I’m excited, aren’t you? But I don’t want to be too excited because this is Arsenal after all and we all know where being over excited for a football match leads.
Still, it’s worth feeling a warm glow of ‘I wonder how this is going to turn out’ isn’t it? Singing ‘We love you Freddie’ at almost every opportunity.
Today, Freddie (we’re back on first name terms aren’t we) will sit in the dug out having sent the team out with some instructions on how to play this game. He’s had precisely one day of coaching the first team so we really shouldn’t expect too much to change ……. or should we?
I’m hoping he’s been just as frustrated as some supporters in how we’ve managed to throw games away in the last few weeks. I’m convinced we have a better team in there than the one that’s gone seven games without a win. So today is a new start, an away game so less pressure from the home fans, a chance to begin the process of looking like a football team that care what happens on the pitch.
I’m not going to pick a team (cop out, I know) but you can pick your own. All I can say is that we’d better see Ozil, Pepe, Lacazette and Aubameyang turning the Norwich defenders in knots with their trickery and Joe Willock powering through the midfield.
I’m excited for Freddie …… as if playing for Arsenal and being an Invincible isn’t enough he’s got the top job too.
Good luck Freddie, come on Arsenal, show us what you can really do.
peachesgooner
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Hallelujah, Peaches,
Let the good times roll. Freddie — do not, whatever anyone tells you, just mosey along like Embers did — no … do your own thing, and learn from being your own individual!!
Peaches will love you whatever happens — can’t say better than that!! 🤪
Sorry RA, got held up …………………
Thanks Peaches.. nice picture of Freddie (Although one of him modelling the Calvin undies would have done 🤣)
Yes, I’m very excited, and not only about it being 24 days until Christmas! Yay!!
I hope all the players put a shift in, I know a win isn’t guaranteed, and yes, the defence worries me! But isn’t it about time we attacked, attacked, attacked!! To see us score 3 goals will do nicely….. COYG
RA – I noticed your confusion yesterday about multiple posts. If you use WordPress on a device, sometimes, early on the post, you’ll ‘reply’ to a comment that’s actually on the old post.
That’s what happened yesterday. I’m going to try to always put a little comment on the blog straight away so that should avoid the confusion.
Thanks Sue, believe me I was torn as to which photo to use 🙂
How could you not be excited, Peaches. We have an Arsenal legend in charge, a winner, someone who understands the Arsenal DNA, who never gave up on the pitch, and who understands what we supporters have invested in the best and most famous football club in the World.
COYG
I was only joshing you, Peaches.
Never tale any notice of me — after all the time you have known me, you will also know I am often incorrigible – especially like yesterday when I could Cath both you and the ‘orrible Rocky! 😛
Nice, warm, uplifting pre match Peaches.
That might look like a ‘lispth’ Peaches, but I definitely do not know anyone called Cath — maybe she would be a good catch. 😳
COYG! and CO Freddie! We want excitement, fun and smiles.
The most exciting players (basically at least 2 games unlike Ceba) this year for me have been:
Martinelli, Ozil, Laca, Auba, Willock, Tierney, Chambers, Luiz, Douzi, Saka, Pepe
My team for excitement but not too imbalanced would be:
Leno – Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney – Douzi, Chambers, Willock – Laca – Pepe, Auba
I would have Ozil, Martinelli and Saka on the bench but I can totally see Freddie starting Saka and Martinelli.
If Bellerin, Holding and Luiz are not available, then play:
Leno – AMN, Holding, Sok, Tierney – Douzi, Chambers, Willock – Laca – Pepe, Auba
Remove holding from last sentence…as he should be fit
Nice post, it’s great to be feeling enthusiastic and excited about our team playing a game of football again. It as if our season starts today…
I’m not expecting miracles, but players being played in their best positions would be fantastic.
Tierney getting up the wing and putting over some crosses.
Pepe being let off the leash.
Not worrying unnecessarily over the opposition, let them worry about us.
Hearing the away fans singing ‘We love you Freddie’ and ‘We’ve got a big friendly German’.
And if we concede, just dealing with it and not folding.
