period, and I thought RvP had one of his lesser days yesterday. The Arsenal of old, however, would have dominated the second half after the equaliser and eventually found the winner – most probably in the last 10 minutes of the game – but the current team is not (yet) at the required level to dominate proceedings till the end. Never mind Nasri – he would not have made the difference yesterday – but it is the loss of both Cesc and Jack that is really costing us dearly, compounded by the fitness/availability issues of Diaby and Rosicky.
We need to find a solution for this quickly, and then hope that Arsene has held back money to buy the one player who can double up with Jack. We have Song/Frimmpong/Le Coq for the DM role, Ramsey and Arteta for the ‘Wlishere’ role, but who is going to fill the ‘Cesc’ role? For me, for the time being, it has to be either Rosicky, Yossi or even Arshavin, but not Ramsey or Arteta.
I think you gave RVP and Gervinho too high of a score and our defence too low I thought Mertesacker derserved at least a 7. Absolute rock and shows when he gets use to the premier league he will be a major star. Until Jenkinson came on was Bale, Defoe and Adebayor actually playing?
Thanks Dandan and Rocky for your sterling effort in producing an upbeat but fair response to yesterday’s game.
I gather TV is back in training this week which may mean he is 2-3 weeks off returning. When TV is available, I’d like to see kozzer at RB. I like Jenks but he is still learning and I think will get targetted by the opposition.
I think Ramsey needs to be rested for a couple of games, hopefully Coq’s form will continue and he and Ramsey can alternate according to who we are up against.
Lionheart ? Wasnt that who the Don Quixote novels were based upon, seems about right 🙂
Morning all thanks for the comments thus far,Rocky its a pleasure to be linked with you…. mind you reckon it could be a tin hat day.
I saw that dandan 🙂
One has to abuse ones authority occasionally. Peaches 🙂
Morning friends.
The bitter taste of defeat due primarily to even more bad luck is in my mouth. Anyone who says “luck evens itself out” is plain wrong, we have to be the unluckiest football club around right now. Were it not for basic errors from officials we’d have got three points from each of the Newcastle and Blackburn games, and one yesterday.
But all of that said, the thing that really worries me is our lack of cutting edge up front. I was impressed at the way our cobbled together three-man midfield dominated Spurs’ supposedly fantastic four (and that despite the fact we did give up possession too often), but the flip-side of that is the three-man attack didn’t put nearly as much pressure on Spurs’ defence as their two-man attack did on ours. We did ok in defence but there’s a reason Szczesny made so many excellent saves.
I’ve been a defender of Walcott and Gervinho, and we all love van Persie, but to be honest none of them was up to the mark yesterday. How many big saves did Friedel have to make? Not many, most of our shots on target were pretty tame efforts.
We didn’t deserve to lose yesterday but we have now come down to Spurs’ level.
Another very interesting analysis from David “Kerb Crawler” Pleat (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/oct/02/arsene-wenger-arsenal-tottenham):
“Arsenal lost this derby but Arsène Wenger may point to signs of progress offered up by his side even in defeat. Certainly, there was encouragement to be had here from the displays mustered by his midfield, an area of the pitch the visitors dominated for long periods. The Frenchman could even cling to flashes of newfound defensive sureness, which bodes well for the future even if it did not glean his team even a point.
Playing a higher line at the back, with Per Mertesacker close to Alex Song to deny Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor space to exploit, Arsenal’s defending seemed to be keeping Spurs at bay. Bacary Sagna pushed up as tight as possible on Gareth Bale when he could and Kieran Gibbs taxed Rafael van der Vaart’s energy levels down the left, meaning the visitors held sway. The full-backs’ contribution owed much to the introduction of the tidy Francis Coquelin at the base of Arsenal’s midfield, with the youngster not only operating as an effective shield for his backline but, more importantly, offering Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta the chance to challenge Scott Parker and Luka Modric closely and prevent them supplying ball out wide.
In this period Arsenal were bright and spirited, even relatively comfortable, in a game that was supposed to have left them prone and exposed. Modric, cramped for space and outnumbered in the middle, was unable to conduct Spurs’ rhythm. Van der Vaart may have scored against the run of play just before the break but the visitors – the personnel across their backline completely rejigged from those who had surrendered so meekly in losing 8-2 at Manchester United – reimposed themselves after the interval and deserved their equaliser. Coquelin, collecting and distributing neatly, ensured the numerical advantage in the centre rather nullified the home side’s threat.
