I absolutely idolise Wenger. I think he is a visionary leader who has transformed our club and laid the foundations for a very exciting and successful future. The youth development system, the style of play, the stadium, the financial management. All bodes very well.
I didnt truly expect to win the league this season, yes I was hopeful and yes, if we had been more fortunate in the injury department, I really feel we could have won it.
Chelsea are past their peak, but the tactics, the physical presence, the experience and the financial clout means their extensive squad and resources will be enough to win it.
Man Utd are also not as good as they were and have been over-reliant on Rooney, who has mostly delivered and will push Chelsea right to the end. Unfortunately for England, I think this will take its toll on our challenge for that particular trophy.
The only consolation I can take from losing to Wigan today is that we only have ourselves to blame and Spurs cannot claim that they are responsible for our demise.
We should never have still been in the race, and it was not really realistic to expect to win, but it would have been fun for a few more weeks to go close. So what happened today?
Wenger seemed to have half an eye on next season. The website has been full of articles that are talking about next year. The team he put out today suggested as such. He had a rookie on the bench. He put in our reserve keeper - I guess as a message to him saying, "go on then, last chance to stake your claim" and once again 'Flappyhandski' made a crucial mistake in an important game.
Paul Merson was absolutely right when he said that all keepers make mistakes, but its how many mistakes you make. Fabianski seems to make one every time he plays. I am not interested in a keeper with good instincts when it comes to shot-stopping - we have that with Almunia. We need an experienced, commanding keeper. Lehmann was better, mental but at least he was commanding. So a keeper is vital and Wenger knows it.
There is no excuse for not only throwing the lead away, but losing it too. Yes it mattered more to Wigan, they were fighting for their lives, and now have all but secured their position in the best league in the world. But we should have been prepared for an onslaught in the last 10 mins, what did they have to lose?
We weren't ready for that, we took off Theo who was a threat and was growing in confidence and Rosicky who wasn't as threatening as he can be, but was a real handful and actually was putting lots of energy into tackling back so we could keep posession. We also should have brought on Van Persie with 30 mins to go. I was looking forward to this purely from an entertainment point of view as the game was a little stale and he makes things happen. It also would have kept us on the front foot and give Wigan even more to think about, rather than mount their own challenge. With those 2 gone and RVP not on the pitch, we gave Wigan a chance. We should still have been up to the challenge, but no one really took the game by the scruff of the neck and once again we showed defensive naivety. Clichy is good, but regularly leaves gaps behind, as does Sagna.
The series of corners etc that came in that last 10 minutes largely came after a poor refeeing decision that gave them a free kick near our corner flag, when it was only a 50/50 coming together of sagna and their player. But he had been making poor decisions for both teams all game. But does it matter. We should have been ready for an onslaught and our defense is makeshift and not fully up to it and we didnt have the attacking threat to take the pressure off our defense at a time when we could have been dominating and not even given them a sniff.
Perhaps Wenger thought the game was won, felt it was not necessary to risk RVP who is still recovering, and wanted to save Theo and Rosicky for next game by taking them off early. This could be a sign of him thinking ahead - but this time this thinking ahead went against the whole team. Perhaps he had already decided that we weren't going to win the league, so he was trying out Merida as a way of trying to persuade him of staying next year. Again long term this might be to our advantage, but in the short term our team was weaker than it could have been (which is significantly weaker than our first team when fully fit)
So I, like Wenger am looking ahead. Although mathmatically possible - the league is gone. There will be a few surprises yet and Man Utd could nick it, but I think Chelsea will just be strong enough.
So lets start thinking about what the AFC experience will be like next year.
A fully fit side with World Class players like Fabregas, RVP and Arshavin.
Players who are beginning to perform like top, top quality players - Song, Vermaelen.
Players who could and should continue a steep learning curve and perform even better - Bentner & Walcott
Perhaps Clichy and Sagna fit into that category too - but all have areas to improve.
There are other players too who have bags of potential but need to step up and stay there - Diaby & Eduardo, along with Rosicky and Nasri too.
I hope we keep Campbell and Gallas - who provide experience and passion. But we do need to strengthen the defense in the short term, but also thinking about the long term.
There are some other fringe players who might stay and might make a difference (don't forget how Song has surprised us all) - Merida, Denilson. Ramsey might recover from his injury and be a Cesc mark II.
