We can't go dropping our most creative player after one poor game and one game where he was ok (Villa) and still helped create the goal. I just find the 'perfectionism' (my new word) from fans a little un-realistic. An example is Vic, he gives the ball away as much this year as he did last season, but this year he is seen as ace and slaughtered last year. We watch the game from an ivory tower sometimes and criticize every move. Tadic was poor Sunday, but still not the first man I would be dropping.
Poor against City, quite poor against Villa and looked knackered and was a bit crap against Leicester.
Poor against City, ok against Villa, ok against Leicester. Take him out, you remove our creativity. If you want to change something about Tadic's involvement, then we MUST start him on the left. He doesn't have the same affect from the right. And, I replied to your statement that said "Tadic should be dropped after that bobbins performance" ... you didn't mention the others in your post, though I still disagree.
Can't drop someone like Tadic unless there is a super replacement I have forgotten about. He is capable of playing a blinder...why not this match?
Fran you have hit the nail on the head, he is our only creative midfielder so to drop him would be a high risk strategy Saying that he does need RK boot up his ass because without him playing well we do look very limited as an attacking force
And I said (either this thread or the team thread) that I'd still start him, just that he should be dropped, but can't as we have no one else!
Shane Long up front instead of Pelle for me tonight. Give the big man a rest and let Shane run his arse off.
Drop Tadic!? What team have you been watching this season? Unbelievable. We came up slightly short against the champions. No one should lose their place after that.
Squad rotation is needed so we do need to change the team around. I saw comments from other posters saying we look tired (even Man City though had Champs League game) so rotation must be a priority. I feel Long needs to start as he's been our brightest player up top in the last few weeks in place of Mane.
I don't go along with this looking tired talk. The players will be being assessed on a daily basis, as to their fitness levels and overall strength and stamina. I could just about accept mentally tired, but physically..? No.
I would say stale. I think they have been riding a wave when nothing much goes wrong (true for fans as well) and now we've crashed on the beach. Have to pick up the surfboard and start again.
I would 100% start Long over Mane. Mane for me has been awful, for the two last games at least. His constant poor first touches stifle the momentum of otherwise promising attacks. I haven't even seen him beat anyone for pace, it's like his speed is nullified by having the ball at his feet. He struggled against Alan Hutton ffs. Forster Clyne Fonte Toby Bertrand Wanyama Cork Davis Long Pelle Tadic Hopefully the stars of our early-season can hit some form again and I think this is a perfect game to turn things around. Arsenal are there for the taking! 1-2
I am not understanding why super fit, finely honed Professionals should suddenly show signs of tiredness, Steve Davis, yes I can see why he ran out of gas in the last game, Maya was rusty of course, but the others that have played regularly should still be at their peak for ninety minutes?
We had a joke after the city game because it's so long since we lost - especially at home - that we forgot what it felt like. I think you also have to laugh at some of the other reactions. 'Forster not as good as Boruc' 'drop Tadic' 'rest Pelle' are all knee jerk reactions on the back of a disappointing result against the Chapions who put on their best dispatch of the season. Very few seem to have much of an idea about what motivates a professional footballer. Somewhat surprisingly, being dropped doesn't rate that high in the scheme of things. It also seems to surprise some people that the team finishes with a spring in their step after winning and look tired after giving everything after defeat. City did their homework well and neutralised all our creative play down the flanks. Ron will have been working in that this week and any change designed to unlock the arsenal defence will be more easily implemented by the same players. So for me, Cork for Morgan would be the only change. I really think we can win this one because we can be pretty sure arsenal will follow the city tactics. Have faith!
We are in a good position as a team and club. We have a good squad that is currently achieving higher than most thought it would be. We have drawn a game and lost to the Champions... someone call the police. Let's take the worst scenario, that we lose tonight and lose to United on Monday; so what? That's the worse case scenario. We will be somewhere between 8th and 2nd come the turn of the year and then we can repeat what we have done so far and be pushing on hard again. It amazes me that a draw away from home and a defeat at home to the Champions makes the whole tone of the forum have a slight down-turn. This is a great time to be a Saint. I'm not the slightest bit concerned as we are having a great time. Too many fans expect perfection for 90 minutes and 38 games. They may say they don't, but the they micro-view a game, or two games. This is a sport and it is about performance over a season. So far this season our performance has been excellent.