Indeed, while Mertesacker organised the group, recent calls for the appointment of a defensive coach felt redundant. There was even a change in marking at corner kicks, with responsibilities placed more on individual players’ shoulders to pick up their man. Gibbs and Coquelin offered security covering the posts, with Robin van Persie acting as a shield at the front of the six-yard box, and Wojciech Szczesny was afforded some level of comfort coming for crosses knowing he benefited from insurance behind him. The situation demanded a reaction from Harry Redknapp.
He had initially asked Van der Vaart to move more centrally in a bid to counter Arsenal’s numerical advantage but he eventually hauled off the Dutchman and put on Sandro, who ensured the last quarter featured a three‑versus‑three contest in the centre, allowing Modric and Parker chances to spread the play wide to Bale and Defoe and giving Spurs more ammunition to race forward. Sagna’s injury did not help Arsenal’s cause, providing Bale with a pressure point to exploit down the flank. But until the numbers were evened up in the middle, Tottenham appeared unlikely to claim this contest. Wenger, after his team’s recent traumas, must cling to that fact as a sign of progress.”
Hi 26m, we haven’t signed what I would call a proper team ready striker since Eduardo IMO. We waited for both Chamakh and Gerv but it must have been apparent that neither were prolific goalscorers.
You are correct, although the defence is often focused upon when we lose, the lack of a clinical finish up front is usually our undoing. Joel Campbell is a very exciting prospect and a proper ‘lives to score’ strker, such a shame he can’t figure this season.
With regard to Ramsey, I don’t want to say “I told you so” but I did.
I don’t remember you predicting that Ramsey would score our only goal of the game LG 😕
I positively hate having to agree with articles by David Pleat as much as I hated yesterday agreeing with most Gary Neville had to say.
Morning all….view from under the duvet…..
Great write up in all too familiar testing circumstances…….
Thought we matched them and at times were better than the two bob spurs…..
Need a goalscorer….out and out…
Gutted for sags, our luck is more rotten than Michael Owens hamstrings…anyway to replace him I would play coquelin at right back, jenks is not ready week in week out. Coquelin was superb yesterday and can play right back with ease.
The worst thing now is the break although we need it, but we will dwell on this for too long.
The most worrying thing about the international break is the RvP recurring international injury.
How you can say you were better is a joke, Jarry lined up with the wrong formation, playing VDV, Modric, Ade, Bale and Defoe in the same team is crazy.
You did keep the ball better but you had no penetration and never looked like scoring other than the goal and Gervinhos effort.
As soon as Sandro came out we utterly dominated, Modric hit the side netting from 5 yards, Ade, Parker and Bale all missed 1on1’s, Defoe and VDV were stopped by great Szcielsny saves and we scored 2 goals…..
Goals win games and we looked like scoring far more, you doing your tippy tappy sideways passing doesnt justify you being called the better team, that style of play is not effective and is the reason why your 15th POW
Rasp,
Keep the rose tinted glasses on.
I appear to take a different view point to most on here generally and have already given my opinions.
dandan is a staunch a supporter as anyone and like me and others has seen a far worse period of time following our club but he remains IMO over positive.
RL,
That’s a pretty accurate report.
I don’t have a hatred for Spurs as to me apart from when I was very young they are an insignificant club that happens to play in our vicinity, and I would rather concentrate on all things Arsenal. You all know how I stand on this so there is nothing more to add.
Dan, 🙂
JayNut, I agree with a fair amount of what you say. I was very surprised at your line-up – I was sure vdV would be in the hole rather than Defoe, and Corluka and Bale would be out wide, with Modric alongside one of Sandro and Parker. The way you were set up till Sandro came on certainly helped us, as our poor quality attack helped you.
Spurs were better on some things, Arsenal were better on others. Truth be told, what yesterday showed is that neither one of us is even close to the quality of the top three teams right now. We’ve definitely gone backwards, but on yesterday’s evidence, if I were a Spurs fan, I’d be worried too.
Hi Kelsey, 🙂
You always state your opinions up front and honestly. Like TA has said, I enjoy your stuff and want you to continue to add a little spice to our discussions, even if, sometimes, I don’t completely agree. 🙂
Incidentally, expressing your concerns about certain Arsenal issues does not make you any less of a supporter than others who see no wrong.
Top man!! 🙂
Rasper, 🙂
Re your 10:38. It weren’t me guv — that 26 made me say it!! 🙂
Thanks for your comment dan ……. I couldn’t be bothered to go through it and edit all your swear words 😦
And now for something completely different:
Not many of you if any at all will be interested but nevertheless I thought I would mention a forthcoming DVD.(thinking of spurs)
Our bowls club has been running an eight weekl tournament primarily to attract new members who have never bowled before and the foremat is of 16 teams of 2 players one being the PRO the other the AMATEUR.The winner of each week goes into the Final.