Then there will be the reinforcements - A keeper, surely! Chamakh - more firepower and competition up front; Then there might be a high quality creative player - not sure who, but Wenger loves those and finds them. He has hinted that there is money to spend, could i be in cloud cookoo land to suggest David Villa?
So major improvement this year - probably finishing 6 points adrift from the champions rather than 18.
Challenging for the title right up to mid April, rather than February.
More shots from outside the box than anyone else (at least last time I checked)
Generally the best football to watch in the league.
Can we be as good as Barcelona? Maybe.....
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Bloke's prerogative to change his mind
I've kind of changed my mind. The furore has died down and I've had time to reflect.
Shawcross appears not to be "whiter than white". There is plenty of evidence that he is an aggressive player and has done plenty to Arsenal players alone in the past.
I still think we suffer because we are a little flimsy as a side and sides think they can intimidate us and bully us off our game.
I love Wenger's purist ideology and it has resulted in a decade of (mostly) blissful enjoyment of watching our team, yes our team, play some of the best football in the world.
I hope he can find a balance, that keeps the quality, skill and pace, but adds a little bit of mettle too.
Ultimately though, the Shawcross tackle was over the top, he used excessive force and has to be accountable for his actions. The similarities that have been drawn by others to the speeding driver who mows down a child but "isn't that kind of driver" are absolutely right. Shawcross did it (and he's done similar things before) and he needs to face the consequences - and a few tears and 3 games is not enough. If it were Rooney lying there with his leg in 2 pieces, there would be a national day of mourning.
Nevertheless I have not changed my mind that we are the 3rd best team in the league, but we can win the league. I've never felt such a togetherness and positivity amongst Gooners. It's quiet and confident for the most part mixed in with a little disbelief that we are still in the position where we can challenge. But we can do it!
A shame I can't be at the Burnley game this weekend, but I suspect it is going to have a rather special feel to it. Emotional and incredibly positive. At last the Emirates is beginning to have a bit of history and something special about it - I think it starts this weekend and hopefully it will end with two new additions - the Clock returned to the "Clock End" and a new trophy stencilled on to the hoardings around the upper tier.
Here's to some real silverware!
'98
Shawcross appears not to be "whiter than white". There is plenty of evidence that he is an aggressive player and has done plenty to Arsenal players alone in the past.
I still think we suffer because we are a little flimsy as a side and sides think they can intimidate us and bully us off our game.
I love Wenger's purist ideology and it has resulted in a decade of (mostly) blissful enjoyment of watching our team, yes our team, play some of the best football in the world.
I hope he can find a balance, that keeps the quality, skill and pace, but adds a little bit of mettle too.
Ultimately though, the Shawcross tackle was over the top, he used excessive force and has to be accountable for his actions. The similarities that have been drawn by others to the speeding driver who mows down a child but "isn't that kind of driver" are absolutely right. Shawcross did it (and he's done similar things before) and he needs to face the consequences - and a few tears and 3 games is not enough. If it were Rooney lying there with his leg in 2 pieces, there would be a national day of mourning.
Nevertheless I have not changed my mind that we are the 3rd best team in the league, but we can win the league. I've never felt such a togetherness and positivity amongst Gooners. It's quiet and confident for the most part mixed in with a little disbelief that we are still in the position where we can challenge. But we can do it!
A shame I can't be at the Burnley game this weekend, but I suspect it is going to have a rather special feel to it. Emotional and incredibly positive. At last the Emirates is beginning to have a bit of history and something special about it - I think it starts this weekend and hopefully it will end with two new additions - the Clock returned to the "Clock End" and a new trophy stencilled on to the hoardings around the upper tier.
Here's to some real silverware!
'98
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Stoke-ing the fire of debate - the injury mystery solved.
After seeing the game and in particularly the Ramsey injury, I felt compelled to post - mostly as a bit of therapy for myself. I was very disturbed by seeing the incident. I felt sick, absolutely gutted for the young man and also angry that once again we have lost a very talented player with bags of potential at a crucial stage of the season.
I read Arse-blogger this morning and nearly didnt post today. He said everything I wanted to say. Since then I've reflected and changed my mind somewhat.
Yes the challenge was bad and deserving of a red card.
No he didnt mean to break his leg.
No he isnt "that type of player" - but very, very few players would want to deliberately break an opponent's leg and potentially end their playing career.
Yes, the manager sent them out to play hard and physical against Arsenal - and there is nothing wrong with this!
