In Cesc We Trust

October 24, 2010

We could banter all day about the merits of Man City and the financial imbalance between MC and the rest of the PL (ex. Chelsea), but three points are still to be settled today and they are to be fought over by two fine squads of players. However one player stands head and shoulders above the others and that is Cesc Fabregas.

Admittedly Tevez is a fine player and City’s recent results have relied heavily upon his non-stop energy and fine finishing, but Cesc is THE man, not only on this field but on any PL pitch.

We have had some sterling performances in his absence, we have seen Nasri realise the promise AW saw in him, Jack Wilshire excite the whole of the British media, Chamakh start his Arsenal career with a flurry of goals, but since Cesc’s injury we have struggled to maintain our fine start to the season. We have lost unecessary points  thanks to sloppy play, points that I believe we would have won with a fit Cesc.

Last season we slumped to an ugly defeat 4-2 at City, quite frankly we were humiliated by a side who were in the process of rebuilding and then there was that Adebayor goal. Today I hope for better from us, I do not expect us to win easily but based upon the Chelsea performance and adding in the Cesc factor, we can get a result. Losing Wilshere is a blow though Rosicky has been improving and deserves a start.

Will Wenger try to fight fire with fire and pack the midfield as Mancini does, thereby leaving Chamakh as a sole striker, or will he start with Theo on the right and try to out attack them? My preference would be to throw caution to the wind and go at City, starting Walcott because MC have problems at Left Back (they have only Bridge,  Lescott and Bridge to choose from., over €45m of LB !!!). No Kolo is to our advantage, and I hope Mancini chooses to play Ade over Silva who looks a fine player.

My team would be:

Fabianski

Eboue Squillacci  Djourou  Clichy

Cesc Nasri  Song  Rosicky

Walcott Chamakh

Attacking I know, but why not, we are never going to outmuscle a City team that is based upon power, so let’s play to our strengths.

Manchester has been a centre of industry for hundreds of years and was the focus of the German air attacks outside London. Over Xmas in 1940 475 tonnes of explosives and 37,000 incendiary devices were dropped on Manchester by German bombers causing enormous damage and loss of life. In contrast, the first Gay Supermarket in England was opened in Manchester’s Canal St.

Can we win? Yes. Will we win? Why not.

COYRRG

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Posted by Erik the Red

Why we failed to win the Premiership last season ……. Where is our Tone?

October 21, 2010

Written by MickyDidIt89

Having professed to know the reasons why we have failed to land any trophies for the last 5 years in a rash comment on Arsenal Arsenal recently, I was challenged to put my keyboard where my mouth is and write a post to justify this claim! So here goes ……

Seasons come and seasons go, and always the same old criticism – no plan B, outmuscled and always trying to walk it into the net.  Let’s look at last season’s league campaign. We were twelve points from the title. We drew six games. So, if you concede one fewer goal in each of these, you are Champions. Or alternatively, score one more in each; same story. Just six goals to score or avoid conceding.

Now this is very simplistic, I know, but it does highlight two things. The fine line between success and failure, and the importance of goals is the other. Strangely, all too often, the focus is on elements of the game that are too far removed from the ultimate and basic objective of goal scoring/defending.

The essence of my piece  is that we are not as far away as some would have us believe. Have we strengthened the defence? I believe so. Have we strengthened the attack? No, not yet. Why not yet, because last season we had Bendy around for some of the time when RVP was injured. This term, both are injured and Chamakh is playing. So effectively, same numbers. Had RVP been fit all season, and Chamakh  on board, we would have been very close indeed. We have not won anything since we last had a consistently fit striker.

At the other end of the pitch, we all know about the goalkeeper issues. However, one all too often overlooked aspect to the winning team is the on-field leader. It was pointed out recently that when Arsene describes coming Third as a Trophy, he is instilling a losing’s-ok mentality. I have always found in life that peer pressure, values and expectations are the driving forces that really get under my skin. Would drawing any game have been acceptable with Tony Adams? Would you have wanted to be in the dressing room with Tone after the WBA game? How about in there with Almunia or Cesc as Captain? Thought so.

My two solutions are thus. One, find a Captain. I am hoping that Verm will be the man, and two, sort out the injuries. Are we overtraining? What’s with the medical team? RVP being sent for placenta treatment. Give me strength!

