*** Pre-season Friendlies Thread ***
- Thread starter Robbo
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Caporegime
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I actually quite like that he tried to score from a tight angle because it shows a willingness to shoot, Chamakh for a long time has no intent of shooting, just holding it up and passing it off, but it was still a quite tame shot that was easily saved. However his other shots, while saved, were both very saveable positions. It was early, one game and he's not at his sharpest, just that IF he'd slotted it cooling into the corner I'd have been very impressed, putting it almost right at the keeper is something ALL strikers do, just would have been a nice start if he'd done better.
He did some worthwhile work, he did pass it in ackward situations in the box okay, but he didn't create or do anything brilliant.
That isn't a bad sign, I think more that Chamakh and Gervinho were not crazy young players who came from a good season in france, and sucked. He scored 11 goals more than Gervinho and I think 12 more than Chamakhs best, so I was hoping to see something instantly stand out as being way better than either of those two. Hehe, long gone are the days I trust Wenger's every french buy
Meh, I'm almost getting excited but catching myself and stopping it. I've said before that the line up we COULD put out could actually be fantastic(bar fullbacks), but the line up I think is most likely with Wenger in charge is the problem.
Song, Djourou, Diaby, Denilson, Gervinho, Walcott and probably Gibbs/Santos/Sagna in there too are the types of players where you can get away with playing one, but you'll rarely if ever beat top teams, play 2 or 3 of them and you'll not win the league, not win the crucial top 4 games, and lose other stupid games due to them.
Djourou I think despite the new contract we won't see too much of this year except cup's and injury to one of the first three cb's(though we might see him early season due to fitness of Mert/Kos who have barely played). Diaby I think we'll see far too much of, Song we'll almost certainly see play mostly first team. Walcott and Song are likely to be first team, Gibbs/Santos because there is no other choices(though Verm/Kos/Mert is probably a better option because those two are out of position SO often). Diaby, we'll have to see.
Rumours might see us get rid of Walcott and Song, that would do wonders for our first team, but when you look at squad and home grown numbers I can't see Arsenal letting either go because our youngsters aren't even remotely good enough to play first team and step up, and we likely can't buy anyone. We're basically over the limit afaik on the 17 foreign over 21's we can name.
I'd love to see Arshavin/Podolski our first team wide men, again I just don't see it happening in reality.
Podolski, Arteta, Santi, Wilshire, Arshavin with RVP upfront is a jizz worthy line up, with Wilshire superb and Arteta pretty decent defensively and all 6 would be excellent offensively, it would be epic.
He did some worthwhile work, he did pass it in ackward situations in the box okay, but he didn't create or do anything brilliant.
That isn't a bad sign, I think more that Chamakh and Gervinho were not crazy young players who came from a good season in france, and sucked. He scored 11 goals more than Gervinho and I think 12 more than Chamakhs best, so I was hoping to see something instantly stand out as being way better than either of those two. Hehe, long gone are the days I trust Wenger's every french buy
Meh, I'm almost getting excited but catching myself and stopping it. I've said before that the line up we COULD put out could actually be fantastic(bar fullbacks), but the line up I think is most likely with Wenger in charge is the problem.
Song, Djourou, Diaby, Denilson, Gervinho, Walcott and probably Gibbs/Santos/Sagna in there too are the types of players where you can get away with playing one, but you'll rarely if ever beat top teams, play 2 or 3 of them and you'll not win the league, not win the crucial top 4 games, and lose other stupid games due to them.
Djourou I think despite the new contract we won't see too much of this year except cup's and injury to one of the first three cb's(though we might see him early season due to fitness of Mert/Kos who have barely played). Diaby I think we'll see far too much of, Song we'll almost certainly see play mostly first team. Walcott and Song are likely to be first team, Gibbs/Santos because there is no other choices(though Verm/Kos/Mert is probably a better option because those two are out of position SO often). Diaby, we'll have to see.
Rumours might see us get rid of Walcott and Song, that would do wonders for our first team, but when you look at squad and home grown numbers I can't see Arsenal letting either go because our youngsters aren't even remotely good enough to play first team and step up, and we likely can't buy anyone. We're basically over the limit afaik on the 17 foreign over 21's we can name.
I'd love to see Arshavin/Podolski our first team wide men, again I just don't see it happening in reality.
Podolski, Arteta, Santi, Wilshire, Arshavin with RVP upfront is a jizz worthy line up, with Wilshire superb and Arteta pretty decent defensively and all 6 would be excellent offensively, it would be epic.
I watched most of the game yesterday and have to say it was really interesting to watch, kind of getting excited myself now!
Cazorla looked very handy indeed in the middle of the park. As expected he has excellent passing even when put in a tight spot. In Cazorla I really think we have a more mature Nasri replacement.
