Going to sound daft in light of our goal scoring record but I'm glad we didn't go looking for a striker in January. Did we really want another over priced "decent" player. This year was to gel what will be the backbone of the club for the next 4 years. I think it's happening slowly: the lack of goals is coming from everyone trying too hard & not just relaxing & doing what they were bought for in the first place. But it is coming. I've been critical of a couple of them but overall I'm actually happy. Let's be surgeon like in the transfer market from now on. If a world class striker becomes available fine, throw money at it. The same for any other position on the park. Otherwise develop what we have. World class players aren't just sitting about waiting for us though. Patience is needed. I don't see the logic in thinking the solution to mediocre players is adding more of them in panic.
Totally agree, "This year was to gel what will be the backbone of the club for the next 4 years." - Good comment. Some people are too reactionary to one bad result and forget we are three quarters of a season into a rebuild. What we want to achieve will take time, and patience will be required.
I dont think they are mediocre, I think ti hasn't clicked yet, only in some games it has clicked, but it is going to be more frequent the more they play together, I am happy we can do that to arsenal at this stage in the project, finishing apart we ran rings around them for 70 minutes. I am certain that lot can become more than the sum of their parts
Reina should have been 3 yards closer to RvP when he got the header. Reina should have been 3 yards closer when RvP got the volley. In both cases he would have had a far better chance to block both attempts
Nani far worse than downing today, far worse and not for the first time this season. Rooney can look worse than Carroll Carrick v Adam pfffffftt Adam any day Jones creakin when he's been haled future legend If you get goals ^ can be covered up, we are not covering it up with goals so players are getting slated, downing has created lots no one takes em and Downing gets blamed
Anyone see money ball, the possible comparisons with some stuff with Liverpool is interesting. Are we siging players based on similar things? Thats how Henry got Boston success.
I have to clarify; I personally don't think the players are mediocre: just putting forward the idea to those that do that racing around the transfer market as a reaction to poor results will not get you better players than you have, just more of the same. But let's be realistic, take away the point that we are unlikely to be in the champions league next year can somebody name two or even one players that are better than the first choice we currently have & more importantly want to come or leave where they are? Reina Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique Lucas Downing Henderson Adam Carroll Suarez I have deliberately left out Gerrard as I believe he is world class but importantly likely to feature less and less over next years. Same with Bellamy. Remember they have to be realistically available and better than those they replace.
Isla for Johnson Honda for Henderson Luuk De Jong for Carroll Sissoko for Adam I'd like those four tbh...throw in Hoilet also for width options
How about giving them 18 months to become consistent, I wouldn't mind some carefully considered additions but lets not be taking risks on swapping out players before things have really kicked off even. Things have just gone against us, some seasons it happens. Our current position is not down to who is poor who is not, it is down to pretty much everyone bar enrique agger skertel having poor form, getting injured.. Agger, Lucas Gerrard, Suarez 8 games out Gerrard not really on great form Maxi not as good as last year, spearing a plus. But.. with what we have we have caused problems for all teams above us, should have beaten them all at least once but for the end result.. goals, all this would be left for deeper examinations if the goals were there, United, tripe except takin their chances so they will certainly have seemed to play better, good at the back and took chances. Confidence in front of goal must be at an all time low, this has affected things too. I think we have lost out on poor choices as much as poor finishing, I think we could have created 30% more chances with better decisions, it will take time, better to now get in a replacement for Dirk and Bellers, getting old, players with pace that can finish.
I watched moneyball this week, and the comparisons are quite strong. We are doing the right things, getting in the right areas, just not applying the finishing touch at the moment. Let's hope it comes good like it did in Oakland.
We're underperforming. No more, no less. The management had money to spend and they've spent it poorly. They had money to strengthen in January too, an chose not to. We've had the same problem all season and it still hasn't been addressed. We're doing better than under Roy, but that wasn't too hard to do. We were certainly better during rafas final year. I don't think Kenny should be sacked, but I think he can an should take most the blame for a season in which we should have capitalised on Chelsea and arsenals torrid form. When they're back to full strength we're in for a tough time. God the table is looking ugly for us at the moment.
