Re: The Football Thread - 09/10 (II)

by Ash Thu 15 Apr 2010, 01:27

Dello wrote:It goes deeper than their defence (and hopeless keeper). No-one can tackle. Worse, no-one wants to tackle. Worse still, no-one even wants to win the ball back.

diaby, song, eboue are not afraid to tackle. denilson generally breaks up the play well. at the start of the season, we were pressing teams when we lost the ball and we did this really well. it has fallen away a bit since november.

Dello wrote:The defence will always be exposed when you've got, as today for example, a midfield of Nasri, Denilson and Diaby completely losing interest when Arsenal don't have the ball.

That they were out-hustled by Luke Modric - a midget - and Tom Huddlestone - a lumbering giant who doesn't like tackling either - is a damning indictment of their lack of fight, and serves to highlight their major failing as a team: their completely unearned sense of superiority; that they don't have to do such menial tasks as tackling, defending, working hard. They've got "technique" on their side.

And anyone that should prevent them being successful by adopting such worthless tactics as tackling, defending and working hard are morally inferior, unworthy opponents.

They're a club in total denial. Convinced that they've got the winning formula, burying their head in the ground as year after year goes by without winning shit.

todays was one of the worst performances of the season from the midfield. constant horizontal passes, not one player making the run forward and just getting it out to the full backs to cross it in (and they cant cross). it was depressing. and we didnt win/go for the 50-50s.

arsenal generally dominate possession, so dont need to defend and tackle as much as other sides as they have the ball. scoring goals isnt a problem, keeping possession isnt a problem (unless you're playing barcelona!) - its just the defensive side of things and making possession count (this isnt a problem when arsha/cesc/RVP are in the side).

the full backs - particularly clichy - and vermaelen love getting forward which is why weve conceded so many goals on the break this season. notably against city, chelsea and utd. wenger needs to temper the attacking flair slightly in favour of defensive discipline and organisation because when we dont score 3 goals, we have every chance of dropping points.

by Ash Thu 15 Apr 2010, 01:34

Dello wrote:
Ash wrote:re: walcott, hes very inconsistent. the final ball is still generally poor but improving. i agree he'd be better playing in the middle (thats where i stick him on fifa!)

I don't think Arsenal would make the most of him through the middle, though.

He really needs the ball released early and the play to be stretched, but Arsenal's tippy-tappy go-slow ethos allows opponents to get everyone back behind the ball and defend deep.

He's a good card to have up your sleeve on the counter-attack (if you're winning), but I don't see Arsenal playing to his strengths anytime soon.

the likes of eboue, denilson, bendtner and diaby dont have the mental agility to regularly a) pick out and b) make the quick pass to release theo and allow us to pose that danger. but nasri, rosicky, eduardo, arshavin, cesc and van persie do. i really do believe when we have these guys back, walcott will flourish whether its down the middle or on the flank.

by LeFromage Thu 15 Apr 2010, 01:36

Ash wrote:
Dello wrote:It goes deeper than their defence (and hopeless keeper). No-one can tackle. Worse, no-one wants to tackle. Worse still, no-one even wants to win the ball back.

diaby, song, eboue are not afraid to tackle. denilson generally breaks up the play well. at the start of the season, we were pressing teams when we lost the ball and we did this really well. it has fallen away a bit since november.

Dello wrote:The defence will always be exposed when you've got, as today for example, a midfield of Nasri, Denilson and Diaby completely losing interest when Arsenal don't have the ball.

That they were out-hustled by Luke Modric - a midget - and Tom Huddlestone - a lumbering giant who doesn't like tackling either - is a damning indictment of their lack of fight, and serves to highlight their major failing as a team: their completely unearned sense of superiority; that they don't have to do such menial tasks as tackling, defending, working hard. They've got "technique" on their side.

And anyone that should prevent them being successful by adopting such worthless tactics as tackling, defending and working hard are morally inferior, unworthy opponents.

They're a club in total denial. Convinced that they've got the winning formula, burying their head in the ground as year after year goes by without winning shit.

todays was one of the worst performances of the season from the midfield. constant horizontal passes, not one player making the run forward and just getting it out to the full backs to cross it in (and they cant cross). it was depressing. and we didnt win/go for the 50-50s.

arsenal generally dominate possession, so dont need to defend and tackle as much as other sides as they have the ball. scoring goals isnt a problem, keeping possession isnt a problem (unless you're playing barcelona!) - its just the defensive side of things and making possession count (this isnt a problem when arsha/cesc/RVP are in the side).

the full backs - particularly clichy - and vermaelen love getting forward which is why weve conceded so many goals on the break this season. notably against city, chelsea and utd. wenger needs to temper the attacking flair slightly in favour of defensive discipline and organisation because when we dont score 3 goals, we have every chance of dropping points.

I just think Wenger's abandoned all sense of what has made his sides successful in the past in favour of some ridiculous aspirational ethos and playing style that he doesn't have the quality of players for - and one that other teams (Barca spring to mind) do a million times better.