That was played on Saturday and i was fortunate to win one of the weekly games with a partner named Lisa Johnson who had of course never bowled before. She was in a programme a few years back called marbella belles, had married a guy about 9 years ago who had literally won 10 million on the lottery and spunked the lot and now she is divorced and trading anything at the local markets. Her ex wrote a book in 2009 called The secret millionnaire and it is quite a story.
Anyway Marbella TV filmed the whole finals on Saturday. The 8 winning pairs were split into 2 groups of four on a round robin basis and the winners of each group were to play in the Final.
Lisa and I won our group but lost narrowly in the Final.So now i have a personal DVD of the day 🙂
How lovely kelsey 🙂
LG, I sat on my rose tinted glasses a long time ago. I just thought that I’ve had to resist saying ITYS for so long, why should I let you get away with it 😛
kelsey,
I don’t know if you realise, but we’ve had a lot of thoughts in common for a long time now. I remember 3 years ago you and I saying that we didn’t think Almunia was good enough before he’d cost us so many points and the lack of a goalscoring striker has been a consisent theme for us both (but not in an ITYS way 😆 )
Rasper,
You must be delighted to have someone imply that you see thru’ rose tinted glasses! 🙂
My own take on you is that you are not afraid to stand up and make your concerns known even if it causes you to take some flak along the way.
As we speak, I am trying to dig something up with which to harangue you. No luck yet tho’! 🙂
Just some advice for any itinerant provocateur.
I did not get to bed until 4 a.m. this morning, then I went to have my locks shorn earlier this morning, which always puts me in a bad mood ……. so bug me if you want – but on your head be it!!
Harangue away RA!
In truth, I’m surprised that I don’t get more flak (I imagine kelsey feels the same way). Nothing any of us say will change anything at the club so in reality we are just trying to convince one another that we are correct. I’d also like to believe that we can indulge in mutual backslapping and unadulterated smugness when things are going our way 😛
RA, who’s your provocateur?
Kelsey,
You are a right show off! 🙂
Rasp,
Some guy called ‘itinerant’. 🙂
For what it’s worth here are my views on the players who played yesterday. Not necessarily just yesterday’s game.
Sczszesny: 7.5
Very solid, a future fixture in the Arsenal goal. Could have done better on the second goal, but his overall performance deserves a star rating.
Sagna: 6.0
Our best defender but he tends to be caught down field to often, their 1st goal was a function of one of his excursions. He wll be missed.
Mertesacker: 5.5
A capable defender and not prone to make many mistakes, his long legs work to our advantage. Overall he is a disapointment as he does not impose himself on the game, with his level of experience one would expect him to dominate his team mates but this does not happen. He is also ineffetive during our set pieces.
Song: 7.5
A big strong, take no prisoners, type of player. He played Adebayor right out of the game, and that takes some doing. a few stray passes but overall a quality game.
Gibbs: 6.0
Young, still learning, and will undoubtedly improve. He made some good runs up and down the wing but he and Gervinho have some work to do to become truly effective.
Ramsey: 4.5
He gave the ball away, in vulnerable position’s, twice in the first eighteen minutes – both of which could easily have turned into goals.
He passing is erratic and plays break down because of his indecision, he may turn out to be great but he sure has a lot of work ahead of him.
Arteta: 4.5
Really a poor imitation of a mid-field general. His passing and decision making were inferior and although we dominated the mid-field it did us no good as there were very few penetrating passes.
A poor decision to give this 30 year old a long term contract.
Coquelin: 7.5
Wow, what a performance. He put the rest of the team to shame.
His decision making, energy and passing were all first rate. He played without fear and broke up countless plays. He will give us many future highlights.
Walcott: 6.5
Has played with more authority this season, seems to be more self assured and is running into fewer blind alleys. He could have scored a nice curving left footer early ion but it just curled wide. I prefer him on the left wing to the right.
Gervinho: 3.5
A very sad performance, in several games he has had the opportunity to get us off to a good start only to fluff his lines.
The EPL is all about taking your chances and many times he has been the player put through to no avail. He continually runs into crowds and plays break down because of his indecision. So far a poor buy.
Van – Persie: 8.0
Our only remaining super star. Lets hope that he does not become disenchanted with the average players that surround him.
He has grown up with the Bergkamp’s Henry’s, Adams, Fabregas’s now look at who he plays with. He has a huge task ahead of him as captain – maybe it will overwhelm him
All in all I believe we have a frustrating season ahead of us and this comes from somebody who even during pre-season had nothing but positive vibes. My sights are set low, in the hope it can only get better.
