Totality agree, that many chances it really could have been a 6 nil win. I don't understand what the problem is?
Midweek Football Thread. Champions League. 29/30 *spoliers*
- Thread starter Tummy
- Start date
Totality agree, that many chances it really could have been a 6 nil win. I don't understand what the problem is?
This game tonight was completely down to Benitez being an absolute ****. To play Aurelio in such an important part of the pitch, knowing our defense is shaky was absurd. Not only that, but to play him with LUCAS in that position is like begging for an *** kicking.
The first 5-10 mins you could see our players had the confidence from previous games and the opposition gave us respect and backed up wearily, but then suddenly they realized that our midfield was non-existent and they completely took advantage of it and were able to put pressure on our fragile defense.
There was no need for Benitez to change things, absolutely no ****** need to move Gerrard forward. How Aurelio playing in midfield with Lucas was even in the equation is beyond belief. He could have played Benayoun, Riera or Babel in the advanced position behind Torres. He could have even played Aurelio on the left wing if he wanted him to play so much.
Absolutely insane by Benitez tonight and I just hope that it doesn't effect the players going into the Chelsea game.
The first 5-10 mins you could see our players had the confidence from previous games and the opposition gave us respect and backed up wearily, but then suddenly they realized that our midfield was non-existent and they completely took advantage of it and were able to put pressure on our fragile defense.
There was no need for Benitez to change things, absolutely no ****** need to move Gerrard forward. How Aurelio playing in midfield with Lucas was even in the equation is beyond belief. He could have played Benayoun, Riera or Babel in the advanced position behind Torres. He could have even played Aurelio on the left wing if he wanted him to play so much.
Absolutely insane by Benitez tonight and I just hope that it doesn't effect the players going into the Chelsea game.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 33,188
4-3-3 fantastic, woo.
Was it within 60 seconds of the second sub and moving to a more 4-4-2 and having two strikers in the box we scored the first goal? With Fabregas involved in both goals heavily, the second theres some real movement and the defence have more than one player to mark.
Against Fulham we moved to a more 4-4-2, against City we were more 4-4-2 in those final 25 mins where we could, with more luck, have scored 3-4 goals.
Diaby is beyond awful, Eboue even at right back got into the box and created more than him, another good cutback that RVP on better form would have put away.
RVP doesn't look as good as last year as rather than gaining form in a good partnership, he's playing 75mins of every game as a lone striker with no support, and 15 mins of random 6 striker panic formation Wenger puts on at the end of games.
Was it within 60 seconds of the second sub and moving to a more 4-4-2 and having two strikers in the box we scored the first goal? With Fabregas involved in both goals heavily, the second theres some real movement and the defence have more than one player to mark.
Against Fulham we moved to a more 4-4-2, against City we were more 4-4-2 in those final 25 mins where we could, with more luck, have scored 3-4 goals.
Diaby is beyond awful, Eboue even at right back got into the box and created more than him, another good cutback that RVP on better form would have put away.
RVP doesn't look as good as last year as rather than gaining form in a good partnership, he's playing 75mins of every game as a lone striker with no support, and 15 mins of random 6 striker panic formation Wenger puts on at the end of games.
Man of Honour
Yeap, it's to do with patience again, I think Wenger thinks the players he has now have the speed of mind of ones he used to have. He can't teach them in an identical fashion. A lot of our players played some bad passes tonight, it was just we were lucky that they rarely ventured far enough up to take advantage.
Not really sure either, maybe it's because by the time we've so eloquantly danced into the final third we not entirely sure what to do / are too temporarily tired. Or we just lose focus in the box. Or maybe we just need shooting lessons. While the keeper did well, most of our shots toward him weren't that hard to deal with.
It's easy to blame the system or tactics after you lose but you could see the way we played in the 2nd half with the exact same system that, that wasn't the problem.
It was the performance of the players within the system that cost us; today was the first time since he broke into the side that Insua's really struggled, he got caught forward far too often (our lack of ball retention highlighted that) and Lucas and Aurelio vacated the space in front of our back 4, leaving them exposed too often also (we had the same problem with Gerrard and Lucas vs Debrecen 2 weeks ago too).
As much as I hate Merson as a pundit, he may ne right, how great of a buy would've been Huntelaar for us?