Poldi looked so much sharper than he did in the Euros and again was a signing I was already hugely excited about before the Euros let alone seeing him actually play in the Arsenal lineup yesterday. Smart footballer, cool headed, experienced and a clinical finisher. As long as he can adapt to the pace and physicality of the PL then there is absolutely no reason why this guy will not shine.
Finally we have Giroud. I'll admit I know bugger all about this guy apart from watching some Youtube clips of him. Judgement is reserved on him as he could turn out to be another Chamakh. But I will agree with DM, I liked his willingness to shoot and thought he was unlucky to be denied 3 times by decent saves.
Cazorla looked very handy indeed in the middle of the park. As expected he has excellent passing even when put in a tight spot. In Cazorla I really think we have a more mature Nasri replacement.
Poldi looked so much sharper than he did in the Euros and again was a signing I was already hugely excited about before the Euros let alone seeing him actually play in the Arsenal lineup yesterday. Smart footballer, cool headed, experienced and a clinical finisher. As long as he can adapt to the pace and physicality of the PL then there is absolutely no reason why this guy will not shine.
Finally we have Giroud. I'll admit I know bugger all about this guy apart from watching some Youtube clips of him. Judgement is reserved on him as he could turn out to be another Chamakh. But I will agree with DM, I liked his willingness to shoot and thought he was unlucky to be denied 3 times by decent saves.
Soldato
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wilshere is back in october, I reckon then:
Szczęsny
Sagna - Koscielny - Vermaelen - Gibbs
Song - Wilshere
Walcott Podolski
Van Persie
We now have a lot of options however.
Soldato
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He's always shown good displays, just really inconsistent and been unlucky with injuries, Potential has always been there. His partnership with at the beginning of last season was great.
Caporegime
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Some people don't even rate Anderson at all. He is a good player yet ti show his true worth due to injury and manager.
Soldato
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I know it's not the point
but...Not even the same calibre of trick, I can perform back heels to my hearts content in matches, piece of ****. I've never once fluffed it like that. At worst it goes stray.
I laughed at the time, but we all know he is going to be a fantastic player if he gets the time and support around him.
Caporegime
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Anderson isn't good, at all, people seem to think if you've ever had a good game in the premiership that automatically means you're a good player, rubbish. Heskey has had great games, Zaki had a great season, neither are great players, or good, or even okay players, they are rubbish.
The difference between a crap and a good player is how often you can put in good performances, Anderson can't put in multiple great performances because he's not very good. Being able to run fast, or dribble a bit, or be powerful don't make you a good footballer, being able to use those things to influence a football game can, Anderson can't.
He'll run forward with the ball with great power, then you'll see Rooney, Berbatov, Nani, Scholes all shake their head when he ignores 5 better passes then blasts it from 30 yards and gets no where near a goal, or he'll ignore the pass and try and dribble through a defence and score, but will promptly lose the ball at the first player.
Anderson didn't look good in that first 5-6 games last season, Cleverley did, and Anderson was next to him, nothing more. Did you notice how when Cleverley played you had an epic start to the season, when he got injured, Anderson suddenly seemed crap? yeah, its because players can look good because of the players around them being great, and when those guys stop playing great, that guy who was being carried suddenly looks rubbish? Here's a hint, that rarely happens to good players. Cesc would look fantastic even in a game where they would lose 3-0, Anderson will look like the most vunerable player on the pitch when Utd lose.
He's had plenty of years, plenty of games, and hasn't shown much of anything, looking competant when the other 10 players are dominating a game isn't hard, and isn't proof a player is good, looking crap when the rest of the team isn't performing... does indicate something.
The difference between a crap and a good player is how often you can put in good performances, Anderson can't put in multiple great performances because he's not very good. Being able to run fast, or dribble a bit, or be powerful don't make you a good footballer, being able to use those things to influence a football game can, Anderson can't.
He'll run forward with the ball with great power, then you'll see Rooney, Berbatov, Nani, Scholes all shake their head when he ignores 5 better passes then blasts it from 30 yards and gets no where near a goal, or he'll ignore the pass and try and dribble through a defence and score, but will promptly lose the ball at the first player.
Anderson didn't look good in that first 5-6 games last season, Cleverley did, and Anderson was next to him, nothing more. Did you notice how when Cleverley played you had an epic start to the season, when he got injured, Anderson suddenly seemed crap? yeah, its because players can look good because of the players around them being great, and when those guys stop playing great, that guy who was being carried suddenly looks rubbish? Here's a hint, that rarely happens to good players. Cesc would look fantastic even in a game where they would lose 3-0, Anderson will look like the most vunerable player on the pitch when Utd lose.
He's had plenty of years, plenty of games, and hasn't shown much of anything, looking competant when the other 10 players are dominating a game isn't hard, and isn't proof a player is good, looking crap when the rest of the team isn't performing... does indicate something.