Terrific pre-match Peaches – sums up how the vast majority of us must be feeling today.
I don’t think we can heap too much expectation on Freddie’s (relatively) callow shoulders.
But we most certainly needed to do something and hopefully a combo of the “new boss bounce” and a more direct attacking outlook will reap some pretty rapid rewards.
Release El Handbrake Freddie!
Hopefully “handbromsen” is not in Freddie’s Lexicon.
Great work peaches thank you.
If the players are half as excited as I am there will be a rout at Norwich … to quote Delia … “Come on, let’s be ‘avin ya!”
Only bottom three sides Norwich (3) and Watford (4) have scored fewer away goals than Arsenal in the Premier League this season (5). The Gunners are without a goal in their last 212 minutes of football away from home, mustering just five shots on target in that run. 80% of these goals were scored by Auba.
Let’s see which team he puts out but for me, I d be happy to see Luiz in the team whether at CB or DM.
Leno, Chambers, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac. Xhaka. Guendouzi, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang …
Leno
Chambers Mustafi Luiz Kolasinac
Xhaka Guendouzi Willock
Ozil
Lacazette Aubameyang
Oooooh snap Rasp 🙂
Blimey RC – those stats are embarrassing.
Recall for Mustafi… that’s going to be popular.
But before everyone starts slagging him off, his performances in the Europa League this season have been somewhere between solid and very good.
Ljungberg sets his team in a 4312 for his first outing and brings Mustafi, Kola and Xhaka back to the team while trusting Willock to be his box to box.
Leno – Chambers, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac – Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock – Ozil – Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Pepe on the bench together with Tierney, Sok, Torreira, Martinelli and Saka.
So he is brining experienced players and a bit more agression in the team.
Another manager bites the dust – Flores….
Ooh RC… I’m nervous now 🙈
My biggest annoyance with the team is Xhaka, not because of how bad he is but because of his lack of respect of the fans and the club…
Clearly FL trusts Willock and clearly he has a bit of doubts on Sok, Torreira and maybe a bit on Pepe or maybe he wants to give more time to Pepe
RC
It’s a new beginning, time to forgive and forget… let’s see what we get out of Xhaka in the new set-up.
I’m also not buying into all this “disrespecting the fans” stuff. They had been getting on his back for weeks and cheering every time he got subbed off. I don’t blame him for giving some back – it shows he’s got some fighting spirit (which a few of the others could do with).
I agree, time to get behind the 11 on the pitch. The game hasn’t started, we should not be doubting Freddie’s decisions before he’s had a chance to prove his point. Mustafi has been ok so far. I wrote a post a few months ago where the stats showed that based on stats he is one of our best defenders. I was very pleased with the way the home fans applauded Xhaka when he came off in the EL.
Intrigued by the line up, the beeb have listed Willock as left wing, and Guendouzzi on the right with Xhaka in middle and Ozil behind the two.
I can’t honestly pick it could it be 4-3-3, with Guen and Xhaka a 2 and Willock box you box, or will he go Ozil left Willock right, Guen and Xhaka central in an Arsene style 4-4-2, maybe he sees Ozil as Bobby and Willock as himself? Auba is Thierry and Laca is Wilford?
But the defence interests me more, quite a solid defensive back 4 but in Luiz and Mustafi probably the best two passers, and Kola and Chambers the best workers? If we have width in front of them if he lines up as a 4 above then maybe we don’t need them to be bombing on all day to create width, both able to shift round to defend if the other one goes?
Also think appointment of BFZ as interim coach is a smart move.
I love it…skysports are missing the formation…
they are saying 433 or 4231 but it is a clear 4312 (not a 442 diamond either) with basically Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock on the same line in the middle and Douzi and WIllock will be asked to be active both defensively and offensively (Xhaka to remain in the back) and to carry the ball out, offer solutions on their side of the pitch and to cover when the FBs come forward. Ozil will be the maestro and he will play basically between Norwich’s defensive mid and defense. Ozil will play off Laca whereas Auba will be asked to play between the LB and LCB wherease Laca will be asked to cover a wider area from RB, RCB and DM. He will drop more often. Hope it works out 🙂
It s a bit set up like Mourinho’s Porto, Inter, and Chelsea (early time at Chelsea time) where he had some industrious players in midfield that were to allow for a Playmaker (Deco, Sneijder, Cole) to shine ahead of them. He also had 2 strikers up front, one that is more comfortable taking the space in front of him (McCarthy, Etoo, Robben) and one that is more able to play with his back to goal and do link up plays (Derlei, Milito, Drogba).
