Firstly, A Happy New Year to all our friends and readers on Arsenal Arsenal. Whatever happens during 2013 our common Goonerdom will continue to bring comraderie and banter.
So, thanks are in order on this first day of the year: First and foremost to Peaches and Rasp for providing this forum with the non-stop effort involved; to all the post writers who have given time and energy to provide such sterling entertainment; to the morning crew who make the start of the day so much fun; to the regular bloggers who give insight and humour, and not least to the thousands of visitors who make Arsenal Arsenal such an enjoyable blog. Thank you All.
And whilst we are on the subject – thanks are also due to the stumbling fools from down the road whose inability to win 2 games in a row allowed us take 3rd and enjoy yet another CL campaign whilst laughing at their continued ineptitude. .
Onto todays game. Southampton away. The home fixture must have been an embarrassment to anyone connected to the Saints; we mashed them in a manner which suggested an immediate return to the Championship. They have improved since then as the 3 goals at Stoke give evidence.
All S’ton’s points have been won against the teams at the lower end of the table which continues to be their best survival resource.
I wish Southampton well. They are a good club but today I want to see their players trudge dejectedly off the pitch following another beating by the resurgent Arsenal.
We are doing better; not brilliantly, but better. The defence remains problematic with silly mistakes occurring way too regularly. But the midfield and attack looks very potent and are gelling in an exciting and highly creative manner. Once Jack starts scoring we will have goals from everywhere. Is there a more potent sub than Giroud? He must wonder what he has to do to get a full 90 minutes. The Theo at CF “experiment” seems to be working, and as someone said why on earth was Gervinho given such a run at CF when Theo is clearly the better finisher?
My Team.
Give BFG a New Year holiday before the sterner tests later in January.
The Ox/Theo combo is working very well and when Theo went wide late in the game on Sat, we looked even more dangerous. Nathaniel Clyne is a fine FB but he will be stretched this afternoon. Shame he plays on the right.
But back to the defence. Surely the problems lie in organisation rather than personnel. Gibbs is a fine player who has a glittering future at Arsenal but recently every mistake has been punished. Likewise Sagna, who I can only assume was full of Xmas spirit vs Newcastle, either that or he was smitten by the ‘flu bug which seems to be sweeping through Europe.
Todays explorer (thank you Chary for finding not only a fine fellow but one with magnificent facial hair). My favourite explorers have always been the ice-boys. The physical challenges of the Polar expeditions are unimaginable to us of the central heating generations. We start the new year with one of the most famous of all Polar explorers and a man whose final words remain famous 100 years after his death. Captain Lawrence “Titus” Oates (1880 – 1912) went with Scott to the South Pole – he was the bravest of men. Born in Putney, he fought in the Boer War and was recommended for a Victoria Cross.
In 1910, aged just 30, Oates joined Scott’s Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole. Being extraordinarily fit he was one of 4 men chosen to join Scott on the long walk to the Pole. Their dreadful journey is the stuff of legend and resulted in one of the most famous examples of self-sacrifice in British history. Oates decided he was hindering the return to base camp of the group; he left the tent in a fearsome blizzard saying “I am just going outside, I may be sometime.” His body has yet to be found.
To anyone who hasn’t already done so, may I recommend reading “The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, a stirring account of Captain Scott’s doomed quest.
Oates, Scott, Wilson, Bowers & Evans. Real Men
A successul return to St. Mary’s for Theo and Ox would be a great start to the New Year.
Let it be so ………..
COYRRG
Written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
A happy and prosperous New Year to everyone on AA.
I missed a great debate yesterday. Some of the comments were entertaining and I imagine quite a few had to be removed.
A great pre-match as always Raddy.
Morning all and a very Happy New Year from me.
Thank you for the pre-match Raddy. I agree with you about the men that explored the colder regions, great strength of character.
Captain Scott has been one of my heroes since I was at Primary School as his name was the head of my ‘House’.
On to today, really looking forward to our game and hoping we can carry on scoring prolifically but not conceding.
Morning good post enjoyed it.
And thanks for making me welcome to this site
Won’t be on till after the game today I’m off to HMP in swansea today.
Take care
Gareth bale xx
Hey Sheep, do you want to write the match report for the Swansea game as it’s on your doorstep?
Nice one, BR.
Should be an attacking open game of football today.
So put me down for a 0-0.
(that’s what I said in the Tavern before the Newcastle game) 🙂
I haven’t seen an offer of a match report yet, so I’d like to volunteer (unless someone has already done so, of course).
Peaches can I do a pre game report.
As its my first one and it may be a little long .
It will explain how I’m a gunner and a bit about the Swanz.
I’ve got a good title for it it will make u smile.
Don’t let the Spudz read it .
Happy New Year to one and all and thanks for just being here with us.
Thanks to Raddy for all his stylish and educational prematches – today’s is of his usual high standard.
chas, thanks it would be great if you could write the match report, if only AW could amass such a brilliant team as we’re blessed with on AA 😛
Happy New year to all AA’ers. Its great that we’re all from different regions around the world, brought together by a common love.
Am looking forward to the game and of course, hoping for a win with a considerable goal margin.
“There was contact — can’t tell whether he can stay on his feet – but there was contact – it wasn’t a dive”.
Sorry for appearing to be locked in yesterdays time warp but I have Brazil on TalkSport in the background, and they (he) is still going on about the unfairness of the ‘attacks’ on [poor, innocent, diving] Bale.
(my words in brackets) 🙂 and the above is a synopsis of the comments recently made.
Sickening attempt by all ex-Spurs presenters to justify Bale’s cheating!
Morning BR, 🙂
Good pre-match Post, which is what we have come to expect from you, sir! 🙂
Good read, good points made, and I agree with your stated views.
With regard to most (all) of the various explorers they are indeed brave, resolute, determined and courageous – who could deny that? but they are also barmy!!
Leave the Poles to the Emperor Penguins and the Polar Bears – except for Evonne or Chezzer, obviously! 🙂
Brazil is an idiot.
Arsene’s coat malfunction hasn’t been mentioned in any of the posts? Or has it and i just missed it? Here’s a funny pic
http://twitpic.com/brhop4
Happy New Year to all.
Thanks for another great read BR.
Gibbs should be dropped.
He has made errors in the Reading, Wigan and Newcastle games.
Maybe move Vermaelen or Koscilny out wide.
FCArsenal……I think we should introduce Meade at left back until we get a replacement for Gibbs.
Simples
Brazil=idiot
Bale=cheat
Hope this help ra
I think Gibbs is an excellent footballer who’ll be Arsenal left back for years to come if he can stay fit..
He just signed a new contract a couple of weeks ago and now he’s to be replaced by an untried youngster. Bizarre.
Hi chas – thank you for the offer of a match report for tomorrows post 🙂
Gibbs obviously had a bad day at the office against Newcastle but there is no way that Wenger will drop him today, it’s not his style; he always gives a player the opportunity to put things right. In fact, rather than drop him I reckon Gibbs will be Wenger’s first name on the team sheet. Wenger can be accused of many things but knee jerk reactions is not one of them.