His title winning teams had a rock solid keeper and defence, ball winners in the centre of the park who weren't afraid to mix it, and played a fluid 4-4-2.

They have none of those things any longer. And, as if by magic, they're no longer relevant when the trophies are being handed out.

by LeFromage Thu 15 Apr 2010, 01:38

Ash wrote:
Dello wrote:
Ash wrote:re: walcott, hes very inconsistent. the final ball is still generally poor but improving. i agree he'd be better playing in the middle (thats where i stick him on fifa!)

I don't think Arsenal would make the most of him through the middle, though.

He really needs the ball released early and the play to be stretched, but Arsenal's tippy-tappy go-slow ethos allows opponents to get everyone back behind the ball and defend deep.

He's a good card to have up your sleeve on the counter-attack (if you're winning), but I don't see Arsenal playing to his strengths anytime soon.

the likes of eboue, denilson, bendtner and diaby dont have the mental agility to regularly a) pick out and b) make the quick pass to release theo and allow us to pose that danger. but nasri, rosicky, eduardo, arshavin, cesc and van persie do. i really do believe when we have these guys back, walcott will flourish whether its down the middle or on the flank.

No, he won't play when they're all back. He'll have to do all his flourishing while sitting on his arse on the bench.

And Rosicky is a pale shadow of the player he was - Eduardo is finished as a top-level footballer.

by Ash Thu 15 Apr 2010, 01:44

Dello wrote:I just think Wenger's abandoned all sense of what has made his sides successful in the past in favour of some ridiculous aspirational ethos and playing style that he doesn't have the quality of players for - and one that other teams (Barca spring to mind) do a million times better.

His title winning teams had a rock solid keeper and defence, ball winners in the centre of the park who weren't afraid to mix it, and played a fluid 4-4-2.

They have none of those things any longer. And, as if by magic, they're no longer relevant when the trophies are being handed out.

not sure if his transfer budget has been limited due to the new stadium. im sure part of it is his own stubborness. you can see the weaknesses, everyone can....apart from arsene apparently.

shouldve bought a keeper, CB and striker in jan seeing as we were in with a chance of trophies. 4-3-3 was adopted because he had no wingers in his squad but lots of AM's. 4-3-3 suits the type of players at his disposal. theres more than one way of winning titles.

by Zat Thu 15 Apr 2010, 01:44

JKLever wrote:Just face it, Dello has a grudge - The Arse must've crushed a boyhood dream somewhere along the line...

Dello is the bloke played by Colin Firth in Fever Pitch.

by Ash Thu 15 Apr 2010, 01:47

Dello wrote:
No, he won't play when they're all back. He'll have to do all his flourishing while sitting on his arse on the bench.

And Rosicky is a pale shadow of the player he was - Eduardo is finished as a top-level footballer.

my first xi would be:

almunia
sagna-gallas-verm-clichy
song
cesc-nasri
walcott-van persie-arshavin

sadly, you may be right about rosicky and edu. pre injury, they were both class.

by Guest Thu 15 Apr 2010, 10:03

If RVP had been fit all season then Arsenal would have pissed their way to the title.

They've done better without him than United would have done without Rooney.

by Merlin Thu 15 Apr 2010, 11:18

vilkrang wrote:If RVP had been fit all season then Arsenal would have pissed their way to the title.

They've done better without him than United would have done without Rooney.

Not sure about pi**ing their way to the title, but they certainly would'nt have been playing catch-up these past few weeks.
His presence on the park last night showed clearly how much the Gooners missed him up front.
For all his goals recently, I still don't rate Bendtner as a top flight CF .. his first touch - always - is absolute shite, and his awareness of the support around him is pathetic.

For all their possession last night, the Arse had no penetration whatsoever. Square passes, over / under running through balls, lack of awareness, Gomez's brilliance and 'arry's classic shut-down/spoiling back four/back six tactics, all combined to play Arse off the park.

Cracking goal from Rose (against the play) ... well done the Spurts .... bastards!

by JKLever Thu 15 Apr 2010, 11:50

vilkrang wrote:If RVP had been fit all season then Arsenal would have pissed their way to the title.

Would he have remotely helped their comedy defending though?

by WideWally Sat 17 Apr 2010, 14:40

Fancy watching 93 minutes of football & having to put up with such a crap ending!

FFS.

by JKLever Sat 17 Apr 2010, 14:43

United are going to jam their way to another title FFS

by Makaveli Sat 17 Apr 2010, 14:50

Deserved to win the game, pretty much dominated the game. Come on spurs!!!

by JGK Sat 17 Apr 2010, 15:07

WideWally wrote:Fancy watching 93 minutes of football & having to put up with such a crap ending!

FFS.

At least he was on side.

by JKLever Sat 17 Apr 2010, 19:20

Have Chelski got 11 Saffers playing for them out there?

The title in the grasp of their hands....

by Guest Sat 17 Apr 2010, 19:20

JKLever wrote:United are going to jam their way to another title FFS

It really has been a case of who can out TAYPOC the rest all season.

This will be the worst United side that I can remember winning the title if and when they do it.

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