This is where the crux of the matter is - It is a physical league, and that is what we love about it. The pace and the passion and the physicality is what makes the Premier league the best in the World. The best Arsenal sides have been able to be physical yet be able to play technically better and faster than the rest.
Let's not forget that Dennis Bergkamp, perhaps the most technically gifted player we (and probably the League) have ever had - also played dirty. He needed to, to give himself the space to do the amazing things he did.
Football is not just about being better technically than your opponent. There is a psychological battle too. There are lots of mini-battles going on all over the pitch. If the player you are marking/facing is better than you, then another weapon in your armoury can be to physically intimidate them, or harass them in terms of not giving them space.
The reason this happens more to Arsenal, and results in more injuries than any other team is that most of our players are smaller and technically better and motivated by skill not force. Teams like Chelsea do have a high level of technical ability but also are physically stronger. Therefore opponents are less likely to try to use the overly physical approach because its not going to work. Equally if they do try it, Chelsea can give as good as they get. Perhaps the same can be said of United.
It is impossible to say but maybe their players do not receive the same treatment because they can withstand it, or because they themselves are using physical force against their opponets as part of their own strategy.
Are Ramsey and Eduardo just more flimsy than Ballack and Drogba?
Arsenal are a continental team plying their trade in England, but with a higher pace. It is this pace and technical ability that could potentially win us the league. But we have to accept that the nature of the players we have and the way we play does leave us open to more injuries in such a physical league.
Arsene Wenger is a purist. He believes that the team with the best technique should win and that teams should be allowed to play their football, protected by the referee. He is right - but fouls are part of our game and by definition are players breaking the rules. So we need to find a way of standing up to the physical and essentially illegal approach of most other teams.
To be sure of sustaining a challenge on the league title every year, we need to have a squad made up of players who can withstand the fouls - players who are technically gifted, fast and strong. Or as it is very difficult (impossible) to have a team made up of Bergkamps, we need to have an even larger squad - because injuries are going to be a regular and inevitable part of the season for us.
I don't want us to change the way we play but we do need to be more savvy when it comes to protecting our players against the physical sides. Is it possible to study what players like Pires and Bergkamp did?
I think the momentum is with us now - last time the players said that they were going on to win the league for Eduardo, but they were too distracted by the Birmingham game and the whole injustice of Eduardo receiving such an horrendous injury. They were knocked off their stride and never truly regained focus. This time that negative energy is being channelled positively. It's brought the whole group of players together and I think it has united all the fans (who have been debating and criticising Arsene's strategy ever since it became apparent that we would be trophyless for a while). We all want it, so bad, and this time we think, no we believe we can do it.
Let's bring the trophy to the Emirate - the home of pure football.
'98
I read Arse-blogger this morning and nearly didnt post today. He said everything I wanted to say. Since then I've reflected and changed my mind somewhat.
Yes the challenge was bad and deserving of a red card.
No he didnt mean to break his leg.
No he isnt "that type of player" - but very, very few players would want to deliberately break an opponent's leg and potentially end their playing career.
Yes, the manager sent them out to play hard and physical against Arsenal - and there is nothing wrong with this!
This is where the crux of the matter is - It is a physical league, and that is what we love about it. The pace and the passion and the physicality is what makes the Premier league the best in the World. The best Arsenal sides have been able to be physical yet be able to play technically better and faster than the rest.
Let's not forget that Dennis Bergkamp, perhaps the most technically gifted player we (and probably the League) have ever had - also played dirty. He needed to, to give himself the space to do the amazing things he did.
Football is not just about being better technically than your opponent. There is a psychological battle too. There are lots of mini-battles going on all over the pitch. If the player you are marking/facing is better than you, then another weapon in your armoury can be to physically intimidate them, or harass them in terms of not giving them space.
The reason this happens more to Arsenal, and results in more injuries than any other team is that most of our players are smaller and technically better and motivated by skill not force. Teams like Chelsea do have a high level of technical ability but also are physically stronger. Therefore opponents are less likely to try to use the overly physical approach because its not going to work. Equally if they do try it, Chelsea can give as good as they get. Perhaps the same can be said of United.
It is impossible to say but maybe their players do not receive the same treatment because they can withstand it, or because they themselves are using physical force against their opponets as part of their own strategy.
Are Ramsey and Eduardo just more flimsy than Ballack and Drogba?