Morning all and HNY
Another superb pre-match from the quiver of the master!
I’m a little bit nervous about today – hopefully the lads will prove my fears to be unfounded.
Sheep
BR does all our pre-match pieces.
Just a thought – could your piece run the day before the Swans game? So we effectively have a two-day build-up to it.
Just a thought – don’t know what Peaches and Rasp think…
I wish all AA’ers a safe, healthy, wealthy and enjoyable 2013.
Raddy, you write superbly and I always wait in anticipation to see your choice of explorers. Oates was an excellent choice as few people remember his act of total self sacrifice for the good of the team – that would be a great lesson for many footballers to learn.
AA is always the start to my day, I have disagreements with some of the lead articles, and cannot resist letting it be known, but
AA remains as my favourite blog and in my opinion it’s the most well run football site in cyber land.
A big thanks goes out to Rasp and Peaches for their time, effort and most of all for putting up with the opinions of a curmudgeon.
A Happy and Healthy New Year to you all.
My Internet crashed on Saturday lunchtime with a real nasty virus and with the help of a couple of people have just got back on.
Missed out on comments after the newcastle win.
There’s a lot of it about Kelsey!
My computer still has a nasty cough and a bit of a temperature. 🙂
Happy New Year to all the gang here. You are my first check every day on the net, and its a great place and group to come be a part of. —
– i hope our team also has a great NEW year.
🙂
Rocky,
I completed a study into the points differential on “same” games results. It proved to be meaningless as on a season by season basis the results are all over the place.
For instance-
In the PL to date there have been 263 “same” game results that differed but we were plus 69 points on those results.
This season we have 9 games with a differing result but are minus 10 points.
My personal preference is to forecast future results based on current form as results for other seasons have been proven to bear no relationship to the present.
No probs, peaches.
I always like the idea that you two have a stress-free day knowing that some fool has offered a report early. 🙂
I want to see no gloating about any of our rivals conceding early goals in the 3 o’clock kick offs.
Ha
Thanks Gn5
Makes sense.
Every. Time I watch MU, RvP scores. Mancini is right, he will be enormously influential in who wins the PL.
Chas, as you and Rocky are exchanging blogfarts, I thought I would take the opportunity to ask you a philosophical question that has been troubling me.
What I wanted to know is, how much oil could a gumboil boil, if a gumboil could boil oil?
You see it is important to delve into the deep recesses of these vexatious conundrums, because I ignored one once and as I was going out one day, my head fell off and rolled away, but when I saw that it was gone, I picked it up and put it on.
It got worse!!
When I got into the teeming street, a fellow cried ‘Look at your feet!’, so, I looked at them and sadly said, It seems I’ve left them asleep in bed!’
As I understand you are both beset with these pesky problems, I am sure you can help me!!
I know you both need help, and I will be only too happy to reciprocate!! 🙂
Raddy
While i have to concede that its great to have you back in the saddle, i have to say that the moment i get internetally airborne again im going to have a chat with you about these ice sorts being the top explorers
As a taster, brave andd firm buttocked as they undoubtedly were, they had only the cold to deal with
The jungle boys had venomous bugs insects frods and snakes, very angry natives and every disease you can imagine
Enjoy the win all
Can anyone tell me how Robbie Savage gets a job at the BBC?
Another example of the dumbing down at the Beeb
Ps a frod is like a toad with a long sticky tongue
Are the frod and the toad related to the frog and the toag, Micky?
Thank goodness for you, Glic.
At least you chat to me. I have gone two whole days on AA without a response to anything I say, except for some very chatty Spuds who happened by.
I think they liked me!! 🙂
I take that back, Glic — it wasn’t you — i realised I was talking to myself!! 😀
A happy new year to all AA,ers and a big thank-you to Peaches and Rasp for their hard-work running the site. Well done to Raddy for his continued great pre-match reports. I have been away in the Norweigian mountains for the last week and couldn´t get connected to the wifi for some reason so I have missed my fix of AA for a number of days now. I saw the Newcastle game in a mountain pub and loved how Walcott shaped up but was wondering if any of you that have been on each day can let me know what the general feeling is amongst gooners about Walcott as a striker. Are most people now feeling he can play the role or are their still some feelings that he will not make it as a striker? Off to another Norweigian pub soon to see the game.
Ra
You know very well a toag is a dyslexic goat
The poor fellow
Cant keep this up from mobile device
Bye for niw
Hello RA, 🙂
Well hello, back Red! 🙂
How’s it hanging, RA?
It seems, Red, that all dingles are dangling, and wingles are wangling, thank you!
Now all I have to do is wait for someone to tell me what dingles and wingles are!! 😀
Yeah – see you nutty!
Bye, Micky, and thank you, Oh Voice in the Dark!! 😀
Redders, how could anyone ignore you. I always try and answer your posts even if it takes me 2 days to work out what you have said! I have left my Oxford English dictionary back in blighty so please take it easy on me RA with any comments. Pitch it for say a 6 year old and I will be just fine.
Here you go, RA.
That’s brilliant, Chas! 🙂
I did see the two Xmas Mrs Brown’s — (who the hell is she? 🙂 ) and loved the whimsical, whacky Irish humor!!
Not to worry, GoonerB, 🙂
It is just me trying to provoke a reaction from my soporific fellow AAers – only moderately productive!
You have won a reprieve from my casually, caustic comments for chatting to me! 😀
RA,
I’d be happy to chat with you – but you seem to talk a different language?
G’day all.
Aguerro has done his hamstring. There goes Shitty’s chances of the title
B.Raddy,
Top drawer as per usual, and always a great read.
Would also like to take you up on your comment @3.47pm re Mancini and his comments on Van Judas.
I believe he is caving in and knows he is losing the battle to manure. This wk is the first time i have heard him mention that he was close to signing Judas in the summer. Why? Well imo, its because they are 7 points behind manure where as last year at this stage they were level on points. Its his security blanket and insurance if he fails to win the title. He will shift the blame onto the owners and let them know that Van Judas was his number 1 target and in the end he is the difference between 1st and 2nd.
Anybody super confident about our game with Soton?
RA. On quiet days you are a shining light.
PPP,
Only someone who hadn’t seen our funfair ride of a season so far could be super confident. 🙂
PPP. Seems reasonable.
No. I am not super-confident going into any game with the current side. Consistency is essential as is the ability to hold a lead for more than 10 minutes – both are lacking at the moment
chas 😀
RA. Even on really busy days you are beacon of verbal dexterity.
BSR just got his 19th of the season.
Why didn’t we have the cojones to just make him see out his final year.
I’m sure Mankini is preparing his justification for not retaining the title with his comments about BSR, but that doesn’t make the comments wrong.
If Citeh had BSR they would be topping the table now.
And if we’d kept him we might be in the title race.
Chas, so 0-0 it is then 😉
Redders
I wanted to wait until you’d built up a sufficient body of work before I replied.