I think this summer we saw lost of new singings to form a good squad and cleared out most of the deadwood. I hate using the term but it was always going to be a "transitional" year with a new manager, new players & new owners. Beforehand we were having to get 2 or 3 average players to make up the squad rather than getting that quality player to make a difference. I'd be more than happy if we kept the the same team for next year but only added 1 £20mil player.
Adam, carroll, Henderson and downing. Not saying they are terrible but there are better players out there for sure who could play their roles more effectively.
Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Lucas and Suarez I have no issue with. As an immediate impact, there as to be a better option than Andy Carroll. I have no doubt he will come good but we are suffering in the mean time. Competition for his place would be a good thing. I don't want to see him leave just yet. Downing is a better player than he has shown so far this season. But, if his form continues then we should look at an alternative. That does not mean get rid of him but merely provide him with some competition. Henderson is a good player and I see him in similar light as Lucas when he first arrived. He is young and being played in a different position to what he is used to. He needs time to learn and adjust, he needs to learn when to try things and when to keep it simple. I have no doubt he will come good and, in the mean time, his engine and determination is a good thing to have in the side. Certainly don't want to see him going anywhere! Lastly, there is Charlie Adam. Well, if there isn't a better option out there that is willing to join us then we are a lot ****ter than I thought! He can't tackle, his passing is hit and miss, his shooting is a bit like Lampard's in that if there isn't a deflection than its not going on target, he is slow and ball greedy too. When he joined I thought he would be a good squad player (a good back-up for Gerrard were my actual words) and it was not so long ago I was still sticking to that, but my patience with him has gone. I just hope Gerrard can kick these injuries to one side and lead the side.
I find this such a boring view. We've "wasted" money. Think of who we got rid of! All of the players we've signed are capable of being part of a title winning squad. Would they all start every game? No, but you'd want all of them in your squad. Hicks and Gillett gutted us. Hodgson helped speed that along quicker than our worst nightmares. Charlie Adam only cost about £8million, and given the price of Premier League-ready British playmakers that was a decent price. Is he really £11million less valuable (not even accounting for inflation) than Michael Carrick? Wilson Palacios cost Stoke almost exactly the same from Stoke! We sold Torres for £50mil and replaced him with 2 players, both of whom i'm convinced if resold in their prime will make more than we sold Fernando for, and just look how much more effective they are, even if Carroll hasn't hit his stride yet. Downing has had a slow start, but had people converted his crosses etc then there'd be much less worry. Ashley Young went missing for Utd between the Spurs game and his decent start to the season yet it's not big news as he's playing in a settled team winning games. Coates, despite warming our bench, still plays for Uruguay and many think he will be a huge star in the future. Henderson is captain of the u21s and and has shown me enough to think the guy could be a big star as his confidence builds and he develops. Enrique has the potential to be our left back for 5years plus. Bellamy is considered by many to be the signing of the season. ------------------------- Whats the theme with most of these? They need a little time. It took man city £150mil and extortionate wages to get in to the Champions League. Our net spend is £70mil odd (having reduced the wage bill) and we've won a cup within 2 years of facing absolute oblivion. So for £70million (which has paid for itself somewhat given the cup win and already qualifying for the Europa) we have put ourselves in a position to build for long term success. We can't spend Man City money so it's not going to come as quickly, but given that most people think we're now a couple of players away from being a Champions League side then i don't think we've "wasted" money. We didn't need to cherry pick individual players, we needed to give the squad serious surgery. Not everything you spend money on gives you instant results, sometimes you have to invest. If you want 'instant' then cast a glance at Chelsea.
Dont be so hard on yourselves. 1 more point and you reach the magic 40 point mark with maybe 10 games to go. Thats very good. You bought players good enough to keep you up (so I would imagine that was the target). Bright future ahead of liverpool and king kenny. If you can get 7th or 8th this year then I suspect next year could be your year
You stupid ****,are you going to parade the finishing 4th trophy and your magnificent Emirates Cup at the end of the season? The CL is just a cash cow to Arsenal,not good enough to win and never will be. Arsenal,always the bridesmaids and never the bride in the Champions League.
Just ignore, Arsenal are **** really, that's why we are all so upset we lost to them, but freak results happen. That's football.