Just a quick one after this weekends result.
On Saturday i read a piece from Jimmy Greaves in which he stated that even the year after they won the double, 61/62 (yes it was that long ago) when they visited Arsenal they still had an inferiority complex. In Greavsies own words, “we may have been a better side at the time but we were never a greater club”.
The point i am making, is that of course now and again they will turn us over but at the end of the day, so what. We will always be the greater club, so let us all rejoice in that wonderful reality.
Song / Coq were the standouts. Lack of go forward and accuracy in midfield – Arteta and Ramsey did not look at all happy or confident out there. Too many untried personnel changes due to injury – hard to try and be consistent. Could have easily gone our way and terrible injury to Sagna, steady rock of a player will be missed. (Agree that he is getting caught up the pitch to far this season)
Thx for the post Rockylives and Dandan 🙂
not much to say today,well i’ll just leave it for a better day,one small point however Sagna should be replaced by Coq,we do not have the time to wait for Jenks to stand up,we just cant carry anymore players..
Coq,Koz,Per;Santos…..not bad..
and get Song back where he belongs…he is world class..
then we need to sort out the glitz in midfield..arteta-ramsey doesnt work..maybe a formation change..at least until Jack’s back or Goetze arrives ;
4-4-2
c’mon you Gunners !!!
We’re just not connecting as a team, no cohesion between the defence and midfield, and midfield to the attack. Tippy-tappy that is bereft of any hunger or desire, and impotent up front. Weaving pretty patterns that lead nowhere, except to present the ball to the opposition.
They weren’t better or more talented than us yesterday, but they knew how to beat us, and we had nothing to prevent it from happening.
Unlucky? You can argue that, but you generate your own luck.
This is a very pale imitation of everything we’re about.
Lee Dixon thinks we’ll be lucky to finish top eight. And we have the highest paid manager in the league?
Hi guys
The ‘post’ cupboard is bare 😦 We’ve got 11 days to fill so if you’ve got something to write about, now is the time – get it off your chest.
Send them through to arsenalnuts@live.co.uk
All offers accepted – I know I’m such a tart 🙄
Hello All
Thanks for the comments.
Dandan – a pleasure to be “linked in print” with you.
I can fully understand the more negative assessments of yesterday’s performance and result, but I still saw plenty of positive signs.
It’s not ideal that we’re a team in transition at this stage of the season, but that’s where we are. And in those terms I felt the transition is starting to show dividends.
If the next few results don’t go well then I will also start to doubt, but for now I’m remaining hopeful.
Peaches,
In light of the fact that I still feel guilty about leaving Rocky in the lurch the other day, I will do something for tomorrow. Something light hearted or dark and gloomy. Can easily do both 🙂 😦
See how I am in the morning!
Mr Micky – thank you for your very kind offer, a lighthearted post would be super 🙂
Gunnern5,
you are so good at spotting players that you are happy to call Gervinho a ‘poor buy’ after a handful of games.
how many games did it take Henry to score at Arsenal?
was he a world beater after 6/7 games?
what about Vieira, was he world class after 2 months?
Toure was amazing in his first season wasnt he!?
Adebayor was great when he first arrived, missing sitters every week!?
TMHT,
loved your comment, ta.
Pires was shit for a year!
it pisses me off how the new players are all being judged by the failure of their predecessors.
Nasri, Cesc, Adebayor, Gallas, Clichy, Almunia, Denilson, Flamini, Hleb etc etc all won sod all for this club in 6 years!
yet the likes of Arteta, Mertesacker, Santos, Oxo, Gervinho etc are judged not good enough after 6 games!!!
its b*ll*cks
Anelka spent the first half of his first season running round in circles (one of my mates started calling him Dougal, after the dog on the Magic Roundabout).
Then, second half of the season, he exploded and we won the double. 🙂
Oh Hells Bells I think I’ve caught the virus Rasp had a few weeks ago, and given that I didn’t see him, just shows how deadly it is.
FGG:
I wrote – So FAR a poor buy.
Which is entirely different to – Poor buy.
He has done nothing to impress – so far.
Regardless of personnel and the money we have or haven’t spent, as Gid pointed out the other day, we have no work ethic, and you can’t buy that.
We out-played them yesterday – 60% possession against their 40%, but the telling statistic is we created only 3 chances to their 8.
Our players with no will to defend. At OT, Rosicky (captain against Olympiakos), watched a free-kick go over his head in his own penalty area and didn’t even bother turning round to see where the ball was. There is no sense of responsibility and it is an embarrassment to the club and its supporters that some of these players wear our shirt.