You know what they say: many a mickle makes a muckle.
Or is it many a Micky makes a mackerel?
Anywho, in answer to the various questions you have posed I would say (in no particular order): Yes, No, Maybe, How Dare You.
PPP,
12-1 against a 0-0.
The bookies know.
Micky @3.52 seems ‘super confident’.
He says “enjoy the win all” and thats good enough for me
COYRRG
PPP,
Micky is the archetypal contradictory conundrum.
A doomer at heart but optimistic to a fault. 🙂
Chas, im just going by your instincts. If i remember reading correctly, you predicted a scoreless draw with the barcodes.
Rubbish results all round today.
A win becomes even more important
PPP,
You’re right, 0-0 it is.
or 5-9. 🙂
I know what you mean BR, rubbish results, i was thinking same thing.
Ps. I think i am going to dress like a scruff, put on a long blond wig and talk utter garbage. Maybe i too could get a job on the bbc Score programme
To be honest, my prediction in the Tavern before Saturday’s game was that there would be loads of goals, so put your money on a 0-0.
My nephew will verify.
Chas, 🙂
GIE’s swingometer still has WBA and the Swans finishing above us so their results must be good for us.
Unchanged line- up. Well done Raddy 11/11
Same team as above.
Let’s score early thus forcing S’ton to come at us and let Theo run riot.
Jake. Chas is going for a 0-0. What do you think?
BR doesn’t predict because every time he does it goes TU
Well, I never! Outrageous!! 🙂
I leave you lot alone for a while so I could have a quiet word with myself, and suddenly you all come out to play!!
Not only that, Monsieur GN5 alleges that I speak Russian, or Klingon! What gave me away? 😛
Well, as I have been ‘outed’ — I wasn’t having a word with myself, as I claimed earlier. I was hungry and ……………………
I went into the garden, to cut a cabbage-leaf to make an apple-pie; when about that time a great she-bear, coming down the street,
popped its head into the shop.
What! no soap? So he upped and died. Very imprudently I married the Barber: What? —- mind your own business — you weren’t talking to me!
Present for the ceremony were the Picinnies, and the Joblillies, and the Garyulies, and the great Panjandrum himself, Glic, with the little round button at top; and they all fell to playing the game of catch-as-catch-can, untill the gunpowder ran out at the heels of their boots and they blew up — and I returned to AA.
It’s all your fault, GN5!!!!!!! 😀
Im thinking at 1-3 scoreline, walcott brace
I still think it’s amazing I can talk to Gooners in Oz, Copenhagen, Hampstead and elsewhere via AA. 🙂
Anyway I’m signing off as I don’t like in game comments to colour my view of the game if I’m on match report duties.
Up the Arse.
Redders,
Cheech and Chong couldnt make up a story like that 😆
Ciao chas.
I enjoy sharing the tension
RA. Does what you are on come in powder or tablet form 🙂
Happy 21st birthday lil’ Jacky boy. Do us proud son.
Quick, Redders is back – everyone hide!
Raddy,
There is no known cure for what I have– and is a result of being blogfarted — so you have been warned!! 😛
There once was a Gooner, known for his fun, he lit fires at Arsenal with the cheeks of his bum. With some flint by his side and a match up his arse, he ran through the stands setting alight what he passed.
Gooners would cheer and the ladies would swoon as his smoking butt brought mirth to the gloom.
Take a bow, the Rasp!! 🙂
Our passing has been poor.
Come on you Gunners
This game is a million miles an hour
Ooh that must have hurt. Happy birthday Jack !
We need to keep the ball for a bit ……..
Gibbs is staying at home today…………
Theo is up against a giant ……. and Puncheon is huge!!!!!!
Your right Peaches. We need to keep posession. Even if we dont penetrate we need to stretch them and hold out for a little. I’m sure they will tire out. There is no way any team can keep pressing at this sort of pace
oh dear! a comedy of errors and then punished!
Geez.. here we go.
We needed to be woken up……….
what on earth was sagna and pod doing in that play?
Oh poooo 😦
Shocking play from both Pod and Sagna.
We are in trouble because so far there is no cohesion or pace in the passing.
Come on …..
What a shambles, we’re giving them acres of space and they’re closing us down all over the pitch. The saints are putting in twice the work rate we are. The movement off the ball is atrocious.
I’d like to see jenks play next time around, sagna has looked very flat the last few appearances
goal!!!!!!!
A gift 🙂
Every Arsenal goal is
Purrrrfect.
COYRRG
For once we get a favourable deflection…..
Sagna is having a real shocker.
the amount of ‘fouls’ jack gets called against him (even though he clearly wins the ball) astounds me. their default setting is slide = foul
Rasp. Agree & Pod has been dreadful.
Agreed Oz.
Saints worked much harder than us, but my biggest bugbear is the sheer number of individual errors by our players.
Sloppy control, bad clearances, passing to the opposition when not under any pressure – it’s that rather than our shape or system that’s causing the problems.
Great free kick by Theo. Kozzer would have had a tap in if the Saints player hadn’t OG’d.
They’ve just said we didn’t have a single shot on target in the first half. Oh dear.
Still, we’ve got a whole new half to put it right.
Ok. Here is my team talk. (Look away chas)
Everyone…. Look for Santti and give him the ball.
Sagna. Play the ball beyond the FB and give Ox a chance to use his pace..
Pod. We do not have a winter break in the PL.
Gibbs. Get forward and pull the Saints defence to the right thus giving some space for Theo.
All of you. Try shooting because Boruc looks weak.
JW. More of the same.
Above all, increase the pace of the passing.
The one player who gives us pace in pacing is on the bench…………………………Rosicky.
Well what a let down so far and as for Sagana,what’s up with the man, has been told he’s off 🙂 .
Not for the first time no real urgency in our play and too many high balls though parts of the surface looks like an ice rink.
We are much better than that and when their keeper drops the ball twice in a matter of minutes you shoot and attack more to get the upperhand.
hopefully they will get a rollicking and start to up their work rate and start to create.This game is definitely winnable.
Hope so Kelsey.
With the other results we need all three points today
LB. agree. Good game to give Mozart a run.
Top PM as ever Raddy.
I think you should be furnished with a memo from Arsenal PR explaining what Arsenal are going to turn up for the game so you can build it in.
Because on 1st half evidence the “half arsed pass, can’t be arsed to work” Arsenal appeared.
The goal was a comedy of errors, Podolski first, then Kos and TV then finally Sagna. Plenty of opportunities to clear, but that’s not the reason we conceded.
We conceded because for the prior fifteen minutes all we could do was pass the ball from left to right across the back line and back to the keeper. Because once again half the team decides to push up the pitch and there is no one to play triangles out if we are going to keep it on the deck. And we have to because we don’t have an outlet up top because we are playing Theo, and they surprisingly enough are not playing a high line as Newcastle did.
For this strategy to work with this setup, we need every player to work their socks off making triangles and also closing the opponents down when they’ve got the ball.
