Is Arsène Wenger able to find the right balance?

February 9, 2015

This comment, in response to yesterday’s post, was put on the blog late last night by GoonerB. As it was unlikely many would be around to discuss the points raised so I’ve lifted it to use as today’s post. ED

The ref on Saturday was awful but I really can’t go along with this being the main reason for losing the game.

The performance is actually hurting me more than the loss as I think it points to a far bigger issue. I can accept a 2-1 loss if we have been a bit unlucky but, I hate to say it, we were largely dominated and Spurs fully deserved the win. We literally did what we so often accuse other sides of doing and parked the bus. We looked a mid to lower table side against a top of the table team and that for me is hurting and is more embarrassing than the actual loss.

There have been so many mentions in the days running up to this game about how many Spurs players would get in the Arsenal side and I agreed with most that it was hardly any so we should have been the better side…. right? At the very least we should have been the better side that lost through bad luck and some dodgy refereeing calls….right? Wrong, we just looked utterly inferior, lost and bereft of ideas.

The worrying thing is that for me we have a worrying trend recently of, not just losing, but being outplayed by teams who on paper are inferior to us on a player by player comparison.

So if we had the far superior side and were still outplayed as easily as this what explains it? For me unfortunately the finger has to be pointed at the manager. He chooses the team, sets it up how he wants it and provides the tactical instructions. Almost from the moment we scored we started to lose the control of the game. The dynamics and balance were not right and it was there for all to see.

Why then was nothing changed between the goal at 11 minutes to the 67th minute? When the change came I am sorry to say that Cazorla for Rosicky seemed a like for like. It didn’t for me change the dynamics and balance in any way, and further didn’t suggest to me of any recognition of a need to do so.

I suppose this is why I have been cautious in becoming too optimistic on the back of our recent results. I had a bad feeling that another stinker was around the corner. I made a point on a couple of occasions last week that I was concerned that as we got more options coming back from injury that there was a possibility of not getting the right balance in the set-up. I believe this is what happened and I feel we also saw it earlier in the season.

I still think Arsene just wants to get what he considers all his most technical players out there regardless of anything else. I think I commented even as early as last season that AW always tries to get Ozil, Ramsey and Cazorla on the pitch at the same time but I feel it doesn’t work and it leaves us unbalanced and weakened particularly in the threat from wide and pace aspects.

This becomes more important when Giroud leads the line as, despite his attributes, he rarely gets the better of defenders in a straight foot race. Having another quick player close to him to work off and get past him would to me have been important. IMO it just invited them to play a high line and compress all the space in our end of the pitch so that they were more able to win it back in our half and we had no outlet to get the ball out and hold the possession while others joined in the transition from defence to attack.

They were also able to bring there FB,s into almost permanently supporting the attack and must have felt like Christmas had come early that we didn’t seem to be the slightest bit interested in utilising the space the FB’s were leaving behind them or the space behind the CD’s due to the high line.

Danny was our only pace player to start but is only just back from injury, so is likely still a bit short of his full pace and sharpness. Also, bar a couple of instances, he seemed to spend most of his time deeper and defending and did look rusty on the ball to me often losing possession.

We have seen this before when we sacrifice pace for too many midfield technical players who prefer to operate centrally. I may of course have this all wrong but it just seems such an obvious thing that we often don’t look good with this set-up and with a lack of width and pace. I just feel it looks an easy thing to correct and we have the players to do it but just overlook the obvious.

Maybe it is just me (and Micky I think) who sees it this way but unfortunately I do lay the blame fully at Arsene’s feet for this one. The players didn’t perform well for sure but we keep blaming individual players and talk about how the players let Arsene and the fans down.

Is it not possible that a huge amount of blame is due to an unbalanced set-up, that provides a poor platform for our (superior to the opposition) players to perform to their best from?

Discuss.

Written by GoonerB

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Can Plan B work?