What has Walcott achieved? Nothing, and yet it’s perfectly acceptable at 22 to ‘write’ an autobiography?
The whole set-up is pathetic.
Afternoon all,
I was wondering why Rosicky was out of the squad yesterday, turns out his wife lost their first baby, she was 5 and half months gone. Yesterday was only a game of kicking synthetic leather around a pitch after all.
Greetings – my mum always said unless you have anything nice to say, say nothing. Hence, my lack of posts on here over the last couple of weeks.
Everytime I think we’ve hit rock bottom, we just get the shovel out and keep digging. Chesney is now injured apparently – what a surprise.
My spirit is finally broken – I couldn’t even watch the Spurs game, it would have felt like watching the family dog get put down, painful with a predictable conclusion. Anyway it was a nice day so i sat in the garden listening to my water feature with a nice glass of wine in hand.
To sum things up for me – I watched the highlights of the 2004 season the other day. We are so far away from that kind of quality now I honestly think it will be at least 3 seasons before it can be pulled around. Front four of Henry, Bergkamp, Pires and Ljungberg vs. Van Persie, Arshavin, Walcott and Gervinho. Oh my gawd….taxi for Illy !!!!
Nobody can legislate for personal tragedy, and I’m sure all our thoughts and best wishes go out to him and his family at this tragic time.
They are all handsomely rewarded with riches that some of us wouldn’t earn in two or three life-times. Who exactly are they accountable to?
Good post guys and totally agree that we played well and deserved the points. The most alarming thing for me was this zonal marking bo##ox, how embarrassing was that. I think we need to start going back to basics. 4-4-2 with proper defending, Theo and Robin up front
LadySrse has summarised Lehmans interview with FiveLive on Friday, very interesting:
http://ladyarse.co.uk/2011/10/jens-lehman-on-arsenal-and-arsene-wenger/
Extract:
What was the one difference you noticed between the squad of the Invincibles and the modern squad?
“Well I came in they played the Carling Cup final which at the time when I was there never mattered to us because it was kind of, yeah, if you had to play Carling Cup, we always focused on Champions League and all of a sudden after the Carling Cup final there was a disbelief in winning something in the team and it was very hard for everybody who came in like me or the coaches to get the disbelief out of the players heads because all of a sudden you had this feeling of that they didn’t believe in becoming successful and apparently that was the turning point of the last season.”
Herb – Maybe I’ve read your post wrong, but are you saying because Rosicky is well paid it shouldn’t matter his kid died? Don’t know the bloke, but I’d reckon he’d give back every cent to have his child….
Nothing of the sort Irish, as I said nobody can legislate for human tragedy. Football by design has probably become the most important spectacle in the world, and yet when something of this magnitude occurs, football pales into insignificance.
I was talking about the set-up at Arsenal in general.
My apologies Herb, just read it wrong as I thought, just checking 🙂
Its not only Arsenal though is it? I know we only worry about our club, but least we’ve had no Tevez incident that we know of, yet I question Cesc’s professionalism towards his end of our time with us. Wenger didn’t play him cos his “head wasn’t right” or he “had a strain” – say what we may about Nasri, at least he played and tried even though he knew he was going.
Also, look at Sunderland, Bolton, very little coming from there and neither are terrible squads. Speaking of which, Niall Quinn has stepped down as Sunderland chairman.
If you look at Newcastle then, they’ve really nothing to shot home abut squad wise, but are flying because they are trying for each other. Can Pardew inspire that and not Wenger?
No worries Irish.
I don’t rate Pardew or ‘Fat Elvis’ (Bruce). Pardew was sacked at Southampton when they were in League One!
It’s hard to know, but what does “playing with the handbrake on…” mean? We’re desperate for points, desperate to get a decent run going, and it’s a NLD against the sworn enemy? How much more motivation should they need?
Niall Quinn has stepped down as Sundeand chairman because he will soon be announced as Crooks replacement at City. They should just rename themselves Manchester Arsenal.
Herb I take it to mean they are too frightened to try things.
I’m sure you’ve read the managers email:
“Sunday’s derby was frustrating because I felt we played with the handbrake on, especially in the first half.
We still created four chances playing within ourselves but in the second half we had a go at Tottenham and got it back to 1-1. After that we didn’t push on enough and that allowed them to get back into the game.
We lack a little bit of confidence at the moment and we feel we just need to protect a result when we have one instead of going for it”
“We did not defend properly for the winning goal and we were punished for it. Szczesny was outstanding for most of the game but he was certainly disappointed to let that one in.