If our midfielders, and full backs are going to move into their half when we have the ball at the centre backs we need to have Giroud on the pitch and hope to feed off scraps, or the centre backs are going to have to carry the ball out of the backline, something my heart won’t stand.
The 2 things that really grind my gears about this new look Arsenal team is 1. Lack of movement off the ball and 2. Our lack of pressing when not in posession
We miss the Freddie Ljungbergs of this world.
I still believe we can do it. Please Arsenal, show them who we really are!
Good point GiE
There is often a huge gap between our players in the middle of the pitch.
GIE. Any news??
OG is sure to get 20 mins
thanks for the top notch pre-match as always BR, well said intro.
10 mile ride on the way home, you crazy so and so!
time for a BR drunk special again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZUfX7Gdw5g
No news 😦
Although that’s probably a 😀 until 18:15
If either Mancini or SAF were managing Sagna he would have been pulled at half time.
We’re stlil not working hard enough in the second half and why do we insist on pumping high balls up in Walcott’s direction? Our movement off the ball is woeful
true G5, arsene would never as he wouldn’t want to impact sagna’s confidence, but he is experienced he should be able to cop it on the chin.
thank christ fro szcz
Yea Oz – sometimes players need an embarrassing wake up call to snap them to attention.
No surprise to see an early OG call
agreed, a ‘pull your finger out’ statement should be given, especially with corporal more than able to fill the void
Sagna was on the turps last night
@ ppp
if that’s the case i’d say he’s playing well! 🙂
in fact it looks like they all were
Southampton look the most likely to score.
My god we are poor. The saints are looking the more likely to score and are prepared to have a shot on goal. We’re slow to get the ball forward and slow to track back when we lose possession.
Gn5. Sad but true.
This performance is making me very angry.
We seem to have lead in our boots.
Have we got anyone on the bench who can come on and make a difference? Its at times like this I’d give Eisfeld a run out, he has the skills.
phew
We need to win UGLY….
surprised it’s not rosicky coming on
And it sure is UGLY
I agree oz, Rosicky always drives the play forward …… this is a very strange looking team now
Playing a strange looking game.
Ramsey for a game where we need to hold on because he runs all day long but you’re right peaches rosicky looks to make something happen at every opportunity
Excuse my language but we are shit!
Absolutely poor game from Arsenal, is this really a team who are supposedly top 4 caliber?
FFS
Has Sagna take a bung?
Rasp
I think you’re being restrained.
I would play our next-gen team next game with the exception of Jack. The rest can all go to confession
FFS can someone tell me wtf is wrong with the team?
No Cazorla + No creativity.
This is the worst performance of the season, we don’t even deserve a draw. No one is showing for a pass and we are lazy in our movement, truly appalling
Rosicky may have been a better option than Ramsey
NO creativity at all with the ball, NO clear cut chances, NO pressing when we don’t have the ball. None of the elements of previous Arsenal teams. Pfft.
We have been woeful this evening, totally inept and lacking any creativity. Sagna is a liablity of late, he was crap against the barcodes and has been caught wrong side far too many times this evening. Your number is up son.
Wilshire found wanting. Arteta asleep and the Ox was totally out of the game. We do not deserve top four this season.
3 minutes to go and NOW we show some urgency 🙄
theo what was that????
The other side of Theo………
Spend some ffffing money
What the hell do we work at on the training pitch?
The most undeserved point of the season
Well that was complete pants ………… from the highs of 7 goals the other day to how many shots??????????
the difference between us and united is plain to see. when they are off they find a way. when we are it’s a real struggle!
A terrible performance from a team that couldn’t string more than 2 passes together and with players that couldn’t be bothered to work for each other. No excuses, that was dire.
Didn’t deserve a point so will take that.
Southampton totally deserved their point and they outplayed us, we are supposed to be challenging, we are, for mid table mediocrity, Time for us fans to realize that and if you really think otherwise you are deluded. You can flame me all you wish, been through the really crap times in the 70’s and 80’s, so I am not making a rash statement. We are poor and games like the Barcodes one only paper over the cracks
Sagna OUT
it’s still a mystery to me rasp. we constantly get out worked and pressured by teams. what happened to the arsenal of a few seasons ago that would out work the opposition to the point where the ‘park the bus’ teams got over run in the end. Now we work less and fatigue quicker
This draw was a clause in the Shaw deal. He will join us mid week.
WHAT??
Can anyone else come up with a better excuse. My grandmother is more switched on than the boys were today. Good night AA
Player Ratings:
Szcz: 7
Sagna: 0
Verm: 6
Koz: 6
Gibbs: 3
Arteta: 5
Wilshere: 5
Cazorla: 5
Walcott: 2
Podolski: 0
Chamberlain: 2
The desire to win of this team is just total crap, just look at the difference between our players and United players when we’re behind. One sight you won’t see when United is losing is players taking throw ins as if they have all the time in the world especially in extra time. When United go down, all their players run around like no tomorrow no matter how tired they are, look at our static defending and movement when we had the ball in the dying minutes of the game. Simply not top 4 caliber. Majority of the team seems unmotivated whenever things get tough and we’re losing. A draw is too deceiving, we deserved to lose. No question about that. If I appear too critical it’s because I’m pissed as hell that once again we’re served up crap performances like this – simply not top 4 quality.
I wouldn’t just sell walcott, I would sell the lot of them on that performance.
Oh, and one more rating:
Wenger/Bould: 0
Too many performances like that this season.
We really are not a top four side.
If we bring in anyone in this TW it will no doubt be at the attacking end (because that’s what AW likes doing) but what we really need is a monster of a DM who can break up the opposition attacks in MF and give it to our creative players to make things happen.
Mind you, if the players can’t be bothered to work for each other or even run – like today – we could buy Messi and Ronaldo and it won’t make any difference.
bang on with the ratings Rocky
@ PPP
it’s the only excuse i can come up with too.
One shot on target in 93 minutes.
wow that’s poor!
Rocky, those ratings are pretty much what I would have put up, although I would have given Arteta a 4.
There is a malaise in our club.
It has been there for a number of years and shows itself on an increasingly regular basis.
At one point in the second half Saints broke and one of their players sprinted past Oxlade-Chamberlain on our left flank (Chambo was jogging back towards our goal). There was no-one to stop the Saints player because Gibbs had been drawn into the middle of the defence (again).
Any professional in Chamberlain’s position would have bust a gut to close down the overlapping player.
Chambo just watched the player run outside him – and waved a half-hearted hand in his direction as if it was someone else’s responsibility – despite the fact that Chamberlain could see there was absolutely no other Arsenal player there who could attempt to close him down.
When a (19?) year old like Chamberlain can’t be bothered to do the most basic work of a professional footballer and shrugs off any personal responsibility, something is deeply, deeply wrong.
Sagna was the worst player on the pitch by a mile – God only knows what’s up with him but his performances have been steadily deteriorating this year and this was the logical conclusion of his progress.
