International Friendlies – England 29/05 & 02/06 *** Spoilers ***
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Caporegime
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Worth pointing out that from AOC's angle running on to it the best thing to do is hit it, not least as from where Walcott was he had a defender coming in from his right and Walcott finishing smartly with his left foot... lol, he's likely have let it go across him then lost it. AOC should have shot, Walcott was at a crap angle and as per usual side footed it, he has no power and rarely scores from that kind of angle, its almost always a tame shot. From his angle Walcott should undoubtedly put it across the box, or even at worst blasted it towards hte far corner full power to make any save more likely to drop in the box for others.
Walcott is the same, a whingey little **** who acts like he's the best finisher in the world and should automatically always be passed to and should always take the shot if he can.
Caporegime
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Dull game. Tactics were basically, give it to the wingers and let them take everyone on but make sure no one supports them because they could leave a tiny bit of space for Ireland to exploit or hit it out of play so no one can't get the ball. Lampard and Carrick are basically quarterbacks and must not venture forward at any cost.
I agree with you.
AOC has no composure though. Whenever he shoots, he is clearly just twatting the ball and seeing what happens. That time he was trying to side foot it anywhere and scuffed it straight at the keeper earlier in the match he just lashed at the ball and it went wide. I personally think he is really really poor and shouldn't be anywhere near England. He just runs around to no real purpose. It might be that he is still trying to find his 'game' but thus far I don't see anything of merit in him.
There's little doubt he's massively overrated.
Baines (and i must begrudgingly admit cole) is a great example of exactly how to be an awesome player. He does the basics of his position to perfection and adds little extra bits that makes him superb.
Rooney, AOC and Walcott are the polar opposite. They have no mastery of the basics of their position (including teamwork, work ethic and movement) and then spend all their time showing off their 'special skills'
Caporegime
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Yup, personally I thought more than anything else, the hunger AOC showed what, just after xmas last season was the most obvious part of his game and it was so liked by the fans because at that point Arsenal were pretty ruddy woeful and having someone actually driving forwards was a rare treat(in a season with no Santi and Wilshire injured). But I said back then, 5-6 games in he still really hadn't produced much quality at all, and potential and running and work is great, but without any end product its all a bit of a waste, and frankly he hasn't even looked anywhere near as good as in those first few games in now a further season and what a third later.
Of course, Wenger has barely used him this year, and I said the same for Vela and others, the form you can show when you have been first team before, or at least first team only a few months before, and the form you can show 2 years later in a rare outing are just different. I would expect AOC to be in worse form today, than when he joined Arsenal as he's barely played since. Would he be better if he played more, not sure, better form, almost certainly but I'm not actually convinced, nor have I ever been, that he's actually any good.
There is still something to like about him, where Walcott see's someone ahead and usually turns and passes back to Sagna with a "that guy looks like he wants to hurt me" petrified look on his face, AOC will try and run at the same player, which is something we need. But he needs to turn his pace, power and maybe the right instincts and good movement(in terms of when and where to run forward, and not always passing the buck) into effective end product and really, he needs to show that soon.
Of course, Wenger has barely used him this year, and I said the same for Vela and others, the form you can show when you have been first team before, or at least first team only a few months before, and the form you can show 2 years later in a rare outing are just different. I would expect AOC to be in worse form today, than when he joined Arsenal as he's barely played since. Would he be better if he played more, not sure, better form, almost certainly but I'm not actually convinced, nor have I ever been, that he's actually any good.
There is still something to like about him, where Walcott see's someone ahead and usually turns and passes back to Sagna with a "that guy looks like he wants to hurt me" petrified look on his face, AOC will try and run at the same player, which is something we need. But he needs to turn his pace, power and maybe the right instincts and good movement(in terms of when and where to run forward, and not always passing the buck) into effective end product and really, he needs to show that soon.
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Soldato
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Caporegime
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Ringing endorsement from Linekar last night. Accused Hodgson of taking us back to the dark ages 
Not sure if Hodgson's style of football is more amusing or the fact Linekar's only just realised how **** it really is. Not as if Roy's changed his winning style to adapt with the times over the last 30 years.
Not sure if Hodgson's style of football is more amusing or the fact Linekar's only just realised how **** it really is. Not as if Roy's changed his winning style to adapt with the times over the last 30 years.