So basically, it would be like that:
Cech – Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho, Bridge – Essien, Makelele, Lampard – Cole – Drogba, Robben
Leno- Chambers, Mustafi, Luiz, Kola – Douzi, Xhaka, Willock – Ozil – Laca, Auba
Skysports put the 4312 system now and were playing vs a 4231 formation.
Look at the inclusion of formerly German-based players (except Sok) in the squad: Leno – Mustafi, Kola – Xhaka, Ozil – Auba. BFG influence?
I think Freddie went for a “rough team” as well. Except may be Chambers and Ozil – the rest of the players are quite known for their strong personalities on the pitch, good attitude.
I am 100% with the team, even with Xhaka in it 🙂
How heartbreaking to hear the news of Benik Afobe’s daughter passing away….. RIP
I know Sue…I was so sad too hearing about his daughter
I’m sure this is rose tinted spectacles, wishful thinking etc… but we look better already!
Auba playing on the right side
Well well well…thank you VAR
Why couldn’t Auba have hit it like that first time round?
Can someone explain the encroaching rule
Team is showing more spirit and intent
Ozil looks slightly lost and Willock is yet to hit second gear. The rest of the team is doing fine.
Well, I WAS enjoying that……. 😩
Chambers refuses to cross and one pass takes out five Arsenal players.
Same old mistakes when we lose the ball…no one is covering the box edge…every body just goes inside the box…basic stuff. Chambers, Mustafi n the box – OK ; then either Xhaka or Willock have to cover the edge of the box but nobody does…
Norwich scored on their two opportunities, they were totally dominated in the first half. Shame to go one goal down
On the plus side we’ve reduced the number of attempts on goal by our opponents in this game (just three in the first half).
On the negative side they’ve scored from two of them 😢
Spot on RC – that wasn’t the first time we allowed late-arriving midfielders to receive the ball around the edge of our box unchallenged.
I’d like to see more from Willock. He looks lightweight in this game.
I think that the team did OK but we concede two goals…damn it, out of nothing on top of that!
Willock is invisible so far. If I were Freddie, I wouldn’t hesitate to take him out and to bring in Tierney (move Kola to the middle) or Torreira.
Let s c but certainly it was a good half of football to watch and the team played with more intent so that was cool
Nothing wrong with the energy levels. Some players still taking too many touches. Ozil and Willock underperforming. Their first goal was a big deflection. Our defenders backing off from 40 yards out has been a problem for ages. Big test of character now.
I will confidently predict we’re going to win this one.
We’re playing much the better football.
Just need our MFs to be more mindful when the Canaries break.
Aubang and Laca still too far apart.Neither should be playing nondescript balls on the sidelines.
Return to the shape of the first fifteen minutes. That was opening up the midfield. Press from front through midfield. Make them play long balls to one forward and man mark, with one off,that one man.
2-3 final score. COYG.
Agree with the last 3 comments 🙂
The women won 11-1!!!!
The start was much better, because we actually passed forward to me it was notable that first look was forward and invariably the pass was played, led to us looking more threatening, Norwich have gone with packing defence and playing on counter and it has paid off. But a couple of nearly moments to come off and we’d be up. And in fact if Willock has played one more pass (Auba was in space at far post) or Laca had his shooting boots on (both from same opportunity) we would have been 1-0 up.
Fred encroachment, defenders or attackers have to be ten yards away from ball on penalty and not in box when penalty taken. (the D is the ten yard line…never understood why the ten yards applies to attackers and defenders as on a free kick it is just defenders obviously). Krul has also moved off his line (although VAR in PL does not rule on keepers weirdly.)