February 8, 2015

Morning all,

Yes still feeling pain, as I am sure many Gooners are but many’s the time we learn from heartaches such as these, and can only put it down to a lesson learnt.

The strategy used yesterday, only dawned on me this morning. At first I felt that the Tottenham pressure was the reason we were hemmed in all game, but the penny dropped when I realised that Ospina very seldomly rolled the ball out to start our attack instead deciding to hoof the ball down the field which nearly always resulted in Tottenham possession and another wave straight back at us.

I have to say that in the past the slow build up from the throw out has always niggled me a bit as we seem to take an age to get out of our own half, but yesterday showed me that it takes time to get your forward players in the positions that can offer you chances, and the slow build up also gives possession time which also frustrates opponents.

Ospina would not have done that off of his own back, so I would assume that this was a tactic that Arsene had worked out prior to the start. I imagine Wenger would have realised that Tottenham at home would do the pressing so start cautiously and see how the game was going before we venture too far up.

Tottenham came unstuck as they pushed, just how we have in the past and at that time had worked in our favour, but after the goal we retreated to our own half and the constant pressure made sure the only rest bite we had was when Ospina cleared long.

Of course with this kind of tactic you have to mix and match, sometimes a slow build up will instil a little bit of composure but how the game panned out, pressure was constant and defending took over more than being adventurous.

We held out well but with no fear factor from us Tottenham were able to press high up and the result was self explanatory. On the day perhaps we could have mixed and matched a bit more but a 2.1 loss was better than some of the high scores from last season..

Written by Steve Palmer

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

“Oi, Arsenal East Stand. Yes, You Lot”

February 6, 2015

Ok, it’s Rant Friday, and as usual when I pause to think for a moment beneath the happy veneer of my Arsenal World, I seethe. I’m vexed and the blood boils. I can keep the upper lip stiff no longer, and come Rant Friday, I crack.

So let me kick the day off.

East Standers. You make me sick. You’re an embarrassment to yourselves and The Club. The reason I’m picking on you lot is that I watch nearly all games on the telly and the camera points East, so tough luck.

Two games this season I did bother to rock up to were Palace and Southampton. You lot bugger off on 42 mins, then bugger off again on 85. You annoy me when I’m there, and you make me sick when I watch on telly.

What the hell is so ‘effing important that you have to leave so early. Please, just one of you come out and tell me. I know Holloway Road stays closed for an hour after the game, and there’s a short wait outside Arsenal Tube, but it’s a pleasant twelve minute stroll to Finsbury Park you fat bastards. What’s more, when you get there, you also have the choice of the faster Victoria Line.  Jeepers.

And half time, what’s all that about. You can’t all have weak bladders, so I’m guessing it’s the delicious food and beer you’re after. Well, fill yourselves up with more fat and booze before the game why don’t you.

While I’m at it “Hey you skinhead over in Block 107, Row 2. Remember me from the Palace game, and the little chat we had”. No? Well, let me jog your memory. You looked a right tit leaving on 42 mins, and then rushing back to celebrate when we scored on 45. Then, you ‘effing tool, you did the same thing on 88 and guess what, we scored the winner on 90 and back you wobbled. Pathetic. What the ‘ucking hell is wrong with your sort?

Oh, and now my memory has been jogged, Southampton, and again I was in The East Stand. Cleared off is what many of you had done when Alexis pops up and scores the only goal on 90. You utter cretins had cleared off again. Unbelievable.

Anything any of you would like to get off your chest?

RANT AWAY

MickyDiIt89

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Posted by Rasp

The future looks bright, I’ve been gazing at my crystal balls.

February 4, 2015

A significant 5 -0 victory against Villa following our win at Man City, things are looking up.

That victory was our 5th straight win in all competitions dating back to New Years Day and in fact the defeat that day at Southampton is our only loss in eleven games since the beginning of December plus our collapse at Stoke. A sequence that includes nine wins and a draw.