Arsenal are a continental team plying their trade in England, but with a higher pace. It is this pace and technical ability that could potentially win us the league. But we have to accept that the nature of the players we have and the way we play does leave us open to more injuries in such a physical league.
Arsene Wenger is a purist. He believes that the team with the best technique should win and that teams should be allowed to play their football, protected by the referee. He is right - but fouls are part of our game and by definition are players breaking the rules. So we need to find a way of standing up to the physical and essentially illegal approach of most other teams.
To be sure of sustaining a challenge on the league title every year, we need to have a squad made up of players who can withstand the fouls - players who are technically gifted, fast and strong. Or as it is very difficult (impossible) to have a team made up of Bergkamps, we need to have an even larger squad - because injuries are going to be a regular and inevitable part of the season for us.
I don't want us to change the way we play but we do need to be more savvy when it comes to protecting our players against the physical sides. Is it possible to study what players like Pires and Bergkamp did?
I think the momentum is with us now - last time the players said that they were going on to win the league for Eduardo, but they were too distracted by the Birmingham game and the whole injustice of Eduardo receiving such an horrendous injury. They were knocked off their stride and never truly regained focus. This time that negative energy is being channelled positively. It's brought the whole group of players together and I think it has united all the fans (who have been debating and criticising Arsene's strategy ever since it became apparent that we would be trophyless for a while). We all want it, so bad, and this time we think, no we believe we can do it.
Let's bring the trophy to the Emirate - the home of pure football.
'98
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Schoolboy error or Referee "assist"
I've changed my mind.
When I saw the 2nd goal I thought that we only had ourselves to blame. Fabianski should never have picked up the ball. Once he did, he should never have let go of it until we had all our defenders back.
However...... He didnt give the ball to the Porto player, he gave it to the ref. The ref then stepped in front of Campbell and dropped the ball for the Porto player, who promptly passed it to Falcao who scored.
I don't blame Porto, Fabregas himself said that he would have done the same. But why should the ref make it so easy? And impede our player. If he is taking the ball of our keeper, then he should not just give it to the opposition in that way. There's playing the advantage and there's playing the advantage. For me its an 'assist' from the Referee.
It seems disproportionately unfair. The referee gave them something more likely to result in a goal than a penalty, yet all we did to deserve it was a back-pass, and a mistaken one at that.
It was definitely a schoolboy error for the first goal. It has been said many times that we cannot blame lack of experience for our flaws any more - as our team is young but very experienced. However the one area where we are wet behind the ears is the keeper. Fabianski is talented and can pull off excellent reaction saves but he revealed how raw he is with his decision making and some terrible errors, that I hope won't be too costly.
Dare I say that I "called" the Campbell headed goal? I never put money on my own team, just seems to tempt fate. However, I do think we have enough to finish them off at home in 3 weeks time. We got the away goal and the last 2 home games against Porto have been 2-0 and 4-0 so if I were a betting man, I'd put money on us progressing.
I'm looking forward to it, I think it might be quite a "spicey" affair. Shame it's 3 weeks (damn those money grabbing advertisers).
Until next time, '98
When I saw the 2nd goal I thought that we only had ourselves to blame. Fabianski should never have picked up the ball. Once he did, he should never have let go of it until we had all our defenders back.
However...... He didnt give the ball to the Porto player, he gave it to the ref. The ref then stepped in front of Campbell and dropped the ball for the Porto player, who promptly passed it to Falcao who scored.
I don't blame Porto, Fabregas himself said that he would have done the same. But why should the ref make it so easy? And impede our player. If he is taking the ball of our keeper, then he should not just give it to the opposition in that way. There's playing the advantage and there's playing the advantage. For me its an 'assist' from the Referee.
It seems disproportionately unfair. The referee gave them something more likely to result in a goal than a penalty, yet all we did to deserve it was a back-pass, and a mistaken one at that.
It was definitely a schoolboy error for the first goal. It has been said many times that we cannot blame lack of experience for our flaws any more - as our team is young but very experienced. However the one area where we are wet behind the ears is the keeper. Fabianski is talented and can pull off excellent reaction saves but he revealed how raw he is with his decision making and some terrible errors, that I hope won't be too costly.
Dare I say that I "called" the Campbell headed goal? I never put money on my own team, just seems to tempt fate. However, I do think we have enough to finish them off at home in 3 weeks time. We got the away goal and the last 2 home games against Porto have been 2-0 and 4-0 so if I were a betting man, I'd put money on us progressing.