I totally agree with your rating of Wenger and co and your last paragraph Rocky, why is it that our players don’t seem united and motivated to work for each other? Look at Sagna/The ox and Poldi/Arteta have a go at each other and players raising their arms whenever a poor pass is played or when runs aren’t made perfectly.
I definitely think that our priority in the transfer window should be a top quality DM too that reads the game well and breaks up play and a striker should come second.
Yet another unaceptable performance & I will ask yet again what does Wenger say to the players at half time. No Passion, no desire to win, no fight, nothing.
We have seen more of these perfomances this season than we have seen good ones.
I just can not understand the mentality of this team, you would of thought they would be brimming with confidence after there great showing against Newscastle but back to awful we go.
I think it is time for change, something is not right at the club.
Why are some of you surprised our whole season has been like this, the odd brilliant performance and then sheer pants and we have played one game less than all the othe teams bar West Ham.
Too much tippt tappy.Is that a sign of arrogance or lack of leadership on and off the field to change gear and really WANT it.
Very disappointed in the whole performance and the crossing was dreadful bar once when the OX drove a beauty from the flanks on the ground with venom,but no one there.
Walcott= a raw talent IMO one day you see him ond day you don’t.
I thought subbing OX was wrong, and Arteta played too deep. 4 shots according to the stats just not good enough.
On a side note, perhaps we need a reality check on how good really are the players that we rate so highly. Many of us think that our squad is full of quality players and is easily better than United’s squad, but surely that can’t be true when they’re constantly getting results while all we’re getting on a constant basis is inconsistency.
The trouble is, I’m not sure that a January shopping spree will make much difference.
The players on display were more than good enough to put in a decent performance and take the points – but they didn’t turn up.
After a shocking first half, you would think something would be said at half time to send them out more fired up (or some tactical adjustment made to help us play better). Instead we came out just as flat and never improved.
Micky has often questioned AW’s ability to motivate players and I sympathise with that question.
If Wenger blames tiredness I will throw something at the telly.
Right…..that was poo or as Ladyarse so aptly said on twitter an insult to poo.
It is very hard to see how spending some money will help….as we have twice this season been shown up by teams earning less (and I’m not even including Bradford in that).
Add a quality finisher to Southampton (like Michu) and we would have been beaten.
So Manager or players?
For me that was about the players and egos.
Demonstrated by Theo taking that last free kick, if I was Jack I would have told him to fuck off, left footer right wing, right footer left wing…..it’s what worked in the first half, you are not the messiah, you are a greedy little shit who is not playing for the team.
But my biggest concern tonight, and it has been all season, is our continued attempts to pass someone into the shit, the amount of hospital balls tonight was a joke.
We have a lot of experienced heads on the pitch who should do a lot better and help the younger players around them.
Adrian
United are more than the sum of their parts.
We are less than.
This Arsenal team has to be one of the most unmotivated bunch of players in recent years when games start getting tough and we’re losing.
Rocky, your post at 19.32 is spot on and if I may add…
Our midfield today was dire, they did not work at all, they were lazy, held the ball too long (particularly Wilshire again), we lacked any creativity at all and it was like watching a team thrown together at playtime in a school!
Drop Sagna now, he is a total liablity. I lost count the amount of times my wife told me to stop swearing as I castigated him for being caught upfield, lanquishing like a tepid lesbian! We only live about 10 miles away from St Marys and I bet even they could hear me! lol
We need an injection of new blood and we need it fast. A defensive midfielder for sure. I am losing interest in watching this bunch of overpaid twonks. I love Arsenal, always will, but I am sick of what we have become and the current team make the Don Howe team look like world beaters. I beat Bayern Munich are shitting themselves!
GiE
Perceptive as ever.
The amount of stupid passes to players marked by one, two or even three opponents was driving me mad.
And Theo’s performance showed the maturity of a tadpole. He scored a hat trick the other day and now he completely believes his own publicity – consequently shooting when he should pass, trying to dribble when he should pass, taking a dead ball free kick when we have players much better equipped to do that (Jack, Arteta).
You guys have said it all!
The whole team should be ashamed of themselves, frankly, with one or two exceptions.
It would be hard to pick out the worst player on the Arsenal team, but Gervinho’s cameo when he came on said it all — clueless, gutless, talentless.
Can I say, and this is not a ‘knee jerk reaction’ because I have said it at least 4 times previously this season, and that is I am bitterly disappointed that our ‘tactics’ looked non-existent or banal, and that is down to AW alone.
We stood off, did not press and allowed the Saints the luxury of having acres of space to pass, or to run into even more vacant space.
In addition, the concept of quick fire, accurate passing is all well and good, except you also have to have the quality of player capable of doing so.
Our constant tippy tappy sideways and backwards passing – (oops, I fell over – oops, I could not control it – oops I passed it to the opposition) indicates to me that we irrefutably do not have the quality of player we need.
Theo, today, reverted to the ephemeral, will o’ the wisp, now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t type of player that he too often is, and has been for too long in his Arsenal career.
Forgive me Arsene, but if you take the credit, when we occasionally play well, you also need to accept the blame for the fiasco this excruciatingly poor performance was – and I am struggling not to use scurrilous language in saying that.
We were not “a bit leggy”, we were not “a leetle bit trying too hard”, we were certainly not “unlucky”! We were poor – we were leaderless, and we were lucky to get a draw.
Anyone wishing to argue the above with me is welcome — but I am likely to bite, if the argument does not have merit!
That was dross. I’m going to be positive and say at least we didn’t lose 🙂
Poor old Chas
He has to write a match report on that execrable excretion of excrement.
Well done GM 🙂
What was up with Sagna? He looked like he was stoned.
Redders
You were right about Theo all along 🙂
£100K a week for Theo? Do me a favour
I think Rocky your point on Ox is to do with the players he is now looking up to.
When Cesc came through it was with the likes of PV4, TH14 etc….players who didn’t take defeat lying down and worked for each other and the team. Now Ox is looking to the likes of Sagna, Pod, Theo what will he learn apart from bad habits of having an ego.
What we are seeing is arms outstretched and complaining that the pass wasn’t precisely where he wanted it, that’s embarrassing fellow professionals on the pitch, it can happen once or twice but it happens every five minutes at the moment.
Also on workrate, towards the end of the game Ramsey breaks with the ball, he has two teammates in front of him marked by four defenders, they were joined by four more Southampton midfielders working like dogs and not one joining midfielder nearby. He lost the ball, and then Southampton break, the same four midfielders are joining in for them but our midfield was still nowhere to be seen and they were breaking six on six.
I thought Verm played pretty OK at the back and won a lot in the air, but anyone see him do anything the remotest bit captainy?
GiE – your post at 19.54 only backs up my earlier post moaning about the the lack of workate from our midfield. They were disgusting tonight, lazy and woeful!
I agree our workrate was pitiful. The midfield made little attempt to get back and help the defence. There was no swarming. The saints passed it between their back four and midfield with zero pressure from us, lazy is too strong a word but I can’t think of a better term that describes that performance.
To continue the Vermaelen point, he used to be the most passionate player on the pitch. Now he seems a shadow of his former self (as a personality). Why?