This week we go to N17 (spit) which is always a tough one, NLD games are, but there is a history of goals and some high scoring games in recent years so I’m expecting a few goals but we will come out of it with the three points on current form I’m certain. Then we have Leicester at the Ems on the Tuesday and only QPR and Burnley have conceded more goals than them. So this could be another opportunity to improve our goal difference. An away trip to Palace in another London derby follows that which again is a game the boys should win given current form and it’s worth pointing out that we also then host Everton and then visit QPR in the next two  before welcoming the Hammers to the Emirates, so  overall we have a promising set of fixtures and we don’t leave the smoke during that period.

Spuds (a) Leicester (h) Palace (a) Everton (h) QPR (a) West Ham (h)

That takes us up to, and including the 14th March. The fixtures following are favorable as well, Newcastle (a) Liverpool (h) Burnley (a) Sunderland (h) which then brings us to Chelsea at the Emirates on the 25th April.  If the Chavs and City have both suffered a dip in form and dropped points, this could be a crunch game for second place, it could be……… couldn’t it?

Which then leaves us four games, Hull (a) Swansea (h) Man Utd (a) and finally, West Brom (h). We could have some changes of dates due to progressing in the FA Cup hopefully, but taking all those fixtures into consideration, I envisage us going on a good run of results for the last part of the season.

These are the difficult games our rivals have to play:

Liverpool have these out of their last 15 games: Everton (a) Spurs (h) Soton (a) Man City (h) Man Utd (h) Arsenal (a) Chelsea (a)

Man Utd: Spurs (h) Liverpool (a) Man City (h) Chelsea (a) Everton (a) Arsenal (h)

City have: Liverpool (a) Man Utd (a) Spurs (a) Soton (h)

Chavs have: Everton, Man U, Liverpool and Soton (h) and Arsenal (a)

Spuds have: Arsenal, and City (h) Liverpool, Man U, Southampton, Everton, (a)

When you compare those against our last 15 games with only Spuds and Man U away and Chavs ad Everton at home. By far we have the best run in………. well I think so anyway, don’t give a bugger for all you doomers 🙂

We have to take into account the FA Cup run to the Final and of course the Champions league, which should, barring a calamity against Monaco, see us reach the quarter final at least. But we nearly have a full strength squad plus the addition of Paul Easter for the back four. If we now remain injury free, who’s to say we won’t be challenging for the top spot come April? If we do get the required results and points, we will be relying on the Chavs, City and Utd dropping vital points, but on recent form, they will I think. Who knows, but at the moment I’m feeling very positive and still think we could nick it if things go our way. If we don’t we’ll at least retain the FA Cup.

northbank1969

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Posted by Rasp

Arsenal’s Season A Disaster So Far!

February 3, 2015

We are 60% of the way through a campaign that not so long ago was dubbed Arsenal’s worst start to a Premier League season.

After 23 games in 2013/14 we had briefly dropped to 2nd in the table having occupied top spot for 12 weeks. We returned to the top the following game for a further 5 weeks before slowly sliding down the table to finish 4th …… oh really Sherlock I can hear you say (or words to that effect)

But would it surprise you to know that in terms of an exact comparison to last year i.e. the same fixture against the same team home or away, we are actually only 1 point worse off – and yet currently occupy 5th place.

The tables and graphics you see down the right hand side of your screen give a range of statistics that compare our performance to last season. I have added 2 extra columns to the ‘Comparison of fixtures’ widget to show how many points we have gained or dropped in the equivalent fixture this season.

astats 2

From this you can see that we are 2 points worse off in our home games and 1 point better off in the away fixtures, making a net deficit of just 1 point …. not exactly a disaster.

Moreover, we currently have the strongest squad for a decade and contrary to last season, we have players returning from injury and very decent cover in all positions.

FGG made this observation after the Villa game …….. “5-0 and we still have this team who didn’t start today”…….