I'm looking forward to it, I think it might be quite a "spicey" affair. Shame it's 3 weeks (damn those money grabbing advertisers).
Until next time, '98
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Old timers
Just finished watching the Milan v Utd game.
Maybe Rooney really is that good. He had loads of space again, especially for his second goal when Fletcher floated over his short range cross. When we played them, United and Rooney in particular seemed to have so much space. Maybe Rooney is just that good at getting himself in killer positions. However it did feel like Milan, like us when we played them, just weren't closing them down quick enough. And they were punished like we were a couple of weeks ago.
Rooney is looking truly world class. This might be an Arsenal blog, but credit where it is due. He is on fire and this kind of form could take England quite some distance in the World Cup this Summer. He was definitely the best player on the pitch until an old-timer arrived.....
Seedorf was absolute class. He was only on for the last 20 minutes, but his touch, vision, passing and his cheeky flicked goal reminded us all of what a great player he was (and obviously still is). The player he replaced flattered to deceive. Beckham couldn't even offer a decent free kick, just a half decent cross that enabled Ronaldinho to score via a lucky deflection.
Arsenal don't have any old-timers to bring on tomorrow night. The nearest we've got is Eduardo who is nearing his 27th birthday. About the age that players begin to peak. He's had a year out, so he's probably going to peak a little later in his career, but we really need him to get back to his best. I really miss seeing him truly play. He has such skill and seemed to be that clinical finisher that we were missing.
Our only genuine old-timer is Campbell. But he won't be a 20 minute sub. He's going to be an integral part of our defence for the whole 20 minutes. Wouldn't mind him popping up with a headed goal, like his last appearance for us in the Champions League.
We should beat Porto, especially over the 2 legs. Porto will score against us, I just hope that Arsenal take the approach we've had for most of the season, that we'll score more than you. In Europe, lots of goals will suit us, especially tomorrow night. A couple of away goals, even if they score one or two will be great. Hopefully then we'll bring them back to the Emirates and finish them off. Unfortunately I have a feeling it will be a tight and cagey affair and there won't be many goals. I hope I am wrong.
Enjoy
'98
Maybe Rooney really is that good. He had loads of space again, especially for his second goal when Fletcher floated over his short range cross. When we played them, United and Rooney in particular seemed to have so much space. Maybe Rooney is just that good at getting himself in killer positions. However it did feel like Milan, like us when we played them, just weren't closing them down quick enough. And they were punished like we were a couple of weeks ago.
Rooney is looking truly world class. This might be an Arsenal blog, but credit where it is due. He is on fire and this kind of form could take England quite some distance in the World Cup this Summer. He was definitely the best player on the pitch until an old-timer arrived.....
Seedorf was absolute class. He was only on for the last 20 minutes, but his touch, vision, passing and his cheeky flicked goal reminded us all of what a great player he was (and obviously still is). The player he replaced flattered to deceive. Beckham couldn't even offer a decent free kick, just a half decent cross that enabled Ronaldinho to score via a lucky deflection.
Arsenal don't have any old-timers to bring on tomorrow night. The nearest we've got is Eduardo who is nearing his 27th birthday. About the age that players begin to peak. He's had a year out, so he's probably going to peak a little later in his career, but we really need him to get back to his best. I really miss seeing him truly play. He has such skill and seemed to be that clinical finisher that we were missing.
Our only genuine old-timer is Campbell. But he won't be a 20 minute sub. He's going to be an integral part of our defence for the whole 20 minutes. Wouldn't mind him popping up with a headed goal, like his last appearance for us in the Champions League.
We should beat Porto, especially over the 2 legs. Porto will score against us, I just hope that Arsenal take the approach we've had for most of the season, that we'll score more than you. In Europe, lots of goals will suit us, especially tomorrow night. A couple of away goals, even if they score one or two will be great. Hopefully then we'll bring them back to the Emirates and finish them off. Unfortunately I have a feeling it will be a tight and cagey affair and there won't be many goals. I hope I am wrong.
Enjoy
'98
Sunday, 7 February 2010
3rd Best but we can still win the league!
We are the third best team in the country.
The strange thing is, we could still win the league, but if we do, we don't really deserve it.
I imagine everyone else is doom and gloom, if you follow Arsenal. If you are in the media, or you support anyone else then its a case of licking your lips and saying I told you so.