Obviously we are not where we want to be in the Premier League table and I think at the moment we have to set ourselves a realistic target and stay in touch with the teams who are fighting for the Champions League positions”
Illy your Mum was right, it’s hard to stick to but she’s right.
I often think when I read some vicious attacks on our players how the writers would feel about it if they met with a tragic end, I dont think I’d want that to be attributed to my name.
Hi guys,
I noticed that there were quite a number of anti Ramsey comments around, not just on AA, having told Rocky previously that I had not noticed any of note.
Then because I had nothing better to do I scanned thru’ 4 papers sports pages and 3 of them gave Rambo a top score out of 10. (Nearly all, as I recall gave Arteta and Theo the lowest scores).
Interesting – nah probably not – that independent pundits had a very different view of a players contribution to the game than many Arsenal fans had.
Perspective?
Too frightened? A lot of them are experienced internationals!
If that’s the case, they have no business wearing our shirt and should ply their trade somewhere where under-achieving is acceptable. Sunderland for example.
How many games have we won since CC Final? Why did Nasri leave? Because of a perceived lack of ambition, and lack of ambitious activity in the transfer-market?
Is it coincidence that we got murdered at OT, and sit 15th with 7 points from 7 games?
We have no work ethic, a lack of any real discipline, and no accountability because people like you are ‘satisfied’ with the mediocraty that has set in.
I`ve was thinking, how many differant supporters do we have?. I have put it at Four( just my opinion).
1, The delusional one. Still thinks we will be top 3.
2, The optimist. Thinks we will get 4th.
3, The realist. Mid table to 5th.
4, The doom & gloomer. Relegation and end of world. 👿
Rose tinters, are they number 1s or number 2s ? 🙂
I`m a number 3 this season,followed by a number 2 next season, followed by a number 1 the season after next. 🙂
This season is transitional, lost staff,new staff, ANC and getting our injured players back for later in the year and next season.
I still think we have some great talent: RVP, Jack,TV, WN1,AOC Song, Gerv`,Sagna, Kos` and Theo. then there`s the new experienced players BFG, Park, Arteta, who need some time to settle in.
There`s also some great young talent( aswell as the one`s above) coming through, Coq, Gibbs, Ramsey, `Pong, Ryo,, Campbell,Afobe, Aneke, Miguel, Lansbury,Ozyakup,Ebecilio, Bunjaku and more.
If in the next TW , we could bring in a “Goetze” and a “Cahill” ,we will start an uphill trend.
Nearly forgot. The one`s to go : Arshavin( unless he starts to up the work rate and this applies to any other lazy bugger, we cant defend as a team ), Chamakh ( just not good enough ),Squillaci ( appalling ),Rosicky ( was a great talent).
These are my not sure`s; Niki B ( how is Chamakh in front of him? ), Dourou, Diaby and Vela ( the last 2, no doubt, talented individuals).
What number do you fall under fellow AA`ers ?
The first one to say, ” I`m not a number, I`m a free man” gets a special surprise. 🙂
No 1 for me GLIC 😀
Evenin’ all, (this is not how i speak at all by the way)
I’m late to the party today, but I must say the double post is just what the doctor ordered this evening, A big well done and thank you for lifting my spirits!
Not heard anyone suggest this I don’t think, but now Sagna out for a lengthy period, I’d like to see Coquelin played there. I may be mistaken but I think that’s where he spent most of last season in France and I also think it would be an excellent way of inducting him in to the first team. He really looks the real deal; to shine yesterday in that environment was a credit to him and example to others around him.
Again, my real issue with yesterday is the lack of fight. Get that right and we undoubtedly have the players to finish fourth. Buy (I know I know) big in January and we could push higher and encourage a select few to sign extensions (is the rumour I heard true that we’ve offered Arshavin a bumper new deal? If so, the epitome of rewarding mediocrity-not a good road to continue down in my opinion)
Anyway, as someone pointed out earlier in the comments we’re only 5 points down on last season, so provided no end of season collapse we can still win the league, yay!
🙂
What about winning the league and CL double ?
GLIC,
I wasn’t going to bother, but as it’s you. 🙂
I think that list is total bollix.
No one could or should try and pigeon hole anyone else. We are all free thinkers who arrive at our own assessments of Arsenal or anything else in life. Sometimes I am optimistic, sometimes less so. It’s called being a human being.
For you to put up your own ‘scoring system’ like that makes you appear as imagining you are God Almighty who is above mere mortals like the rest of us stupid people.
Give me a break.