I also don’t like PEAs run ups for penalties.
As RC78 pointed out definitely a “rough” line up with a bit more physicality on pitch, think McLean was lucky to stay on as studs up and over the ball, think he was lucky his other foot wasn’t off the floor.
Agree with Rasp.
But what do you expect with Xhaka, Luiz, and Mustafi in the same area? Damage is what it is known as.
I see that most of the ball movement is 2 touches so that is a positive.
Do not like Kola on pitch with the above mentioned.
Will see if Freddie can change it up with 3 subs..
Freddie asked the so called experienced players to prove us wrong. I would like to Martinelli on now and tell him to play off the last defender. I would take off Laca to start with.
I was please to see Willock in the starting line-up but he’s just not at the races today.
I’d be inclined to bring on Terrier for him.
Message to our defenders … WAKE UP!!!!!
We are so poor at defending the edge of our box.
… and Martinelli for Ozil
Good job Leno’s awake!
Willock was very good against Frankfurt, but today he seemed flimsy.
He needs to spend some time in the gym lifting weights.
Suddenly we’re leaving massive gaps for them to run through.
Two fullbacks with no ability to push forward or pass forward, means no width and passes back.
Perhaps Freddie sees it, Pepe and Saka….but Martinelli will cause more trouble.
I’m afraid Mustafi hasn’t grabbed his chance IMO, he keeps switching off, questioning the refs decisions and losing focus
Question
How many touches in the box would a heat mat show Aubang has had this half? Wasted wide.
Sorry Chambers and Kola must not play fullbacks again in a Freddie team.
Good job we put on a forward to spend the next ten minutes in our third!
Plenty to work on for the training ground after that.
Typical Arsenal us the only side that can’t get a new manager bounce
It’s better than a dead cat bounce, Fred.
2-2…Better performance dented by the usual poor defending. Shame. I enjoyed watching the team though – so that is a start.
Leno – 8
Chambers – 5
Mustafi – 6
Luiz – 6
Kola – 6
Willock – 4
Xhaka – 6
Douzi – 6
Ozil – 5
Auba – 8
Laca – 7
Torreira – 7
Saka – 6
Martinelli – N/A
Freddie – 7
I think Willock and Ozil were the disappointing ones today and then maybe Chambers
What did Lacazette do that was more effective than Ozil?
Ozil plays with two players in front of him both of which have poor close control, Lacazette being worse than Auba, great finishers but no where near the quality that Ozil needs to effectively link with.
I suppose that is where the song comes from.
I just don’t think you understand……………..
Ball watching disease, runners with the ball at us for days, and soft millionaro’s.
Bench all the walkers, pick two in the center who can actually defend, pick a dm who stays put. No mustafi, luiz, xhaka, chambers, kola, ozil on field at same time. That is a recipe for coughing up goals..sheesh bring on the entire under 23’s for goodness sakes. I jest.
Laca harassed a lot more
Chambers, Mustafi, Willock – that was our weak axis defensively
Kola, Luiz, Douzi – was ok
Xhaka did not do particularly well but he did not do anything too wrong either
Auba on the right worked well in the beginning but he scored his goal when he was closer to the center so…
Maybe Bellerin, Holding and Torreira will take over from Chambers, Mustafi, Willock and maybe Pepe will be given a run ahead of Ozil in the next game…let us see
We got all the crucial decisions today. The retaken penalty; not all refs would have given that, there were two balls on the pitch when we scored our second and Kola was lucky not to get a red for that business with the thug McLain near the end.
No complaints from me though but I was disappointed not to see Delia at the game.
First game under Freddie… pleased to say I didn’t turn over or flake out. Yes, there’s room for improvement… but look at us on the road before… we could easily have lost! I quite enjoyed it and haven’t said that in ages!
Yes Norwich are near the bottom, but City went there and lost…
I saw an improvement and believe we’ll get better and better… Don’t really want to moan about anyone. Leno was really good….
Onwards and upwards… 👊
Hahaha, SR… she’s probably too busy swigging from that bottle 😄
Yep, that song certainly is apt.