It is not a compilcated game. I can’t speak for my fellow bloggers, but I get sick of the constant “Arsenal have no Plan B” bollocks constantly levelled at us by commentators. I take criticism very badly (apart from when its about my spelling, when I totally ignore it), and when people criticize The Arsenal, then its personal.

Can I give you my version of Plan B. We do not have one, and we do not need one. Nice, crisp and clear. The reason we only need one plan is that we do not play to lose and we do not play to draw. Therefore, you put eleven men on the pitch, using roughly similar patterns. Then you have a few spare players who sit next to the pitch on expensive faux leather seats. Finally, you have a Leader who wears a tailor made suit of sober design with a shirt and tie.

It is my belief that had Verm, Cesc, Theo and RVP all been on the pitch against Chelsea, or sitting in the expensive faux leather seats, then we would have beaten those tall, heavy, overpaid chavs.

I can only think of one tiny flaw, and I am reminded of the words of Mr Ron Atkinson. He had just taken over at Sheffield Wednesday (I think) and it was the eve of an important local derby, when he supposedly said that he missed the “good old days, before all this tactics bullshit, when we turned up on Saturday, had some lunch, played football, had some beers, then went home”. Sadly for my theory, Big Ron’s team lost. He got fired.

If there is anything of any value whatsoever in what I am saying, it is this. I believe we are very close to domination, and we will do it The Arsenal way. Our way.

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Donetsk Forget To Mind The Gap In London As We Celebrate 6 Goals

October 20, 2010

“I don’t think I will celebrate,”  Eduardo.

True to his word, everyone’s favourite Crozilian didn’t even acknowledge his consolation strike, but how we celebrated. You guys behind the goal, I saw you, jumping up and down like it was an Arsenal goal, and the Nicklas Bendtner look-alike in the crowd I saw you too, holding that number 9 shirt proudly aloft, and we all heard the announcer acclaim the goal as if it had been scored a year ago. The standing ovation afterwards was just proper order for a player who didn’t get a real send-off, he has now. Yes, us being 5-0 up at the time helped the mood a lot, but be honest, how many shouted “yes” and punched the air when he scored? We all want the clean sheets but exceptions must be made, and this was one of those times. Its almost like a weight off our shoulders that we gave Dudu his dues.

Eduardo aside, last night’s game was very comfortable. The Ukrainian visitors should know that when you come to London you must mind the gap, not alone on the underground but those around the Emirates pitch. Give us enough gaps and we will punish you.

Donetsk are a far better side than what they showed last night. In the second half we saw they could pass the ball and press a lot better than what they did. Its almost as if they had decided before the game that they would lose here, give us the group, try and get something from us in Ukraine and go for second which they should get based on the evidence so far. Not a great plan and honestly a much harder match might have suited us with Manchester City coming up on Sunday. Not that we should have been ran into the ground, but it was almost a five-a-side training session at times and we rarely had to move out of second gear.

Apart from Eddie, the other opposition player to bring a smile to our face last night was Pyatov – what a shocking ‘keeper he is! His missed catch for Song’s goal even had van der Saar laughing, while my eyes may have deceived me, I thought I spied our Moroccan making a cup of tea after checking was he onside for our fifth.

It was good to see Fabregas and Walcott get a run out. Cesc’s touch was a bit off at times but that’s to be expected after his lay-off, hopefully it will be better by Sunday. It was also interesting to see Wenger play Walcott in the middle when he came on. He didn’t have much time, but on one occasion near the end in particular we saw how his speed has the potential to wreck havoc in the opposition defence.

We now have 9 points from 3 games, with 14 goals scored and only 2 against. A draw away in the next match should see us top the group and after that Wenger can bring out the kids and rest some key players.

Player Ratings:

Fabianski (7) – Didn’t have a whole load to do but made an excellent save at the start of the second half to keep the score at 2-0. Looks more solid in recent weeks.

Eboue (7) – Not too much defending to do, and concentrated on attack. Linked up well at times, but was wasteful on occasion.

Squillaci (7) – Again didn’t have much to do, but should have got out quicker to Eduardo to stop his shot.