Or atleast someone else that could mop up these countless chances we create.
And according to todays news, Le Boss has £80m to spend, but I actually respect his frugal approach to the game.
Or atleast someone else that could mop up these countless chances we create.
And according to todays news, Le Boss has £80m to spend, but I actually respect his frugal approach to the game.
Last edited:
Soldato
I'm amazed we had 22 shots all on goal in the last 20 minutes when we went to 4-4-2!
That is true, what does that say? /rhetoric.
Caporegime
Phewww finally Arsenal managed to score...was getting a tad worried there that Olympiakos would have walked away with a draw but thank god for Edu...nicely set up that goal for RvP.
Arshavins goal was just class...cheeky backheel haha...have some of that...although it was offside but nevermind am glad he got his much deserved goal...what a player hes become though...one of the best buys i think Wenger has made in recent yrs...the guys worked his arse off for most of the game.
Anyhow 6 pts out of 6 so am happy with that...means we are top although lets be honest...our group is pretty easy
.
Player wise Diaby is rubbish...should have taken him off earlier...he just doesnt have the slightest clue when on attack...Vela i didnt think he did that well...there was one attack where he took too many touches...should have passed it to Fabregas i think but thought he could make something happen...when nothing happened and gave the ball away...i guess his inexperience showed there or was it his selfishness.
Quite surprised Rosicky came off...thought RvP might have come off but looks like it paid off...Rosicky played a blinder and i hope he manages to stay fit
Liverpool losing was a bit of a shocker...they got Lyon up next dont they and Lyon put 4 goals in the back of the net...still expect Liverpool to go through as the other 2 teams are decidedly average.
Arshavins goal was just class...cheeky backheel haha...have some of that...although it was offside but nevermind am glad he got his much deserved goal...what a player hes become though...one of the best buys i think Wenger has made in recent yrs...the guys worked his arse off for most of the game.
Anyhow 6 pts out of 6 so am happy with that...means we are top although lets be honest...our group is pretty easy
.Player wise Diaby is rubbish...should have taken him off earlier...he just doesnt have the slightest clue when on attack...Vela i didnt think he did that well...there was one attack where he took too many touches...should have passed it to Fabregas i think but thought he could make something happen...when nothing happened and gave the ball away...i guess his inexperience showed there or was it his selfishness.
Quite surprised Rosicky came off...thought RvP might have come off but looks like it paid off...Rosicky played a blinder and i hope he manages to stay fit
Liverpool losing was a bit of a shocker...they got Lyon up next dont they and Lyon put 4 goals in the back of the net...still expect Liverpool to go through as the other 2 teams are decidedly average.
Last edited:
Caporegime
- Joined
- 12 Mar 2009
- Posts
- 26,776
I appreciate Wenger's transfer policy too. But I do think this January we need another centre half and we definitely need a prolific goal scorer. Maybe a Spaniard or Argentine, Villa or Aguero, somebody who is a big name for the right reasons, and even though they cost a lot they are well worth the price and just what we need right now.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 12 Mar 2009
- Posts
- 26,776
LOL! I must say that I spat my tea out laughing at that.
Crap. Double post sorry
Caporegime
oh and that tall blonde guy up top (name escaped me
You mean Bender boy....sorry i meant Bendtner??
Oh dear Rangers giving a showing up by Sevilla at Ibrox, so far 3-0. Referee having a shocker of a night but the Rangers players can't handle the pace of the Sevilla counter-attack.
Edit: Now 4-0.Walter's favourite 4-5-1 being ripped apart.
Yup to be fair up until they scored it was even match good call for a penalty not given so if its not a penalty its a booking for a dive ref gave neither yet booked a player in secodn half for a dive in the box thought he had a shocker from stasrt to finish. Soft freekick that lead to the goal however the defending of it was shocking. Thats when Sevilla showed what they are good at as up until then they looked average. They are a very very good counter attacking side. Ripper of a consolation goal from Novo too little too late though. My only other critisism was it took Smith again too long (3-0 down) to make any changes. It was also more a 4-1-4-1 formation tonight and I thought for the first half we were more than a match for the side from Spain. With as many chances as they had.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 33,188
I have no problem with his transfer policy, I have no need to have an expensive player, a free transfer that can play football can be as good as a 30million pound player.