Arsene has done amazingly well with the resources he has at his disposal. And we can't really moan because our resources are amazing compared to most teams. He is a brilliant manager. We are (and have been for years) punching above our weight.
At our peak. When we won the league or at least challenged every year, in the late 90s and early 2000s. We deserved to be there or thereabout. Often our first 11 was the best "team", we just didnt have the resources to have the best "squad". You could look at Man United and make direct player comparisons. Giggs and Pires. Henry & Van Nistelroy, Viera & Keane etc etc. We had quality players all over the pitch.
Now we have... Cesc - amazing. Arshavin - quality. And there;s Vermalen too. Those three would probably fit in Chelsea or Utd's side. But the rest, well they're very good, and then we have a lot of good players, and then we have Denilson.
So I don;t feel we have the best team, we definitely don't have the best squad, yet we still have a chance to win the League. I don't think we will, but the teams above us will drop more points, they have to play eachother and they have to play more of the top 7 sides. So if we focus and go for it, we could go on a long unbeaten run and still be in the race come May.
BUT we don't actually have a striker, and haven't had one since Van Persie got maimed ages ago. We do need a physical presence. I do blame Wenger for not going out and buying someone. Its unlikely they would be world class, but there are 17 other teams below us, and a million other clubs throughout Europe and the world. There must have been a player amongst them who could have done a job for us short term. Think about what United did when they got in Larsson.
So I don't think we'll win the league and it is very unlikely (but not impossible that we'll win the Champions League)
But I am not giving up yet. If we cling on to the spirit that saw us come back from 2-0 down v Bolton and Leige and the other times we have never given up. If we follow our Captain, who is desperate to win something wearing Red and White. Then who knows. We have to stay behind the team and support them. Vilification will achieve nothing. Let's not do a "Gallas" at Birmingham. Capitulate and give up before its time and it will be over.
I will continue to support and think positive and look forward to giving Liverpool a good tonking on Wednesday night.
If we don't think positive and get fully behind our team that night, then we only have our selves to blame.
Come on you reds!!
The strange thing is, we could still win the league, but if we do, we don't really deserve it.
I imagine everyone else is doom and gloom, if you follow Arsenal. If you are in the media, or you support anyone else then its a case of licking your lips and saying I told you so.
Arsene has done amazingly well with the resources he has at his disposal. And we can't really moan because our resources are amazing compared to most teams. He is a brilliant manager. We are (and have been for years) punching above our weight.
At our peak. When we won the league or at least challenged every year, in the late 90s and early 2000s. We deserved to be there or thereabout. Often our first 11 was the best "team", we just didnt have the resources to have the best "squad". You could look at Man United and make direct player comparisons. Giggs and Pires. Henry & Van Nistelroy, Viera & Keane etc etc. We had quality players all over the pitch.
Now we have... Cesc - amazing. Arshavin - quality. And there;s Vermalen too. Those three would probably fit in Chelsea or Utd's side. But the rest, well they're very good, and then we have a lot of good players, and then we have Denilson.
So I don;t feel we have the best team, we definitely don't have the best squad, yet we still have a chance to win the League. I don't think we will, but the teams above us will drop more points, they have to play eachother and they have to play more of the top 7 sides. So if we focus and go for it, we could go on a long unbeaten run and still be in the race come May.
BUT we don't actually have a striker, and haven't had one since Van Persie got maimed ages ago. We do need a physical presence. I do blame Wenger for not going out and buying someone. Its unlikely they would be world class, but there are 17 other teams below us, and a million other clubs throughout Europe and the world. There must have been a player amongst them who could have done a job for us short term. Think about what United did when they got in Larsson.
So I don't think we'll win the league and it is very unlikely (but not impossible that we'll win the Champions League)
But I am not giving up yet. If we cling on to the spirit that saw us come back from 2-0 down v Bolton and Leige and the other times we have never given up. If we follow our Captain, who is desperate to win something wearing Red and White. Then who knows. We have to stay behind the team and support them. Vilification will achieve nothing. Let's not do a "Gallas" at Birmingham. Capitulate and give up before its time and it will be over.
I will continue to support and think positive and look forward to giving Liverpool a good tonking on Wednesday night.
If we don't think positive and get fully behind our team that night, then we only have our selves to blame.
Come on you reds!!