Szscesny
Debuchy     Chambers     Paulista     Gibbs
Arteta
Campbell     The Ox     Wilshere     Sanchez
Welbeck

Fair enough this includes some currently injured and one on loan, but I could see that side finishing in the top half of the table – when could we last say that about Arsenal’s so called second string?

After 23 games this season we have 42 points – that’s the same points total as Southampton in 4th, and just 1 behind them on goal difference. We are 1 point behind Utd who are 2 behind us on goal difference. That means that if we win next weekend and Utd and Southampton lose or draw, we go 3rd.

2014 2015

The side is returning to full strength and our form is improving every game. We have improved the squad with the addition of Sanchez, Welbeck and Gabriel Paulista, and also seen a marked progression in Bellerin and Coquelin, both of whom I expect to feature regularly for the rest of the season.

It would not be unreasonable to expect us to gain at least as many points in the remaining fixtures this season as last. That would add 36 to our total  of 42 giving 78 points, which would comfortably get us in the top 4, probably 3rd with even 2nd still a possibility if City fall away.

So it’s all to play for now for the rest of the season. Not only do we have the strongest squad for a long time but one where there is very little to choose from in terms of quality between the 1st and 2nd choices in most positions.

Competition for places is a good thing. We have the strength in depth to allow for squad rotation without fear of significantly weakening the team as our victory over Villa showed. There are no prima donnas in the dressing room, morale is high and the belief is returning.

We’ve had a relaxed of transfer window. We’ve secured the important early signing of Paulista with no need for further additions. We’re nicely set up for a strong push to the end to the season with the possibility of retaining the FA Cup and progressing to the QF of the Champion’s League ….. after that, who knows?

Strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride, you may well be pleasantly surprised by the end of this ‘disastrous’ season.

Rasp

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Posted by Rasp

Arsenal 5 Aston Villa 0

February 2, 2015

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Five superb goals from the good guys and a clean sheet to boot, what more could we want from a Sunday midday match?

The same next week, I suppose is the answer to that question but one step at a time.

With Welbeck and Sanchez out we had to make do with Ozil and Walcott, I know, I know but needs must and all that and yet even with this handicap Arsenal brushed Villa aside with a top drawer display from pretty much every player throughout the team.

The first fifteen minutes were impressive, the interplay was crisp and precise: Walcott was making excellent runs through the middle and his team mates were finding him. Villa had no answer to his lighting fast speed but it was Giroud who opened the scoring with a deft little pass from the returning and ever stronger Ozil. The Frenchman found himself one on one with the keeper and seemingly when everyone thought he was going to lose control, he chipped the ball over the on coming Villa keeper and into the back of the net.

01

Everything looked set for a thrashing but we were made to wait as our initial impetuous plateaued. Somehow we managed to start letting Villa back into the game: Ospina needed to make a fine save to keep us ahead but no matter how hard we tried to make them look good and boy did we try, we were not able to succeed. Villa are absolutely awful.

There were a few frustrating moments in the first half; we should have wrapped the whole thing up a lot quicker, attacks were petering out too easily, although, now in the warm after glow of the win they can be comfortably filed under the heading of “Still a bit rusty”.

I think we started the second half the same way as we left off, no better no worse it looked as though the game was going to simply drift but 42 million pounds worth of talent does not stay anonymous forever – and it didn’t. I haven’t seen the replay so I cannot remember how the ball came to him but oh how deliciously sweet did Mesut Özil hit that it into the far corner. It had a purr factor of 10.

02

2-0, nerves settled and Wengerball was back on the menu. Not to be out done by the retuning German, the returning Walcott was going to get in on the act as well. Yet again, I don’t remember who played the ball to Giroud but Theo jumped on it before it got to him, instinctively controlling it before curling it past the keeper. It was a very well taken goal.