Also, I think there is a question mark about the Santi-Jack partnership in MF.
Mark Bright BBC football pundit on Radio 5 live
“I have seen Arsenal a lot over the last few years and this is the worst I have seen them play. Their passing was terrible, they were shambolic today on the ball.
“This is supposed to be a team that is competing to finish in the top four. I think Tottenham and Chelsea are stronger, Arsenal have left themselves too much to do.”
I don’t think lazy is that strong a word to be honest Rasp.
I agree about Vermaelen as well as Rocky has just said,but I wonder why.
Rasp, sorry mate, they were fecking lazy. No workrate, no closing down and caught on the ball over and over again. No other way to dress it up mate.
Brigham
All true – but why?
Lazy – lethargic, idol, languid, sluggish, slothful to name but a few.
I have no idea Rocky and what annoys me the most, is that we have had less playing time over Crimbo, so we should have been more fresh. I understand the team stayed in Basingstoke overnight and I do know that is a Spud stronghold, so maybe there was some Lasagne around!
Don’t apologize Brigham, that was the point I was making, whichever way you look at it, our players showed a lack of effort = lazy
A poor day at the office.
The pace was off from the kick off but one should give plaudits to S’ton who worked for their point.
Sagna needs a rest. So does Santi.
OG made no difference at all because none of the team could find a cross.
A disappointing start to 2013, though not (IMO) as bad as some believe. We proved we are inconsistent and not a top 4 side ….. Yet.
No worries Rasp, we were just very poor today buddy, It was like me getting home after 8 pints of Peroni, I will get there eventually, but the journey will not be pretty! lol
Rocky,
Starting at a fairly low point, Jack’s performances improved game by game after his return from injury.
Santi, on the other hand – pre Jack – looked ace, but his performances have diminished in inverse proportion to Jack’s improvement, and, by some quirk I do not understand, they have both stabilized at a skill level well below what each are individually capable of being.
The result is self evidentially clear for all to see.
BTW, left with our last gasp chance to win, the final inexplicable act, was Theo taking his time over the free kick to our massed forces lined up in serried ranks in the penalty area, all expecting a cleverly crafted cross at head height — were rewarded with him scrubbing his weak effort along the ground — to a Saints player.
Entirely and infuriatingly predictable!
Four of Chelsea#s next 5 games are Reading, QPR, Swansea & Stoke.
Spurs play QPR,Norwich ,Newcastle and West Brom
We have Man City, Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool.
So, 8th by end of Jan.
Actually, its Man City Chelsea, Liverpool, Stoke with a possible FA Cup 4th round thrown between Chelsea and Liverpool.
Rasp and peaches,
Report in Nuts, if you want to sort it out this evening.
I’m off for a drink.
Ah, Rocky
At last someone has had the cojones to say it.
There are problems with the Cazorla-Wilshire partnership.
Cazorla is our main attacking playmaker but he cannot do it all himself, he needs someone who can play quick Barcelona football with him and Jack cannot do that, Wilshere is too leggy, a fine defensive midfielder but not an attacking midfielder. Not a Rosicky.
All that was needed was Cazorla, Rosicky and Arteta in midfield and the problem is solved.
Never going to happen, Wilshere is Mr Arsenal: strong, leggy and good defensively.
My only hope is Cazorla, Rosicky and Wilshere.
Why do we need Arteta and Wilshere on the pitch at the same time, neither one has the speed to be a attacking midfield and neither is really a specialist defensive midfielder?
I doubt I’ve been harsh enough, sorry.
Just back from the pub over in Norway. Well that was dire. I have just paid over 7 pounds a pint to sit and watch that. i should send my bill in to the club. Trying to be objective in my criticism I would say the following.
Overall we looked lazy and casual which has become a habit all too often. That is down to the manager to sort out. As some have rightly pointed out this would not be tolerated by Ferguson. His players would live in fear of slacking like that and for me Arsene needs to be laying down the law rather than putting out excuses for why it didn´t go right. I would rather hear him say that it wasn´t acceptable and that he would be dealing with it in no uncertain terms.
Early on I was perplexed as to what had happened to our passing / possession game. I know we have overdone it at times in the past but we were hoofing the ball out of defence rather than passing it through the team. What makes it more annoying is that we have good possession and passing players in the midfield in Jack, Arteta and Santi. The big problem for me was our movement of players off the ball. There was just far to few players moving and showing for the ball. This tacks in with the general overall laziness of our performance.
Sagna was again very bad. I remember seeing Sagna early on in his return from injury, I think in the QPR game. I remember thinking that he had lost his pace but many fans complimented him on his performance that day so I thought I must have had it wrong and that his sharpness and pace would return with more games. He looks to me like a player, and pardon the cliche, who has lost his legs. He has lost a significant degree of pace and I am wondering if it will return. Maybe in a team that is more defensive and the FB is less required to overlap to support the attack he would be ok, but we require pacy full-backs who can overlap and also recover to defend.
I have felt that Theo would shape up as a good striker, and maybe he still will. For me though his big problem today was that he didn´t work hard enough up front. he should have been moving more across their defence to pull them in different directions and also provide the midfielders with different options for passes. He looked like he was only interested in balls that put him one on one with the keeper and didn´t think about maybe pulling into wide advanced positions to receive the ball and look to play in his team-mates joining him in attack. No movement meant no options for our good passing players.
Rocky said earlier he questioned whether the Jack and Santi partnership was working. I think it is more whether the Jack, Santi, Arteta combination works. I would have liked to see Jack have more freedom with Santi to get forwards to try and make things happen. I still see him as an attacking midfielder and feel we waste much of his talent when he has to play deeper. The problem is you really need a Vieira type midfielder to allow both Jack and Santi to play higher up the pitch, and I think that there are only certain games when Jack, Santi and Arteta can play effectively together. In other games I think you can only play 2 of the 3 and the other should be a more powerful and pacy defensive midfielder. I feel this was one of those games.
Sheeps home went to HMP on swansea today
Did ,my visit and I ended up with some villa fans in the pub.
They are nice lads I had my Arsenal coat on and they asked me how come I not swansea fan.
I typed if the bosses here let me do a pre match report .
I told them its a long story visit arsenal arsenal on Sunday morning u will the see villa lads how’s I’m a gunner.
much love
Sheepy xx
Not a good perfomance by us today I saw send half with villa fans.
They gave Sheepy some stick.
As I left the pub to get on the train I said” Cardiff will replace u lot next year in villa .
Bye Sheepy I told them
Xx
In a nut shell
Cazorla, the most talented player at the club, is being wasted.
Sheep got stopped in train station and got by police cause I had a Arsenal coat on .
Swansea welcome to Wales
I haven’t watched the game – start of the work day in Sydney. But judging by the comments, it will not be pleasant watching.
Do you think the lazy/lethargic issue – so prevalent this season – is due to players like Walcott (and perhaps Sagna) agitating for a move elsewhere? Especially after high profile departures in the last couple seasons. Surely that would affect team unity.