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Cup half-Fuller
Seeing the line up worried me, but it worried me less when I saw Fabregas there. It was a sign that we wanted to win this game and I never really doubted that, but we looked lightweight. Leightweight in defence in particular. We are leaking goals with our first choice of defenders so it was asking for trouble by putting in such an inexperienced and unknown back four.
Campbell did well and doesn't look like he'll be out of place in any game we play, if we need him.
Silvestre showed that he's experienced and is fighting for our cause, but he's not as pacey as we need sometimes.
Coqueline looked nervy for much of his time on the pitch. He improved, but we needed solidity and confidence from our players to show Stoke that we won't be bullied into defeat.
Traore is quick, and the best at whipping in a cross out of all our possible leftbacks - but he is also not good enough yet - lacking nouse when it comes to positioning.
We looked heavyweight in terms of JET, but he's still learning his trade. In three year's time, I'm sure he'd be an excellent choice to stick in there, hold it up and cause some difficulties for Stoke. He did well but there was no-one around him for the first 2/3 of the game to cause Stoke any major cause for concern.
It was nice to see a mix of experience of youth - but the experienced players lacked quality and the young players lacked physical presence. I wanted to believe that we'd win the game, as we have never given up all season and turned some remarkable scorelines around. But away, against a well organised, physical side with such a weakened side, it was a big order.
I don't blame Wenger, I'm sure he thought we could win the game. It was very close and much closer than the final score suggests. If I'm going to blame anyone, it's Denilson who let Sidebe run down the wing unchallenged and completely gave up the ghost, allowing him to knock the ball in that led to their goal. But this is the consequence of having the type of squad we have. But with players returning and a full strength side capable of beating anyone, we have to prioritise the other 2 competitions we are in. If we win the league then this defeat is a price more than worth paying. Even coming second is a major step forward. This team is staying together, growing together and only going to get even better.
Just think back to when we used to win the league or challenge on a regular basis last decade. We always lacked strength in depth, but had the best first choice side. If our best players kept fit, then we had the chance of winning the title. Well we're kind of back to that scenario - but this time we are not reliant on our best players anymore. We have a system and players who play the "Arsenal Way" and that's why we are more resiliant. That's why we can challenge against the suped up teams of Chelsea and Man City.
I still feel very positive and can't wait to see how we shape up against the biggest and the best over the next month or so.
'98
Deni
Campbell did well and doesn't look like he'll be out of place in any game we play, if we need him.
Silvestre showed that he's experienced and is fighting for our cause, but he's not as pacey as we need sometimes.
Coqueline looked nervy for much of his time on the pitch. He improved, but we needed solidity and confidence from our players to show Stoke that we won't be bullied into defeat.
Traore is quick, and the best at whipping in a cross out of all our possible leftbacks - but he is also not good enough yet - lacking nouse when it comes to positioning.
We looked heavyweight in terms of JET, but he's still learning his trade. In three year's time, I'm sure he'd be an excellent choice to stick in there, hold it up and cause some difficulties for Stoke. He did well but there was no-one around him for the first 2/3 of the game to cause Stoke any major cause for concern.
It was nice to see a mix of experience of youth - but the experienced players lacked quality and the young players lacked physical presence. I wanted to believe that we'd win the game, as we have never given up all season and turned some remarkable scorelines around. But away, against a well organised, physical side with such a weakened side, it was a big order.
I don't blame Wenger, I'm sure he thought we could win the game. It was very close and much closer than the final score suggests. If I'm going to blame anyone, it's Denilson who let Sidebe run down the wing unchallenged and completely gave up the ghost, allowing him to knock the ball in that led to their goal. But this is the consequence of having the type of squad we have. But with players returning and a full strength side capable of beating anyone, we have to prioritise the other 2 competitions we are in. If we win the league then this defeat is a price more than worth paying. Even coming second is a major step forward. This team is staying together, growing together and only going to get even better.
Just think back to when we used to win the league or challenge on a regular basis last decade. We always lacked strength in depth, but had the best first choice side. If our best players kept fit, then we had the chance of winning the title. Well we're kind of back to that scenario - but this time we are not reliant on our best players anymore. We have a system and players who play the "Arsenal Way" and that's why we are more resiliant. That's why we can challenge against the suped up teams of Chelsea and Man City.
I still feel very positive and can't wait to see how we shape up against the biggest and the best over the next month or so.
'98
Deni
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