SOCCER Arsenal

Villa were beaten and the play turned on “Olé” football with everything going through Cazorla who was outstanding as ever. He got on the score sheet with a penalty won by Chuba (hope he stays) Akpom, as did his fellow countryman Bellerin with a low precise drive into the corner which I think I am correct in saying was his first senior goal for the club.

All in all a result that we expected but as the saying goes: you can only beat the team in front of you and we did just that – emphatically.

Bring on the spuds.

COYRRG

Written by LB

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Posted by LB

Heroes and Villains

February 1, 2015

Remember the opening game of last season? Remember the final whistle? The feeling of angst and anger following the disappointment of losing 1-3 to Villa pervaded the club. Perhaps that atmosphere created the determination which drove us to be top at Xmas (brilliantly predicted by Rocky Lives).

What has changed since then?

Ozil, Alexis, Chambers, Bellerin, Ospina, Welbeck, Debuchy. Quite an ensemble. Are we better? The points tally would say No.

I would be shocked if Villa scored 3 times this afternoon – they have been through difficult times, scoring just 11 goals – 9 less than the next worst (Hull), 28 less than The Arsenal and have scored one goal or less in their last 19 away games! Yet, their last game showed improvement, Villa beat high-flying Bournemouth in the FA Cup.

Lambert is yet another of the hyped managers who have been trumpeted by the media as the next big thing; like Laudrup, Clarke, AVB etc etc he is proving how difficult the PL can be.  Do you think that if Mr Wenger managed Aston Villa they would be a better club and team? Of course they would.

Having won our last 4 games with increasing panache the portents are definitely for an Arsenal win but I have been supporting this team for too long to take a win for granted. This will not be a walkover – Villa have some excellent players; Benteke would flourish at The Emirates, Delph is a better Coquelin, the goal from new-signing Gil shows he is a talent, their defence is strong especially at CB. Beating them will require Arsenal to be in top form.

 UnknownBenteke praying for AW to sign him

Enough of them, what about us? Selection is interesting as the long-term injured return to fitness and the first team. To Ozil or not? To Walcocott or not? To drop the excellent Rosicky or not? Ospina or TPIG? etc etc

Here’s my tuppence worth. Defence: Ospina has to start. Then it is Chambers or Bellerin. Given the pace of Villa’s attack (Ang-backdoor etc) I would start Bellerin. CB pick themselves. Monnreal desrves to keep his place after a good run of form.

Coquelin or Flamini? Coq deserves to continue. Tomas or Aaron? Sorry Mozart, but Aaron is essential. As wonderful as Tomas is I prefer the youth and power of Ramsey. Cazorla is undroppable, which leaves the attack.

Given the absence of Alexis I would play Ozil, OG and Theo.

Can you name all the managers of English clubs who have won the European Cup? Have a try.

Clough is easy, so is Paisley, SAF, Busby,. You may struggle with Fagan’s Liverpool or to remember it was Di Matteo who lifted Big Ears with Chelsea. But if I told you that Aston Villa have won the European Cup could you recall their manager without Googling? No? Neither could I 😀 (answer below)

Given yesterday’s results and the improvement in form of both the Knuckle-Draggers and the Hub-Cap Barons we need to in today. If we don’t it will be a huge disappointmet. But we will.

Too depressed watching yet another England batting collapse to write more.

COYRRG

written by Big Raddy

(AV manager who lifted Big Ears was Tony Barton.)

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Posted by Erik the Red

Goodbye Wojciech Szczesny

January 29, 2015

Many regular readers of this blog will know that I have never been a great fan of my compatriot Wojciech Szczesny. There were many reasons for my disapproval of him, but most were based on the knowledge of his father’s career – average keeper, arrogant and mouthy. From the start Wojciech reminded me of his Dad. But I am a fair person and decided to give him a chance and it seemed he rewarded me for that. Since replacing Fabianski in goal, he has grown from strength to strength and most fellow Gunners were delighted with his performances.

untitled

Exactly 4 years ago he became our new No 1. Since then we have witnessed a true rollercoaster of a career, culminating in his disastrous performance against Southampton earlier this month. Rumours followed that Wenger had dropped him there and then as our first choice keeper and that was confirmed by Ospina’s appearance in the next few fixtures while Szczesny returned in the FA Cup. As we know Wenger always plays number 2 keeper in FA games. Do we have a permanent new No 1 or will Szczesny return to reclaim his place? And most importantly – do we want him to return?