Grealish has scored against the Mancs 👊
Sue, I used to have a thing about Delia way, way back in the day. Used to imagine her cooking breakfast for me.
Breakfast hey, SR 😉
And so Freddie, having assuaged my considerable disappointment with a dog walk in the rain……I’m sure you see the depth of the task ahead of you!
Those “experienced players” are either cart horses – Kola, Mustafi, Xhaka, Luiz with no discipline positionally or otherwise. Are being played out of position- Chambers, Torreira. Are short on confidence support and touch – Laca, Ozil. Or are not “experienced” and are being asked to do the job of the rest – Ouzi, Willock.
That leaves Leno, thank God for him, and Aubang who is scoring goals, but played centrally could have many more. Wasted out wide, poor first touch often with back to defender.
Piece of cake then, sir. But seriously start with the youth and teach them well.
As commented here, much to do on the training pitch
Oh wonderful, Leicester are losing… 😩😩
LBG
I honestly think you’re being a bit harsh on some of the players.
Freddie had less than two days to make any impact and I thought there were some definite signs of improvement in our attacking play.
The defending still needs a lot of work – particularly (today) with failing to track their runners from midfield. Hopefully the BFG can make a difference there.
I’m prepared to give the new regime time to make some adjustments before I write off any of our players just yet.
One big difference with the UE regime – we had more attempts on goal than our opponents (only just more – 16 versus 15, but it’s better than the huge deficits we were showing under Emery).
I wonder what has happened to Rob Holding? He was really looking the part before his injury, but has struggled to regain that form since returning.
Rocky
I make no criticism whatsoever of Freddie, and it is clear he instilled some bounce in the team he selected particularly with regards to shape and pressing ( which by the way is why we looked dangerous for first 20mins). But it was oh so easy for the dynamic forward passing to be exchanged for side, side, back, back with goals against and then with shape and tracking gone in second half, how were the players I’ve criticised different/better than the last eight games ( nay the last season)?
Today’s biggest positive : I stayed awake for the last 30 minutes.
Norwich looked fitter than us today especially in the last 20 minutes, now there was nothing. Freddie could do to change that in two days. But again we could be a while getting to the levels required.
As well as the video sessions being mentioned by the Evening Standard there was also something about moving a gym closer to the pitch, well football fitness is short explosive anaerobic, it’s not aligned with running on a treadmill for an hour or sitting watching video for an hour.
Hopefully more time training with a ball at feet may actually lead to a fitter team.
On the performance well MotM Leno.
I agree with LB on Ozil playing into open spaces both Laca and PEA would benefit him, but in tight spaces where he needs players able to play one twos etc they do not offer him much Laca is probably the better of the two with back to goal which is why PEA starts wider. And he scores goals from out there too. I’m not sure we have many that can play with Ozil from behind him or in front of him if the opposition are going to sit back. That said it only takes a second for him to open up the opposition with a clever pass, unfortunately the final ball was lacking when he did that today.
All the defenders seemed to back off runners today, there are times when you back off but we don’t seem to ever want to attack the ball.
Leicester 😝😝 Get in there!!! That was tense…
GiE
Aubang scored from a penalty and a corner, WHEN HE WAS STARTING IN THE BOX. He is not scoring from wide.
PS either pink doesn’t do Iwobi justice or he has put on a few pounds since moving to Everton? He looked so out of place to everyone else on the pitch physically.
Luis Boa Morte and Kolo Toure helping out at Everton and Leicester respectively, how may other ex Arsenal players are in coaching roles at PL clubs?
In other news –
Arsenal recorded the biggest victory in Women’s Super League history with an amazing 11-1 thrashing of Bristol City.
The result, which took Arsenal top, passes the previous biggest WSL score of 9-0 when Liverpool beat Doncaster Belles in the top flight in 2013.
Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema scored six and made a further four in a remarkable individual performance.
Can’t argue with Leno as our MoTM
That’s today LBG I mean he has scored plenty of goals starting from wide in his career with us. From wide areas he should be able to be set away on runs into danger areas difficult to track between full back and centre back.