Holly
Harry (above) also recommended Cockle for the RB role while our Full Bac is out. I heartily agree. He spent a lot of time there during his development.
His composure and tenacity will stand him in good stead.
However, Jenkinson didn’t do at all badly when he came on yesterday.
Very sad news for Rosicky and his wife. Puts it all in perspective.
From Monty Python’s Life of Brian:
Brian (to adoring crowd who are copying his every word and deed):
“You are all individuals.”
Adoring Crowd, in unison: “Yes, we are all individuals.”
One lone figure at the back: “I’m not.”
Please Redders , Dont sit on the fence, say what you really mean! 🙂
Redders
I think, as numbers go, that makes you a Pi 🙂
Holly`s last sentence make`s her a number 1, Redders 🙂
Hi Herb, I don’t know what game you watched but i did not see a single player who did not give their all yesterday. You were right to point out that the linking between defence and midfield, and midfield and attack did not work properly at times. This was, imo, not caused by a lack of hunger or professionalism of our players but by the simple fact that our system(s) is(are) not working as they should do, and used to do. In my earlier post I tried to explain why I think it is not working as good as we would like it to. It is nothing to do with a lack of motivation by our boys.
Rocky,
A 3.14 makes redders just below a realist. 🙂
GLiC, Holly is a he 🙂 And I think you should qualify him as post-delusional!
Who ate all the Pi?
GLIC,
Sorry if that was a bit OTT. 🙂
There is another site that categorises people into AKBs etc and it does not sit easily with me.
That is not your usual style, and I should have realised that you meant it light heartedly.
I don’t think we were as bad yesterday as we have been. Spurs never over ran us at any stage.
Holly. My sincere apollogies, the only Holly`s I know are Girls, I`m Digging a hole here, aren`t I, sorry . 🙂
3.144′ — I liked that GLIC! 🙂
Weve still got a chance this season, theres no doubt about that. Though i do admit we have to regain our belief asap. Got a good feeling we will win the 2 home games and then its crunch time at the bridge. Victory there, and then anythings possible.
Redders,
Talking about Number 1`s and 2`s, how can anyone take me serious.
I was giggling when writing it. 🙂
Talking of Number 1`s, Hello TMHT! 🙂
Hi Rocky, 🙂
Your player ratings were obviously right on the money because there haven’t been any serious dissenters.
Given my reaction to categorization, I am going to give some views which will enable others to label me. But I will feel differently tomorrow!! 🙂
I am not despondent. I was pretty happy with yesterday’s performance – but not the score.
Are we as good as Manyoo, Citeh or Chelsea? Not at the moment. Will we win the EPL this year? No!
Have you seen what Eboue has been tweeting? Suffice to say that he agrees with one of the salient points Herb has been making. (I’m not saying) 🙂
He is just a very naughty boy!! 🙂
GLIC, 🙂
Terry he is also being a very naughty boy!! 🙂 Throw your wiggy at him!
Redders
What’s Eboue been saying?
No one mentioned DD was in the crowd. I wonder what he was thinking.
Hi TA,
For me the embarrassment at OT should have been a defining line-in-the-sand moment. There were still 3 days of the transfer-window left, and it coincided with an International break.
Swansea could have nicked a point, we conceded against League Two Shrewsbury, and you don’t need reminding what happened at Ewood Park.
Where’s the cohesion and collective responsibility? We don’t look dangerous going forward, and if RvP joins our ever-lengthening walking-wounded, where does that leave us?
In short, has it improved drastically since OT?
Hi Cornwall,
Dissapointing on Sunday, but we will bounce back with avengence. Some boffins last week shot a particle faster than light, we might get to do some time travel after all.
My last line was clearly tongue in cheek, surely…..
How about Holly Johnson as another male ‘Holly’…?
It was tongue in cheek Holly but dont call me Shirley! 🙂
Look forward or back to it TMHT 🙂
As anything in life, victory after defeat tastes so much sweeter. When we are the best team in Europe in a few years we will look back at this period with pleasure.
Arsenal reserves 2-1 up at half time Vs Swansea.
Swansea have brought on a sub called Scott Tancock. I wonder if that`s a spray on Tancock ? 🙂
Rocky,
There has been a whole string of tweets from Eboue, but chief amongst them is a series of excoriating comments regarding the Arsenal Board and their responsibility for letting the fans, the team and the club down.
Quite unlike the usual funny Eboue we knew and loved. 🙂
Tan cock GLIC? 🙂
Reminds me of when I first came to England and had some difficulty with the accent.
A friendly cove called out to me as he passed “wash yer cock” so I called after him “wash your own”.