Djourou (7) – Made a fine last ditch tackle in the second half and won us a penalty. Will be back on the bench once Vermaelen and possibly Koscielny return.

Clichy (6) – Bombed forward when he could and wasn’t overly troubled by the opposition. I do still worry about his positioning at times.

Song (8) – I thought Song had a great game last night. He won ball around midfield, tidied up, linked well and scored a goal.

Wilshere (9) – Played a central role even though Cesc was back and in the first half completed more passes than the Captain. Great vision, great positioning and great finish.

Rosicky (8) – Started well and his name kept popping up. Involved in defence and attack.

Fabregas (7) – Not at his sharpest but for me he did a fair share of defensive work when it was needed. Well taken penalty.

Nasri (9) – Brilliant once again. Played some superb passes and scored a great goal.

Chamakh (9) – I thought he would be a good signing. WRONG! He has been a great signing. Tremendous work-rate, pressures from the front, excellent hold up play and a cool as you like finish.

Subs

Denilson did well when he came on. Made some strong challenges.

Arshavin was given a breather by Wenger and played little more than a cameo. Got involved in some good link up play.

Walcott didn’t get a whole load of time and the game was well won but hopefully we’ll see more of him down the middle in weeks to come.

(It would be remiss of me not to mention the “situation” at Old Trafford. First Tevez, then Ronaldo and now Rooney – smells of a selling club to me!)

Written by Irishgunner

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Posted by criochnaithe

Another step upon the road to European Glory.

October 19, 2010

First off, there is the possibilty that Cesc is fit, so is Theo and Nik. At last we have the opportunity to rotate the squad. Without diminishing the threat of Shakhtar, it is time to give certain players a rest before the real business of the PL at the weekend. Arshavin for one needs a break.

Tonight I would like to see Theo start on the right and Chamakh play centrally, with Chamakh getting a rest after 60 minutes, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nik start. Bendtner does well in European ties.

I expect Wilshere to start ahead of his 3 match ban, his form has been outstanding and Shakhtar will be stunned by our 18 y.o marvel. Should Cesc start we will play a very attacking midfield  though I expect him to be on the bench ahead of the important game at Man City. The defence picks itself with so many injuries, though perhaps Gibbs will be fit in which case I would expect him to start ahead of Clichy.

My team

Shakhtar bring our old friend Eduardo back to THOF and  he will get a hero’s welcome. Despite never reaching the heights expected of him on his return from injury, he gave all for the cause and left with dignity. I wish him well but not tonight.  Shakhtar have a decent record in the CL however we have a superb home record in the CL and I expect it to continue. That said, Shakhtar not having conceded a goal in the CL this season plus they have won 15 out of 17 in the Ukranian League. They are level on points with us and having won 3-0 in Braga are clearly no mugs, but we will surely beat them if we play to our potential.

This Arsenal team look great on European nights and appear to play better against foreign teams who play the passing game as opposed to the muscularity of the Premiership, though Shakhtar who play with two hard tackling midfielders are not afraid of the physical challenge.

It should be noted that Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup in 2009 and are a fine team.

Donetsk is Ukraine’s second city with a population of over a million. It was founded by a Welshman (John Hughes) in 1869 (no kidding!!). More Russians live in Donetsk than Ukranians and the city was  called Stalin until 1961. The Euro 2012 semi-final is due to be played in Shakhtar’s stadium. The most famous son of Donetsk is Sergei Bubka the brilliant pole vaulter who between the years 1984 -1994 broke his own world record 18 times! He remains the world record holder 16 years later.

Can we win?  Yes.   Will we win?  Yes

COYRRG

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Posted by Erik the Red

Mr Wenger. Earn your corn….

October 14, 2010

Given the choice of players in the Premier League there are few that I would swap for our boys when they are on form, and that is the point of this post …. when they are on form.

What is the difference between Arsenal and Man IOU? It is not the talent of the players, nor is it application, no, it is Consistency. Being brutally honest, MU are a pedestrian team with two fantastic forwards who when they are off-form cause the entire team to struggle, how would it be if the rest of the team played as patchily for a season? And yet that is what Mr Wenger has to put up with week in week out.