The media and the fans have  varied views on Szczesny’s career. It has almost become a norm that after a few good games he fails completely – stupid mistakes, lack of concentration, wrong decision or  even a red card. Other players cannot possibly feel safe in front of a goalie with such a poor level of consistency.

Some claim that he is suffering from the same virus that made van Persie and Cesc move to clubs where they have better chances to achieve full potential and win trophies (more money). Others argue that Wojtek is an average keeper and will never be world class. He still makes the same errors as he did 4 years ago and his personality will always get in the way of true progress.

Psychological profiling is nowadays a part of the modern selection process for all top professionals, including footballers and I am sure that Szczesny must have been assessed too. I therefore wonder if his temperament has been ignored or deemed as no issue. Or did Szczesny became nervous after joining the Arsenal? By the same token we can discuss our previous number one, Lukasz Fabianski nicknamed ‘Flappy Hands Fabianski’. Lukasz seldom appeared cool, calm and collected while at the Emirates. Yet he seems to be doing well at Swansea.

Szczesny’s last EPL appearance was a complete disaster. His performance was below par and he cost us valuable 3 points. His body language after the game and failure to even look at the defenders were a sure sign that he knew he let us down. To calm the nerves he had a fag in the changing rooms, right under the nose of Wenger, known to be obsessed with a healthy life style of his employees.  Was it a provocation on WS’s part? Does he want to leave?

The Pole signed a new 5 year long contract in November 2013 making him one of the best paid goalkeepers in the world. Wenger was happy, we were happy and I am sure Szczesny was delighted. But that was more than a year ago, a long time in the short career of a footballer. This time last year Szczesny’s stats were better than De Gea’s, but this certainly is not the case this season. Even Fabianski and Vito Mannone seem to be outperforming Wojciech.

I don’t think I need to say anymore on the subject. I think that Szczesny should leave, don’t you?

Written by Eddie

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

The Premier League race to qualify for the 2016 Champions League.

January 28, 2015

With 16 games remaining in the season the race for Champions League places is agonizingly close. Mathematically the top 4 positions are not locked up but Chelsea appears to have the top spot firmly in their grasp. As this table shows any one of the current top 8 teams still have a shot at being in the 2016 Champions League.

                     Current position in the league

GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
Chelsea 22 16 4 2 51 22 29 52
Man C 22 14 5 3 45 22 23 47
Southampton 22 13 3 6 38 17 21 42
Man U 22 11 7 4 36 20 16 40
Arsenal 22 11 6 5 39 25 14 39
Tottenham 22 11 4 7 33 31 2 37
West Ham 22 10 6 6 35 25 10 36
Liverpool 22 10 5 7 32 27 5 35

The next table shows the 8 teams results against each other so far this season. Arsenal has dropped 15 points, losing to Chelsea, United and Southampton and tying with Spurs, Man City and Liverpool. To stress the importance of games against these teams – if (I recognize that it’s a big if) we had won all of these games then we would be on top with 57 points – 8 points clear of Chelsea who would only have 49 points.

Games against Top 8
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
Chelsea 8 4 3 1 15 9 6 15
Man C 8 4 2 2 15 9 6 14
Man U 8 4 2 2 10 6 4 14
Tottenham 8 4 1 3 12 15 -3 13
Arsenal 9 3 3 3 11 12 -1 12
Southampton 9 3 1 5 9 12 -3 10
Liverpool 7 2 1 4 10 14 -4 7
West Ham 7 2 0 5 8 12 -4 6

Our record in the last 10 games is surprisingly strong having gained  22 out of 30 points we are exceeded only by Manchester City who have gained 23 points having lost only once to Arsenal.