My answer (if that is the case): get rid of anyone who does not want to play 100% for the club.
We got a lot of average players at Arsenal and no I’m not having a go I’m being honest.
I can name 5 I’d sell.
Chamak
Arshavin
The African with mad hair I can’t speeel it I’m welsh
Sanga
Arron Ramsey he’s not wat he was made out to be ,x Cardiff so I know about him.
There’s my 5 I’d sell
Sheepy
Right, high horse time and something I want to say…
I am en ex semi-pro full back, having played for Hythe Town in the 80’s and 90’s, not bragging or owt, just laying what I feel are my credentials on the line, same as GiE.
A full backs job is to DEFEND, it is his job to stop the winger or whatever is confronting him, it is his job to cut out the cross, to stop the ball getting past him. It was drilled into me me at an early age to do all of those things and something I did well (if I say so myself) The other thing was to get forward, support the attack, make space and drag your opposing full back wide.
Now for me, Sagna does the last bit quite well, however, he fails at several of the other points big time. He used to do it pretty well, but suddenly he has failed to, he looks lost when defending, he is all over the place, lost in a sea of confusion.
Its time he was moved on, he will never be a Lee Dixon or a Viv Anderson or even a Ralph Lauren, but he is washed up IMHO.
I don’t accept that Jack doesn’t work well with Santi, nor that Santi is losing form – the man just scored a hatrick .
Furthermore 4 wins and a draw since Swansea is pretty good.
Yes we were poor today especially in our passing but it was the whole team not individuals
Sell Sanga my wife’s an x semi pro.
I mean by that she was a singer
On ships and in Spain she’s English .
Brigham. For a number of years Sagna has been the best RB in the PL. He remains a fine player but one out of form.
You may be right that he will never achieve the heights he reached pre the leg breaks but he has earned some slack.
IMO he has been a better RB than Ralph.
Any one watch darts phill Taylor is his 19 th final far play .
He playing a Dutch bald kid it 2-2
Raddy, I cannot agree with you, he may have had two or three decent seasons, but he will never and I mean NEVER attain the heights of Dixon or Anderson and even possible Ralphie. The guy has lost it.
There is a disconnect between the attack and the midfield. Arteta is too slow to get forward which forces Carzrola to come deeper.
Wilshere is not supporting the attack.
It’s not that Wilshere and Carorla doesn’t work, it’s more like a midfield partnership between Cazorla and someone else could be so much better.
Trying to point out Wilshere’s weaknesses on this site is like trying to point out the Pope’s weaknessess in the Vatican.
Mrs sheep calls me her weaknes
havent been able to watch yet, sounds depressing.. maybe i shouldnt watch it after all.
Raddy, I am with you on not accepting that Jack and Santi can´t play together. As I mentioned above I think it is more to do with the combination of the 3 rather than those 2. I see Jack´s progression in a similar way to Cesc who played a deeper role earlier in his career and didn´t score so many goals but as he progressed he became a more complete attacking midfielder with goals in his game. I see the same thing for Jack and feel he could be the closest thing to Paul Scholes as he develops. He has an amazing ability to surge through gaps and leave players trailing and when we are struggling to break teams down you need someone who can play quick one twos in tight spaces in the final third and drive past players. I felt this game needed Jack to get into more attacking positions as well as Santi and still feel they can do this together. The problem is that I don´t think that Arteta can play the lone DM role effectively against certain teams, so Jack is forced to play deeper as extra cover. I remember RA saying something along these lines a few months back and feel we need another option in the squad for these times. As mentioned I think there are some games where the 3 can play together but at other times we would need someone more powerful and quick out there and have one of these 3 on the bench.
You have a good memory, GoonerB. 🙂
I did say that, and it has become more apparent as time has gone on.
I feel the problem lies with the two wide players when our midfield three come under pressure. They have to join in and become a midfield 5 when the opposition are pressing. They have to provide an outlet and an option for the central midfielders under pressure.
Jack is forced to play deeper to relieve some of the pressure on Arteta. For some strange reason and in hindsight, I think Ramsey would have been a better option to start today. Then again if the team as a whole don’t put in the hard miles, then it doesn’t matter who plays. Defend as a team, attack as a team, if you don’t do that you’re always going to look disjointed.
Hi JNYC, 🙂
I wish I could say something good about today’s performance – but I cannot.
If I could rewind today, I would prefer not to have seen that game.
I could then live in hope that those who did see it and reported their disappointment were exaggerating.
You can still go that route – unfortunately I cannot, and it has spoilt the start of my New Year as a consequence! 😦
You are right, Chas, but how can anyone explain why so many individuals in that team were so abject today?
Of course, even approaching it logically, like you have – it begs the question, “why did they not do that?” or “why did AW not tell them to do that – at least in the second half?”.
Answers on a post card time – I suppose!
We shouldnt have got so excited about Newcastle and we shouldnt get too down about today. There was obviously something wrong with the pitch, people weere slipping the whole game..that must screw up our performance. Its way to soon to discard the midfield, they have only been together..what.. 5-6 games?
All that being said..we need IM humble O a diably type player who doesntr get injured every month. Its imperative we make a big name signing.
This should also be a wakeup call for Theo.. he s a very good forward but a long way from being at RVP ior TH14’s level.
Neamann, the problem with using the pitch as an excuse is that it was the same for both teams, and if our talent had applied the same work ethic as Southampton’s players we should run out 5-1 winners or at least knock on the door.
I have a couple of observations, Swansea and Southampton progressed from the Championship playing football on the deck, the Championship isn’t normally a scene for pass and move football, so to be successful playing that way you have to work bloody hard as a team, and you have to be physically fit and strong to withstand the robust tactics that others employ to be successful in that division. They can embarrass Arsenal “talent” with workrate.
Secondly how often do our midfielders get good ball? From the back not much, into space rarely, the players that do pass and move are limited by static players around them. When Santi and Jack combined in the first half at one point the players around them took more defenders into their path.
Why do Messi and Iniesta and Xavi find themselves able to weave magic in and around the 18 yard box? Because the players not involved make runs that take defenders away from danger areas and that in turn creates the space for others to play.
For me the midfield three need to start deeper and closer together. The centre backs need four or five forward options when in possession rather than two they currently have (full back and Arteta).
Brigham I liked your observations on full backs today, it’s something that I have been noticing in recent weeks, you have probably noticed it for longer because its your position. My comparison has been Dixon and Winterburn probably two of the finest full backs we have had at Arsenal in my time watching them, they defended the wing, I am not sure where this need to defend the goal mouth comes from, can Bould really be asking them to do this, if so I guess it means he doesn’t trust the centre backs.
The only player that comes of the pitch with no criticism is Szczesny….but I would say that GKs union.
I know this was youth football, but this game is why I respectfully disagree with LB about the future of our no 10
“Wilshere, who is 17 but has already played in the Champions League and the Premier League, ran the show, drilled in a penalty and claimed two assists with perfectly crafted passes. Gilles Sunu with a confident drive and Sanchez Watt, with a delicate chip, finished expertly.”