We have perhaps two consistent players – very few of our players perform at their top level week after week, Sometimes they are coming back from injury, other times they are carrying an existing injury, but nonetheless we struggle for a constant high level performance from anyone.

It wasn’t always thus. You knew when PV, TA, Keown , Dixon, Bould, Parlour, Nutty, Seaman, Gilberto etc took to the field what type of performance to expect, they without fail delivered .

Let’s take today’s team. Cesc and Vermaelen are certainly reliable performers, yet both are/have been  injured and thus give no consistent platform to the team, which any side with Champion pretensions needs. To win the PL a team has to have at least 6 players playing at the top of their game, they need to be reliable, the go-to players when the side is struggling. Which current players carry that responsibility?

A couple of seasons ago we could look to the full backs to give regular dependable performances but even the stalwart Sagna has been poor on occasion, and as to Clichy – one never knows whether he will be brilliant or cost us a goal.

Arshavin is inconsistency incarnate. A wonderful player on his day, which is my exact point. I realise that flair players are less likely to be consistent but Arshavin is at the peak of his considerable powers and ought to be great every time he steps over the white line

Song would have been my most likely candidate to become a stand up guy, but this season he is all over the shop. One week solid and accurate, the next cannot find a red shirt. The same can be said for Diaby, a super talent who has yet to  put 3 decent performances together in a row. Rosicky is another who can flatter to deceive, he can play superb passes that offer others tap-ins. and then goes missing for 45 minutes

Theo? He had a fine start to the season and we can but hope. The form of our new centre backs has wavered – of the two; Squillaci appears to be the more reliable though to be fair they will take time to settle into the PL. The same can be said for Chamakh who has been good and sometimes very good.

There is no need to discuss the goalkeeping situation.

I have left the two consistent performers to last. Nasri and Wilshere. Both have given top notch performances every game they have played. To me Nasri has carried the inventiveness of the team in the absence of Cesc, his driving play in the dreadful team game versus WBA was testament to his desire to give of his best. He is going to be an integral player at THOF for many seasons. And as to JW. What is there to say that hasn’t been said already? What a prospect.

The difference between us and Chelsea or Man Utd is that they have players who consistently play well. Fletcher rarely has a bad game, nor do Vidic, Giggs, Ferdinand, Park, Scholes, Van de Saar, Carrick or Neville (of whom, IMO only Vidic & VdS would get in a top form AFC). With such a platform they can allow capricious performances from Nani, Rooney and Berbs. Chelsea have consistency throughout their side (and is probably why they got rid of Joe Cole) which is why they are Champions. Of course it is simplistic to suggest that the only differences between our sides is purely consistency, we have been subjected to an awful raft of injuries to highly important members of the team,  we do not compete at a financial level and on the whole we have been unlucky (I would like to see the stats of which team hits the woodwork the most). But sending out a dependable team is essential to our prospects and the old excuse of youthful inexperience is no longer valid.

So what does Mr. Wenger do about it? How does he make young but now experienced players play at the top of their game week after week? Well, he is the manager and gets paid handsomely to supply the answers; I on the other hand have no idea ….

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Posted by Erik the Red

Sick Note Cesc

October 8, 2010

Cesc Fàbregas is one of the best players in the world. But, looking at his appearance and injury stats, I’m beginning to doubt whether we can rely on him to be the heartbeat of our team.

With typical bad timing his latest injury has cleared up just in time for him to go away on international duty with Spain, but luckily this time, they have decided not to risk him.

So far this season Cesc has appeared in five of our 10 competitive fixtures – a ratio of exactly 50%.

Last season he played in 27 EPL games (71%), plus nine games in other competitions. The year before he turned out in the EPL 22 times (58%) and in all competitions 33 times.

Contrast that with his previous few seasons:

2007/8: Total appearances 45, including 32 (84%) in the EPL.

2006/7: Total appearances 54, including 38 (100%) in the EPL (yes, that’s right – every single EPL game, although four were as substitute).

2005/6: Total appearances 50, including 35 (92%) in the EPL.

2004/5: Total appearances 46, including 33 (87%) in the EPL.

It’s a worrying trend, showing our captain apparently becoming more injury prone as the years go by (and as opposition cloggers increasingly identify him as the main threat and kick lumps out of him).