Last 10 Games
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
Man C 10 7 2 1 21 9 12 23
Arsenal 10 7 1 2 19 10 9 22
Man U 10 6 3 1 17 5 12 21
Chelsea 10 6 2 2 21 11 10 20
Tottenham 10 6 2 2 16 13 3 20
Liverpool 10 6 3 1 16 9 7 21
West Ham 10 5 3 2 15 9 6 18
Southampton 10 5 1 4 13 10 3 16

The final tables show the remaining games for the top 8 teams.

Chelsea Man City Saints Man U
Man City H Chelsea A Swansea H Leicester H
Aston Villa A Hull H QPR A West Ham A
Everton H Stoke A West Ham H Burnley H
Burnley H Newcastle H Liverpool H Swansea A
Leicester A Liverpool A WBA A Sunderland H
West Ham A Leicester H Crystal P H Newcastle A
Southampton H Burnley A Chelsea A Tottenham H
Hull A WBA H Burnley H Liverpool A
Stoke H Crystal P A Everton A Aston Villa H
QPR A Man United A Hull H Man City H
Man United H West Ham H Stoke A Chelsea A
Arsenal A Aston Villa H Tottenham H Everton A
Crystal P H Tottenham A Sunderland A WBA H
Liverpool H QPR H Leicester A Crystal P A
WBA A Swansea A Aston Villa H Arsenal H
Sunderland H Southampton H Man City A Hull A

 

Arsenal Tottenham West Ham Liverpool
Aston Villa H WBA A Liverpool A West Ham H
Tottenham A Arsenal H Man Utd H Everton A
Leicester H Liverpool A Southampton A Tottenham H
Crystal P A West Ham H Tottenham A Southampton A
Everton H QPR A Crystal P H Man City H
QPR A Swansea H Chelsea H Burnley H
West Ham H Man United A Arsenal A Swansea A
Newcastle A Leicester H Sunderland H Man United H
Liverpool H Burnley A Leicester A Arsenal A
Burnley A Aston Villa H Stoke H Newcastle H
Sunderland H Newcastle A Man City A Hull A
Chelsea H Southampton A QPR A WBA A
Hull A Man City H Burnley H QPR H
Swansea H Stoke A Aston Villa A Chelsea A
Man United A Hull H Everton H Crystal P H
WBA H Everton A Newcastle A Stoke A

To date it’s been one of our worst seasons under Arsene Wenger but we remain in strong contention to retain our place in the CL for the nineteenth consecutive season. The last two games against Stoke and City have arguably been our best of the season winning both while scoring 5 and keeping two clean sheets, not surprisingly this coincided with the return of many of our walking wounded.

There are 320 games remaining in 2014/2015 Premier League season but I feel that the top 4 places will be determined by as few as the following 13 games.

Chelsea vs Man City – Jan 31st.

Arsenal vs Tottenham  – Feb 2nd.

Liverpool vs Tottenham – Feb 10th.

Chelsea vs Southamton – Mar 15th.

Man U vs Tottenham – Mar 15th

Man U vs Man City – Apr 11th.

Chelsea vs Man U – Apr 18th.

Arsenal vs Chelsea – Apr 25th

Southampton vs Tottenham – Apr 25th.

Tottenham vs Man City – May 2nd.

Liverpool vs Man U – Mar 22nd.

Man U vs Arsenal – May 16th.

Man City vs Southampton – May 24th.

GunnerN5

 

 

 

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Posted by Rasp

“That’s a good foul” ….. Savage by name ……..

January 27, 2015

In its infinite wisdom, BT has chosen to employ the services of one Robbie Savage as their expert analyst to educate us with his pearls of wisdom regarding the subtle nuances and tactical complexities of football.