The thing is, if you buy any players and they time and time again prove they aren't good enough, paying them is a waste. Diaby was woeful, has he started every game since the Pompie game, yes he finished two chances well, he was fairly quiet in that game apart from the goals except when trying to run past Mullins, who I with two bad knee's and overweight could have done. He's been terrible in every game since, considering Eboue creates more chances, is far better defensively, is much faster, why we keep dropping Sagna to play Eboue rather than drop Diaby I don't know. But we could just play a 4-4-2 with another striker instead of him, Vela, Eduardo, Bendtner, Arshavin and in the future Nasri can play withdrawn striker also. Theres maybe 10 players in the squad who are simply a lot better than Diaby already, why we start Diaby I do not know.
Do I find it surprising that we scored within 60 seconds of him going off, no, the movement of the entire team was FAR better when we switched to 4-4-2 with players who know where to run.
I'd happily get a couple cheap players and try them even if they turn out bad, than play Diaby who we KNOW isn't good enough.
I don't doubt that Wenger would spend if he thought it was necessary, the problem, as it has been for 3 years, is that Wenger thinks Diaby, Song and Denilson are good enough.
I can't see any reason whatsoever to buying an Aguero or Villa, even if they were only 15mil, because in a 4-3-3 with one real striker being played at a time, we have more than enough quality. WE have the players, we have a great squad with tonnes of depth in all attacking area's, we could do with a centre back, even though we have 5 centre backs. THe problem is faith in the wrong players in the squad who have clearly underperformed game after game.
The thing is, if you buy any players and they time and time again prove they aren't good enough, paying them is a waste. Diaby was woeful, has he started every game since the Pompie game, yes he finished two chances well, he was fairly quiet in that game apart from the goals except when trying to run past Mullins, who I with two bad knee's and overweight could have done. He's been terrible in every game since, considering Eboue creates more chances, is far better defensively, is much faster, why we keep dropping Sagna to play Eboue rather than drop Diaby I don't know. But we could just play a 4-4-2 with another striker instead of him, Vela, Eduardo, Bendtner, Arshavin and in the future Nasri can play withdrawn striker also. Theres maybe 10 players in the squad who are simply a lot better than Diaby already, why we start Diaby I do not know.
Do I find it surprising that we scored within 60 seconds of him going off, no, the movement of the entire team was FAR better when we switched to 4-4-2 with players who know where to run.
I'd happily get a couple cheap players and try them even if they turn out bad, than play Diaby who we KNOW isn't good enough.
I don't doubt that Wenger would spend if he thought it was necessary, the problem, as it has been for 3 years, is that Wenger thinks Diaby, Song and Denilson are good enough.
I can't see any reason whatsoever to buying an Aguero or Villa, even if they were only 15mil, because in a 4-3-3 with one real striker being played at a time, we have more than enough quality. WE have the players, we have a great squad with tonnes of depth in all attacking area's, we could do with a centre back, even though we have 5 centre backs. THe problem is faith in the wrong players in the squad who have clearly underperformed game after game.
Last edited:
Yeah, but you don't get it, the shots we had when we played 4-4-2 were better shots, obviously!
Caporegime
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 33,188
NO you're right they were worse shots, hence 2-0 with 4-4-2, and 0-0 with 70 minutes of 4-3-3. Yup, the other shots were better, of course, it wasn't 22 shots on target, but don't let that worry you.
Hahaha I'm so amazed that went completely over your head I'm not even sure how to respond.
Ok, I'll try this simply. The fact the majority of our shots came while we were playing 4-3-3 would surely imply that there was nothing wrong with the system, simply some poor shooting/finishing from our forwards, wouldn't it?*
*Well, obviously it won't for you, because logic doesn't exist in your world.
Ok, I'll try this simply. The fact the majority of our shots came while we were playing 4-3-3 would surely imply that there was nothing wrong with the system, simply some poor shooting/finishing from our forwards, wouldn't it?*
*Well, obviously it won't for you, because logic doesn't exist in your world.
Last edited:
Soldato
That move in the first half where Cesc hit the bar would have gone in if we had played 4-4-2! FACT.
Song played well again.
Song played well again.