We’re used to Robin van Perise having the label ‘Sick Note’ – but is that tag ready to be passed on to Fàbregas as well?

It’s automatic to think of RvP as a persistent absentee, but in the last two seasons his appearance record is not far behind Cesc’s (in the seasons 2008/9 and 2009/10 Cesc played in 64% of our EPL fixtures, Robin played in 58%. In the same period Cesc’s total appearances in all competitions were 69, Robin’s were 64).

What conclusions can we draw from this?

For me, a very blunt one: if Cesc is not fit to play the vast majority of our competitive fixtures this season (by which I mean at least 80%) then maybe it really is time to cash in and sell him to Barcelona next summer.

We won’t win anything when our two best players are each missing at least a third of the season every single year.

RockyLives

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Posted by RockyLives

Staring down the barrel ……. Are you feeling lucky Punk?

October 3, 2010

Why Oh Why can’t we ever have a fully fit first team when we play Chelsea? I am convinced that had we Cesc, Vermælen, Van Persie and Theo fully fit and firing on all cylinders we would win this fixture, without them there lies some doubt.

I believe that if the 4 missing players could each play 30+ games a season we would win the League. We have a brilliant first 11 (bar the GK!!) but  taking out our best defender, best forwards, and the best midfielder in the world is putting enormous pressure upon our capabilities of challenging Chelsea for the title. It would on any team.

Apart from the blip last weekend and that silly overtime goal at TSOL we have played very well this season. Fantastic, high scoring wins against admittedly moderate opposition should have given us great confidence going to the Bridge, but those two games have left a major doubt over the team, and Chelsea away is not the best place to go when confidence is not 100%.

Then there is the goalkeeping issue. I am guessing that Fabianski will play and I wish him (or Almunia) the very best of good fortune, however  ….. oh, I am so bored with this whole GK scandal. Let’s just use some of the shedloads of profits on a decent keeper in January and be done with it.

So where is the hope that we can get a result? It lies within the blessed feet of Arshavin and Nasri, and the combined strength of sinew and muscle of our defence. We all know the strengths of Chelsea’s attack, they have power and pace and have undone our defence too often for comfort. However, we have a shiny, new pair of CB’s who will be desperate to show they can be the equal of Drogba and Anelka (who in a just world would be wearing an Arsenal shirt).

Even without Cesc (and there remains hope he will play) our midfields cancel each other out. Missing Lampard, Chelsea look bereft of inspiration, relying on the lung bursting energy of Essien and the power of their forwards to create goal scoring opportunities. Whereas we have a wealth of creative players who are learning to stand up to the battle. I would start Wilshere who looks a special player; there are few creative MF’s who have his appetite for the physical side of football.

My main concern is Malouda.  He can win the game single handedly, and it will require vigilance from our midfielders to protect our full backs.  We have to defend as a team and not allow the vast open spaces that led to previous Chelsea goals, Song in particular will have to curb his attacking instincts.

My team (can I keep my 100% record?)

Fab

Sagna Squid Kos Clichy

Denilson Song Nasri JW

Cham  AA

Chelsea’s record of over 100 goals last season was phenomenal and a testament to their attacking resolve. They are a fantastic side and definitely the best PL team since the Invincibles. The work done by Ancelloti has been of the highest calibre – to take a succesful but dull, mechanical team and turn them into entertainers was superb. Let’s hope they are one season wonders!

To go to last season’s Double winners and leave with 3 points is a big ask, but We are The Arsenal and We are the Best ….

COYRRG.

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Posted by Erik the Red

Song’s Position In Question – written by RockyLives

September 30, 2010

What’s wrong with Alex Song?

Last year he was well on the way to becoming the Premier League’s best defensive midfielder. After some false starts he seemed finally to have perfected his game: pick up the ball from the centre backs; move it on quickly to the more progressive-minded midfielders; always be available to receive and pass when we need to keep the ball; break up the opposition’s attacks when we lose it. For a period last year he was doing that job brilliantly.

Now, suddenly, he’s playing a totally different game.

I lost count of the amount of times he was our most advanced attacking player on Tuesday night. And when he wasn’t furthest forward he was bursting into the opposition penalty area time and again to break up our best attacking moves.