My dad told me he was not being rude, he was just being friendly, as ‘watch’er cock’ was a greeting.
Never did understand it then – and still don’t. 🙂
Redders 🙂
Hi RA,
It tends to be a northern slang thing. I’ve heard it used in ‘Coronation Street’ and the like.
Hi Irish, damn, that is terrible. You are so right about synthetic leather, we need to get a perspective sometimes.
Terry Mankini at 2:07 – exactly what I said yesterday, well less eloquently of course, but the gist is the same – we’ll get over it, we are the mighty Arsenal
Redders.
Funny place to wear a watch. 🙂
That must be a bloody big hamper because it is taking ages to pack.
That accusation of BR is so ridiculous it makes me howl.
We all know how difficult it has been to face things but I have managed to find a corner of London where we can go without the feeling of shame and pain……go west young man……in fact phone a QPR fan and realise just how bad things can be, it is easy for me I know dozens of them, well the ones that haven’t jumped off of a high building, slit their wrists or jumped under a bus, to cheer myself up I am going out for a ride tomorrow morning with a BBC radio presenter who happens to be one, poor boy.
evonne,
Terry Mankini ?, is that what he wears. 🙂
Cheers DanDan….I love your quotes, they;’re always spot on …for those of us who take the time to understand them that is.
Agreed Rocky. You watched the same game as me. Yep high line is the wayaganst AdeNuff. I even thought the lanky Togonianian (?) was offside for SZ’s wonder save.
There was a lot to be very encouraged about yesterday (not exactly my best prose but its late – only)
Wash yer cock…lol
Hi Herb, yes things have improved since the MU game and I really don’t think our players have an attitude/motivation problem. We bought some good players and we are improving slowly but steadily in all areas. Like most of us, I was not expecting a transitional year but with Cesc gone and Jack injured for so long, TV’s injury and other CB-injuries, and all the new players who have arrived, we have no other option at the moment. I believe in the qualities of this squad (technical, tactical and motivational) and in Wenger’s ability to build another great team, and that once we have a good run of games and are more lucky with injuries, we will be right up there again.
It is a matter of time, patience and support for our team, but success will come our way again. We just need to sit back a bit and wait for things to pick up again.
We are 4 points behind where we were with the same amount of games last season, Win 8 of our next ten and sometime in December we will be 1 point behind where we were at the same time last year. (8 out of 10 it’s good for cats).
Cloud cuckoo land you say, maybe but the above is achievable.
H Sunderland
H Stoke
A Chelsea
H WBA
A Norwich
H Fulham
A Wigan
H Everton
A Man City
A A.Villa
The away games bar Chelsea and City are all winnable, the home games should also be achievable.
It also conveniently brings us to a fortnight before the Transfer Window. If we haven’t made progress by then that’ll be thetime to sit down and have a long hard think about the way forward.
As for the 4 defeats in 7 why are we only looking at PL to judge our form?
Add in CL it’s 4 defeats in 11 (12 including Carling Cup)
Or 5 wins in 11 (6 in 12 including Carling Cup
I’m far from happy but by the same tole I’m not ready to throw the towel in for this side yet. As I stated early I need reasons to stay upbeat about my club whilst everyone else is having a field day at our expense.
I like your thinking GIE. I’d still like to see us revert back to 4-4-2 though, it would suit our current squad much better imo.
You may be right Barum, it also gives us the opportunity to rest some of the younger midfielders and rotate a bit more.
However with Sagna out I’m fearful of a 4-4-2. With Verm coming back and with other available personnel I’ve been thinking 3-5-2.
………Kos……BFG…….Verm…….
……………Song…….Coq/Pong……
Gerv……………Arteta………….Gibbs
…………….Theo…….RVP……………
The 3 at the back should give us a solid middle, Song and partner would be our cover and screen across the width of the pitch. Then we can leave the front five to find us goals and openings from fluid movement, for this to work they must as a unit defend from the front and this is where it seems we struggle the most.
The compounding issue for us is that now given recent form we have no time to experiment.
Bit spooky on here this a.m.
Well as I am on my own …… I’m goin to boogiie, boogiie, woogiie, boogiie, woogiie all day long ……………….. no!.. I am goin to dance and prance in a trance — shake my booty, rooty, tooty orrrr — flip and zip, tuck and nip until someone comes to rescue meeeee!! 🙂
That’ll larn ee
Errm, slightly discombobulated today and forgot to say Good Morning AA!!!! 🙂 Even if it’s just to myself. 🙂
Morning RA, think there’s a lot of people under Harrys duvet.
Morning RA and all
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