There is one simple reason he doesn’t get a start through the middle consistently, he doesn’t play well back to goal, and he is not very good aerially against centre backs coming through him.
Lbg just curious if aubameyang plays Middle were would lacazette play
Fred
They would BOTH play middle. Like Greaves and Gizean, Radford and Kennedy, Shearer and Sherringham, Rush and Dalgleish. And they would score more goals!!!
We shouldn’t judge Freddie after 1 training session and 1 game. It will be interesting to see what he has learned from today’s performance and what changes he will make for Thursday.
I can see that his options in the back line and midfield are limited. I’d be very surprised if our next acquisitions (whenever that may be) are not midfielders and defenders.
See, I told ya it wasn’t good to get too excited ☹️☹️☹️
Anyone want to write something about the game and or some player ratings for a post tomorrow?
GiE
Thought you might say that. Go back this season and work out last goal he scored from wide. I think it was against Manure.
I dont want him or Laca to play with their backs to defenders, which neither are good at. I want them to run the channels and play on the last central defenders……
and to be put through with dynamic forward passing from the Ozils and Ouzis of this world.
VARDY STYLE.
What I find shocking is the number of times our midfielders receive a pass with their backs to the opponents goal and inevitably just pass it backwards … surely they should receive the ball on the half turn, and their spacial awareness should mean that they already know where they want to move the ball on to before they receive it.
Rasp
Regretfully applies to almost all the squad.
LBG, I remember an interview with Raheem Sterling a while after Guardiola had taken over at City and he said that PG immediately identified that he had to work on receiving the ball on the half turn, and how that transformed his play and helped make him into the player he is today. We are still too slow to get the ball forward and taking too many touches passing from the midfield. Many times today the pass was delayed and then telegraphed so the player receiving the ball often had no choice but to pass backwards.
Rasp
That particular skill separates absolutely Liverpool and Man City players from most other teams in the Premier League and it is why City can play out fro back when required.
Rasp and LBG
Reading your comments about receiving the ball on the half turn immediately conjures images in my head of past MFs we’ve had who were expert at that:
Cesc and Santi, obviously. But also Jack, Rosicky, Vieira, Petit, Edu…
Of course it only works if the pass is fast enough and the defenders haven’t got time to anticipate it and be right on the receiving player.
Rocky
Dynamic forward passing!
Let’s do it!
Rasp it always has separated players, and to be honest not many can do it. Wilshere was always good at it, as was Cesc, and DB10.
Sometimes players are better with ball in front of them, what we really have to ask is why the next option is always so far back, ie ball goes to midfielder, too often his only option is back, even if receiving on half turn he nearly always has to find a pass forward rather than square to a wide player facing the opponents goal. It’s hard to explain what I mean without diagrams.
And when I say it is a skill that some players just have I can evidence that from watching G’s under 7s on Saturday, most were 6 in August, one player couldn’t start season with us as he was only 5, he is now 6 so can play but is pretty much a year younger than everyone else on the pitch. He is the only player that when receiving the ball opens his body and moves towards space, and plays with his head up, a joy to watch and according to his Dad he has just always done it from young.
LBG I understand what you are saying about not wanting them to play with back to defenders, but unfortunately it is a task all centre forwards have to master…..I think however we should agree to disagree…Vardy is a very different type of centre forward he is a willing channel runner but can also play back to goal and spin, and finally makes very clever runs, just watching him for 15 minutes of Leicester Everton he got in to many great positions but all in a different way helping Leicester apply pressure, his first goal being a case in point if you watch his run. However much we hate it we have to look at most teams we face a very solid centre and they want us to push the hall wide, having both PEA and Laca central will invariably mean balls are wide of goal, that the defence is often on the 18 yard box means the pass has to have perfect weight and precision to give them a scoring opportunity. Otherwise the balm is being pushed forward but away from goal and they are forced to cut the ball back. That is where a goal scorer from wide positions comes into play, they can arrive late on to these crosses/cutbacks they can have the ball in front of them while they are running towards goal. Also the centre forward is able to pull centre backs out of danger areas and create space for the other. But also act as a final pass man if he can play with back to goal, Lacazette has that ability more than PEA. You can’t have one trick ponies playing centre forward.