It was as if his head was possessed by the ghost of Thierry Henry, his feet by the spirit of Willie Young. Perhaps the soul takeover happened at the same time he got his Norman Beaton haircut.

Imagine if Andrei Arshavin started a game in the left forward position, but spent most of the 90 minutes covering right back. That’s the equivalent of what Song was doing.

The question is why?

It can’t really have been down to sheer stupidity, because it’s a pattern we have seen in the last few games. If Arsene Wenger and Pat Rice disapproved they would surely have given him a good slap round the back of the Colney bike sheds by now.

Instead his forward movement was so pronounced in this game that he must have been instructed to play this way, which is really worrying. When you finally get a player to fulfil perfectly the role for which his footballing gifts suit him, why would you switch him out to do something he’s less skilled at?

Don’t get me wrong. I think Song is a great player. But he’s a great defensive midfielder, not a great attacking midfielder. He does not have the touch, control or eye for a quick killer pass that is essential for the position he was playing in on Tuesday night. That’s a job best done by the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky and Wilshere. Yet I would bet that on average across the game he was more advanced than either Wilshere or Rosicky. Hell, there were even times when Chamakh had dropped deep to pick up the ball and Song was our centre forward.

I know Denilson was playing a holding position which theoretically gave Song the freedom to roam, but if that’s the case there’s no need for Song at all – let’s have a more skilful midfielder in there instead. Against Belgrade Song was generally the reason our attacking moves broke down. His misplaced passes around the edge of the Belgrade box became too many to count and when he got inside the box his less-than-refined close control did the same.

He still managed to carry out his midfield defensive duties to some degree and I’m not going to criticise him for leaving holes because, on the night, Belgrade were offering very little in attack.

I’m more concerned with his cack-handed contribution to our attacking moves. We have the best attacking midfield options of any team in the Premiership – and Song is not one of them.

Come on Arsene, you must know the saying about square pegs and round holes. If you had a bottle of premier cru claret you wouldn’t put it in the fridge (unlike Owen Coyle http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1315023/Des-Kelly-Arsene-Wenger-needs-cup–glass-wine.html). So don’t put your best defensive holding player in the position that belongs to an attacking midfielder.

RockyLives

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Posted by RockyLives

Into the House of Darkness – WHL – written by BigRaddy

September 21, 2010

Let us start here. There is light and there is darkness, there is good and there is evil, there is N5 and then there is N17. N5 is blessed with parks, glorious architecture, fine restaurants, great bars and the finest football stadium in Britain; whereas N17 is a total toilet, the parks littered with dogshit,  litter and hoodlums, the architecture can only be described as urban wasteland, the restaurants vary from appalling to mediocre, the bars imbue such depression that suicide is an attractive alternative, and the football ground (it cannot be called a stadium) is a complete joke.

If you win the Lottery you may well choose to live in Highbury, if you have descended into a life of crack and crime, you probably live in Tottenham.

(N:B: The above is written in jest, but there is a little truth in there…..)

And the football teams reflect their surroundings. Arsenal have an urbane, intelligent manager, Spurs a semi-literate “wheeler-dealer” (Sky tm), Arsenal have a team who play with brio and flair, Spurs have Huddlestone and Crouch, Arsenal have a warehouse full of silverware, Spurs won the league in Black and White.

And so we come to the Carling Cup. When we drew the mugs from N17, I despaired because the Carling Cup is a meaningless trophy for us but any game against the forces of evil is big, and the potential of losing to them hurts, plus we know how Mr Wenger views the CC with his attitude towards playing only the youth and fringe players. The last time we played in the CC at the Lane, we left humiliated (though the 5-1 scoreline hardly reflected the game).

However this time could be different because somehow Spurs have found their way to the top table and have to prioritise just as we do. In other words we will find out by Harry’s team selection whether Spurs really are a Top 4 side or just pretenders who know they will get bounced out of the CL and finish outside the Top 4. Will Redknapp play any of his first team with West Ham away and Twente at home inside a week?

If not we could be in for a treat because we have such strength in our reserve and youth teams. Unfortunately the injuries to so many of our first team precludes AW from playing some of the second string (JW, Vela Kos/Squil,Denilson, Ramsey etc), but we are sure to see Gibbs and Djourou. Perhaps an outing for JET who is set to cause havoc.