And this
Oh and this:
http://youtu.be/Wc9tSmAKQ6I
We came away with a point. I think we need a couple of players. I’m not getting depressed over it.
On the Wilshere topic, we could have played him in the C-AM role, with Cazorla going to either left/right wing as a creative outlet from the flanks.
In a 4-2-3-1, we could have alternate with the back five, (2-3) midfield comprising of (Arteta+Coquelin)-(Cazarla+Wilshere+Podolski/AoC), and either Walcott/Giroud in front.
We would have a centre spine of ball-winners from the backline to attacking 3rd of the pitch (2 x CBs, Arteta & Coquelin in C-DM/CM, Wilshere in C-AM).
(60% of play during a match are influenced by activities along the centre length of pitch, with the remaining 20% each from the left and right sides/flanks).
As a match progresses, Ramsey and Rosicky could come in for Wilshere (C-AM) and Cazorla (RW/LW) respectively to retain our shape.
Alternatively, switch to a 3-3-1-3 form, with 3 x CBs (Mertesacker as sweeper/CB, Koscielny & Vermaelen as CBs/ false DM to assist Arteta in our midfield when bringing out the ball from our backline, 2 wingbacks/wide midfielders on either side of Arteta to provide passing options, Wilshere also in the C-AM to link up play with our front 3 attackers, whoever they are)
(3-3-1-3 form is an alternate form of 4-3-3, which is also used by Barcelona.
E.g. their wingbacks, Alba & Alves/Adriano move forward, Busquets/Song moving back alongside their CBs – Pique/Puyol/Mascherano, Xavi holding their midfield in centre circle, Fabregas up on C-AM to link with their attacking 3, Iniesta on one attacking flank, Messi & Pedro/Sanchez/Villa making up the other 2 attacking forwards etc.)
Points to note:
(1) Wilshere only returned to competitive games after 1 FULL season (& more) out with injury. Sagna & Rosicky returning from lengthly injuries themselves, having missed pre-season training and a couple of months.
(2) This is the 1st winter campaign in EPL for Cazorla, Giroud & Podoski, a new experience for them. With their former clubs, the La Liga (a couple of weeks), Ligue 1 (a couple of weeks) & Bundesliga(1 whole month from mid-Dec to mid-Jan) are all having their mid-season break.
I would have expect the manager to use (and rotate) them sparingly during this period (e.g. with Rosicky, Walcott & AoC etc) of adaptation.
(3) Looking at last season, in Jan 2012, we got 3 straight defeats and a draw in the EPL. Not going to lie, with Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool up next (there might also the postponed game against West Ham, depending on our FA Cup progress??), this Jan 2013 could very well turn out similarly (a draw and 3 straight defeats). That said, we should only take 1 game at a time, starting with the FA Cup tie against Swansea next.
Well, at least AW hasn’t made excuses this time.
Winning Percentage game (Influencing the match by 60% performance from the centre spine; Influencing the match by 40% performance from both flanks):
(4-2-3-1) or (4-3-3)
GK: 10%, 2xCBs: 10% (5% each), 2xDM/CMs: 20% (10% each), AM: 10%, CF: 10%
Total: 60% (covering the centre – length of pitch)
LB: 10%, RB: 10%, LW: 10%, RW: 10%
Total: 40% (covering the left and right sides – length of pitch)
(4-4-2) or (4-4-1-1)
GK: 10%, 2xCBs: 10% (5% each), 2xCMs: 30% (15% each), 2xCFs(or 1xAM, 1xCF): 10% (5% each)
Total: 60% (covering the centre – length of pitch)
LB: 10%, RB: 10%, LM: 10%, RM: 10%
Total: 40% (covering the left and right sides – length of pitch)
e.g. RockyLives’s player ratings @
January 1, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Player Ratings:
“Centre Spine”
Szcz: 7 (7%)
Verm: 6 (3%)
Koz: 6 (3%)
Arteta: 5 (5%)
Wilshere: 5 (5%)
Cazorla: 5 (5%)
Walcott: 2 (2%)
Total: 30% (out of 60%)
(Left and Right sides)
Sagna: 0 (0%)
Gibbs: 3 (3%)
Podolski: 0 (0%)
Chamberlain: 2 (2%)
Total: 5% (out of 40%)
Grand Total: 35% out of 100% chance of winning. (Little chance)
The “centre spine” players should have to consistently come up with 40% – 45% influence to the game and the remaining 20%-25% coming from the flank-players to give the team at least a 60% – 70% winning percentage chance every single game.
[This does not mean the team always has the right to win a game; it gives the team to be in a better position to influence the proceedings during a game and win].
Morning all
Loved the JW SC debate.
Can that three man mid work without a DM (MA and JW are not DM’s)?
Has AW ever understood the 4-3-3?
And finally, can someone here please make an effort and research the system that works without effort being a requirement?
Now Chas will refer to the Doom side of my split personality
ROLF
I knew you’d like it, Micky. 😉
Hi Chas
Still cheesed off I couldnt take your spare for Toon game.
It was the late KO that ruled me out.
I have a good feeling about the transfer window. Do you?
Alonso?
Morning All.
Once again we are denying the quality of performance of the opposition.
Swansea were better than us on the day, as were AV and now S’ton. I cannot fathom out why we struggled yesterday but I do recognise how well S’ton played..
Cazorla was allowed no space, the front men plagued our boys and won header after header, the full backs denied our superfast attackers to get behind them and the CB’s easily dealt with an ineffective TW & later OG.
I agree with the need for a proper DM but on the other hand cannot say that Arteta has been poor in this regard.
I know this is peeing in the wind but a fit Diaby would have made all the difference yesterday.
Morning all,
Sorry to start the new year in disagreement Raddy but that was not the way I saw it. Southampton’s performance had nothing to do with the fact that our passing when not under pressure was dreadful, our workrate was dreadful, our movement was readful and our leadership on the pitch was non existant. AW may not have made excuses, but there is no excuse for him not being able to motivate those players at half time. If anything we were worse in the 2nd half. The manager should be able to get his players to up their game, AW failed dismally, we never got out of third gear.
That was the worst performance of the season for me and there are no excuses. Maybe only Sz could be said to have had a decent game , everyone else was poor.
The obvious point to make is that on paper it is unlikely that any of the saints players would get in our team … AW looked very tired and grey after the game … just like the performance.
Rasp. I am trying to put a positive spin on things before I head off for a few more days R&R in Switzerland.
Disagreement is the essence of debate, however we agree that yesterday we were poor.
I do not agree that the workrate was dreadful, I believe S’ton worked hard to snuff out the passing possibilities. I do agree that there were poor performances all over the pitch particularly with the passing pace and accuracy.
Leadership? If you mean a barn-storming, inspirational performance by any player, well I guess not.
Bradford is less than a month ago – too painful to recall? 🙂
Morning all, I’m at work and have serious computer problems so apologies for the small graphics chas … in today’s…..
…New post …..