Savage earned his reputation as an old fashioned hard man during his career by regularly stepping over the boundary between good play and foul play.

10001

The aptly named Savage is an odious character who has been branded ‘the dirtiest player in Premier League history’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-539649/REVEALED-The-dirtiest-player-Premier-League-history.html

His trophy cabinet boasts an impressive 87 yellow cards – 5 more than the incumbent of second place, that other gift to humanity, Lee Bowyer.

All of this of course makes Savage the perfect recruit for BT. The once respected national telecoms institution has been sold to the highest bidders and with it, lost its integrity along the way.

This brings me to Savage’s commentary on the match between Brighton and Arsenal last Sunday. Savage had been spouting his usual dinosaur drivel throughout the game, but really stepped it up a notch when our rookie striker Chuba Akpom came on in the 70th minute.

Chuba is an exciting prospect from our academy. At 19, he’s a strong, quick and direct striker – the sort defenders hate. It was an excellent substitution because we were under some pressure from Brighton and needed an outlet that would keep their defenders on their heels. And so it proved as on several occasions the ball was passed out of defence to Chuba who subsequently went up through the gears and looked a real threat.

But each time Chuba got the better of the defenders he was cynically brought down. Most neutrals watching the game might expect the studio pundit to observe how well Chuba had done in drawing the foul and maybe god forbid, to criticise the defender for breaking the rules of the game. Not Savage. On two separate occasions his sage assessment was “that’s a good foul” …… I repeat …… “that’s a good foul”

Now forgive me, but aren’t the rules of the game designed to protect players and ensure that the game is played in the proper manner. If a foul is committed due to a lack of judgement, or just because your opponent is too good and has fooled you, then fair enough. A deliberate foul where there is no intention of getting the ball, only to stop the player in order to avoid a goal scoring opportunity is just plain cheating and risks injury to a fellow professional.

I accept some footballers practise this dark art, it often goes under the affectionate term of ‘taking one for the team’ when a card is brandished, but when it is a blunt instrument regularly employed to stop the side with superior skills playing football, it is detrimental to the game, and contrary to the spirit of the game.

Savage thinks this kind of behaviour is to be applauded. He’s on the telly telling millions of people that this is a good thing. Thousands of aspiring young players will have heard an ‘expert’ describe cheating as “a good foul” – a great example to set. How many times will those actions be replicated in parks up and down the country I wonder? And what if Chuba had suffered a career threatening injury in one of those ‘good fouls’? Hope you’re proud of yourself Robbie. It doesn’t matter to you, you’re busy carving out a celebrity career where the most base of behaviour only serves to enhance your reputation.

This is not an argument against tackling or strong physical play, they still have a place in the modern game. Players with intelligence will know where the line should be drawn. Tackling has been described as an art form by those appreciate the skill and timing involved. I have no problem with that. However, players who lack ability will always seek refuge in an overly physical approach that manifests itself in habitual fouling and should not be encouraged by the media.

It is up to the officials and rule makers to ensure that such practices are discouraged and penalised appropriately. If the rules currently in place do not deter ‘professional fouls’ then the penalties are clearly not harsh enough. We can only hope that their thinking is not influenced by the ‘Savages’ in our media.

He is a disgrace to his profession. BT are guilty of the lowest form of tabloid recruitment in giving him air time.

How are we ever going to progress in football in this country when we have characters like Savage promoting anti-football in our media? We should mount an internet campaign to get Savage off our screens to prevent his contamination of the beautiful game to which Arsene Wenger, Arsenal and all football purists aspire.

Here’s a reminder of the gulf in class between Savage and an Arsenal great ……

Rasp

P.S.

My son is running The London Marathon to raise money for Leukaemia Care. Any donation however small would be gratefully appreciated. There is a link in the side bar to the right of this page, or go to https://www.justgiving.com/jamiemonk/ to view his Just Giving site … thank you 🙂

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