The Young Men in the White Hats……

My team is made up from a process of elimination, with the plethora of injuries in the forward positions we will have to pack the midfield, plus many of our best youngsters are out on loan.

To me the games rests upon the team Harry plays, has he the courage to play a reserve team in front of an expectant full house at WHL? He knows that the record breaking win (as in they broke our undefeated record) set Tottenham up for their late run to the CL, and also how important a win is to his knuckle dragging acolytes –  Harry is nothing if not pragmatic. I expect Spurs will line up with some big players, Keane, Jenas, Palacios, Hudson, Krankjar, Dos Santos, Corluka and who knows maybe our mates David Bentley and William Gallas – all Full Internationals. They will not want to be beaten by kids

The final word must go to Bobby Smith who died on Saturday. I was raised in a Tottenham loving home, my father was Spurs and took me many times to WHL to watch the Double team of 60/61. In a side of hugely divergent talent from the silky skills of Blanchflower to the destructive aggression of Mackay one man stood out for me, his name was Bobby Smith. A proper centre forward , hard as nails, great in the air, a tremendous shot and no mean skill on the ground, a natural goalscorer.  Bobby Smith was my first hero , at this very moment I expect he will be scoring hatricks  on the Elysian Fields. Gone but not forgotten.

Can we win? Of course. Will we win? Unlikely

COYRRG

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Posted by Erik the Red

Wenger is asking too much of Wilshere – written by London

September 19, 2010

A moment’s lack of concentration after ninety four minutes and forty seconds in a game that was supposed to last ninety four minutes cost us two precious points.

Perhaps it is more accurate to say that not only was it the poor time keeping by referee Phil Dowd but also the stupidity of Alex Song and an atrocious penalty miss by Tomas Rosicky that combined to deny us two points which could end up making the difference between winning the league and coming second.

As tempting as it must have been to keep an unchanged side after the six nil mauling of Braga it became apparent very quickly that it was wrong. Sunderland were a different animal and it needed a different approach.

Wenger is asking too much of Wilshere, two full on games in the space of a week for an eighteen year old is asking for trouble.   Wilshere is not ready for that and it showed; he gave away possession no less than four times in the first fifteen minutes giving belief to Sunderland that their game plan of closing us down quickly would ultimately reap rewards.

The first half would have belonged to Sunderland if it wasn’t for a brilliant piece of quick thinking by Fàbregas to put us one up. Ninety nine times out of a hundred he would have angled his foot in exactly the right way to score what was, even by his high standards, a very impressive goal albeit one that sadly resulted in his injury and cost us his calming influence for the rest of the game.

A goal behind and Sunderland piled on the pressure being awarded what seemed like a never ending stream on corners which our impressive central paring of Squillaci and Koscielny dealt with professionally.

We just couldn’t seem to get a grip on the game; the half time whistle couldn’t come quick enough for me as I waited in the hope that Wenger would work his magic during the break.

Sunderland tried to continue their high tempo game in the same way as they left off but it became apparent ten minutes after the restart that it was going to be a tall order to maintain it for a full ninety.

Still, help was shortly on its way for the Black Cats in the form of Alex Song who decided to hand out loaded pistols to his many detractors and said, go ahead, shoot me. This weekend he deserves all the criticism that comes his way. Petulance for the first yellow, a schoolboy error, right next to the ref, for the second and off he went.

Finally, Denilson came on and we got to grips with the game, he should have started, his much maligned short passes, the ones that always find their man would have made this a completely different game; one in my estimation that we would have dominated completely from start to finish.

Sunderland were tiring and even with ten men we were running the show, Nasri and Chamakh were working their socks off to keep us in the game, the defence carried on their sterling work and just to tease us just that little bit more we were awarded a penalty after Nasri had his leg clipped, a happy weekend beckoned and I mean happy, then up stepped Little Mozart and hit the wrong note.

In fairness to Wilshere he did improve as the game went on but ultimately his inexperience showed when in extra, extra time he should have cleared, had he done so we would secured all three points and that long journey back from Sunderland for all the players would have been a win rather than what must have felt like a loss.

Written by London

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