Agree with Rasp we can’t judge Freddie on today’s performance we can look at his team selection and to keep it looked much better going forward and although we conceded some shots on goal it was nowhere near as bad as previous and for the majority of the first half we tried to go forward although I do agree with Raso as I say above that sometimes the player receiving the ball was not always best placed to do the next one. And on that ask yourself the question about Ozil, how often does he receive a balll back to goal? Problem though is he gets criticised for losing possession when in fact he is one of the few trying to move the hall forward in that way.
For me it was interesting looking at closeups of him when something didn’t go as intended, some view it as disinterest or not caring, admittedly he doesn’t hold his hand up sn apologise like some do, but I wonder if it isn’t his own disappointment or working out how he could have done it better. An Ozil playing well with the right movement around him is a joy to behold but we really can’t expect him to do it all on his own, that is a heavy burden to carry and no other top team apart from maybe United and Pogbs look to one player to be able to change games for them as much as we do Ozil.
Very interesting GiE, Martin Keown often complains that the gap between the defence and the midfield is too large and that the defence should push up more than they do.
Apparently Freddie’s options for team selection were in reduced by illness yesterday. Neither of his first choice and wingbacks were available. Chambers was struggling to deal with the pace of the knowledge strikers, and in general, a defenders went tight enough I did allow their attacking players to turn when they receive the ball.
GiE
Good to discuss. Agree to differ. Sure! But I wont give up!
The Liverpool forward line do not play with their backs to goal. The best striker of the last five years in the Premier League, Aguero, does not play with his back to goal! They are either fed through the channels by De Bruyne or through wider channels (admittedly in case of Liverpool) by fullbacks and even centre backs.
If you have a hold up skill with back to defender like Kane ( or occasionally our once oil tanker, now Chelski) all well and good, but our strikers do not and will not develop that skill ( the occasional flick is not consistent enough!).Get them facing forward and running ( without being offside repeatedly) into the channels.
And of course that brings me to Ozil who should be one of those centrally at 8 or 10 feeding the goats. Instead he drops deep, or plays wide left, and looks in disbelief at the lack of goats in dangerous forward positions to feed. It was no coincidence that Ronaldo, another reasonable player who does not play with his back to goal but admittedly often starts wide, bemoaned only one player lost to Real Madrid, Mesut Ozil.
Rasp
Of course, that was the truth yesterday. Tierney got a tweek in warm up, and presumably Holding and Mavrapanos are not fit to play. Chambers is NOT a right back. Torreira is completely befuddled with how coaches want him to play and not surprisingly ( and disgracefully on the part of his treatment by the Club) wants to leave. Where is Dani, someone who takes the ball side on and moves forward.
Most of this is not Freddie, at the moment. I hope he makes changes to the whole structure tactically and more importantly, for me, does some significant coppicing.
Morning LBG, I was impressed with what Freddie had to say after the game in terms of identifying and addressing the ‘obvious’ areas that need work.
In some ways a barnstorming 3 nil win would have been counterproductive. We clearly have serious problems in the defence and midfield. It will take a minor miracle, but Freddie has to find a way of forming a team out of this disparate bunch of defenders and midfielders.
Peaches / Rasp – sent you a post in case you didn’t receive one yet.
On another note, here is a list of players to consider at X-mas for transfers:
– Koulibaly, Tarkowsky
– Meunier, De Sciglio
– Allan, Doucoure
– Grealish, Can
– Mitrovic, Chiesa, Mertens
Morning all
We have a New Post …………
Concerning the gap between defense and mid – Keown is right but our defenders are not the paciest neither are our mids so the best option is to actually, ask
– one Mid to always stay back;
– to our forwards to make sure they block the wings;
– to our CMs to make fouls higher up the pitch
Basically, it s less a pb of playing too low or too high, it s about how we stay compact as a team when we lose the ball.
When Chambers lost the ball, there was a boulevard in front of Norwich to get all the way to our box
What a dead cat bounce