We didn't over achieve at Highbury, we did things PROPERLY there, buying men and men who can handle English football. The solution is simple and too many try to complicate the matter. If the likes of Allardyce can get teams with a fraction of the technical quality of other teams into the top 7 with far less resources, how in blazes can Arsenal not compete for the league ? Its because Allardyce knew how to get results in English football - as does Mark Hughes and Pulis. Their teams are not pretty but they understand a fundamental part of English football - it is fast and physical. Until Wenger accepts that we are not playing on the continent and buys players suitable for our league, we will under achieve. The solution is simple.
May I politely suggest that is what you want to take out of HH's post Personally I read it as we need to get more steel in the team to stand up to bullies - as we did when players like Vieira and Bergkamp were in the team. Not sure they played hoofball, did they Piskie?
I do think we need more steel in the team, I think Frimpong was exactly the type of player we needed in the middle, shame he got injured again. Podolski looks like a tough player too, he will be a good addition. I don't think we should be adding muscle over skill though, but there's a balance in there that we've not got right at the moment.
He didnt mention their players. Stop trying to create an argument over a point you actually agree with!
Jayram. What part of that post suggests HH isn't talking about the players that Alladyce and Pulis buy ?
I read it as HH talking about bringing in players who can handle the fast and physical nature of our league. Agree with this. I do not for one second believe he is talking about bringing in players like Shawcross and playing hoofball. He never mentioned their players. I am sure he can clarify.
I will refrain from abusing you Piskie because Jayram has highlighted EXACTLY why you are disliked by so many on here. My post doesn't lead much to the imagination, it is common sense. I mention managers with a fraction of the budget of others who manage to do well - relatively speaking - because they have a team who understand the English league - pace and power as opposed to simply technical ability. The argument that others spend more than us is bollox. The argument that we are over achieving is bollox. If Wenger bought players suitable to English football, ones that can add more steel to the team, we would be doing far better than we have been. Is it any surprise that we always struggle against physical teams, we can't match them on the pitch. Nobody is talking about he extreme of hoof ball, but being able to mix it up with physical teams is something we need to be able to do - Man U can, Chelsea can, City can.
I agree that we need to mix it up with a bit more steel, but I feel that comparing us to the approach that Alladyce and Pulis' teams take, would be a backwards step.
Players like wilshere and lansbury would add steel and style. Playing hoof ball in an attempt to win trophies is everything our club stands against for. Swansea have proved style need not be sacrificed for substance.
I'd add Frimpong to that list too. I think we need to strike a balance between skill and steel. We certainly don't want to go down the Stoke route of packing the field with thugs and playing hoofball.
Firstly tell me what Swansea won or what final they got to ? We already know that playing attractive football is preferable - we've been there and done that - and then gone backwards. I'd rather see us sacrifice some attractive football for some steel and gain the chance to ACTUALLY win something, personally. You lot can go round bragging that we have the best bank balance in the league or that we play the best football and blah blah blah but we don't win anything and we choke in February/March, but I won't be joining you.
Yep - and once again Hothead did not suggest that we play hoofball with thugs in our team. You can continue to portray the fact that he did if you really want to - but it just makes you look foolish.
I guess you had a vivid imagination as a child that remains with you in adulthood - you see things that aren't written and paint pretty pictures. I suggest you act on what is written not what you imagined.
You have got to be kidding me. By that token what have stoke won. Would you rather turn arsenal into a bunch of thugs and ruin the game in an attempt to force the issue of trophies? Ridiculous argument.
We all want arsenal to do well but there's no need to sacrifice the game in order to achieve that. Balance must obviously be maintained but there's a limit. In any case I don't see playing hoof ball paying the required divedends.
There's a difference between steel which I'm in favour of and thuggery which I'm not. Two different concepts entirely.
