Not just yesterday, but overall since the Manc City game, when Martin got sent off, neither he nor Whittaker have featured since. Surely no coincidence that we look far more solid at the back - yet still offer the same threat down the right, since Bennett and Wisdom have been in the side. I know we lost to Citeh and Chelski (both by a narrow, one goal margin) and drew yesterday, but overall, even when going behind in games, it's no longer a guaranteed cricket score for the opposition Please stay injury-free for a good while yet, Ryan - at least until January, when AN can look to bring reinforcements in
I like it when Arsenal fans moan about our defenders. It normal means they did a good job and got stuck in.
Agree we look better defensively without Martin and particularly Whittaker. AN clearly has gonads starting Grabban with Jerome and Mbokani on the bench. I could scarcely believe it when I heard he was starting - even less so when he scored the equaliser. Also very surprised Mulumbu was benched for O'Neil but at the end of the day we got a point against Arsenal so the manager must have done something right. Hoping for a win at Watford, onwards and upwards OTBC!
Indeed. I don't belong to the forum league where you have to guess the starting line up /subs, but I'd be amazed if anybody got a 'full house' for the starting eleven yesterday!
The latest squawka report suggests Grabban had 89% passing accuracy, which is impressive Although it seems more likely he only made 9 passes...
I can assure you nobody even came close Cromer! IMO, it's a bit unfair to say the defence is better without Martin and Whittaker as we have also switched to a far more defensive style. Martin and Whittaker did a good job against ManCity but RyBen and Wisdom have both come in and taken their chance well and deserve to stay there. We all wanted competition for places and we now have it.
The defence is undoubtedly an awful lot better, partly through the style, but also Bennett has seized his opportunity with both hands and is finally starting to look like he might be the player we hoped for all that time ago when he turned around on a trip to Swansea to sign for us. However, we desperately need reinforcements in defence all the same. Currently our entire defence and cover is in the starting line up or on the bench, which means that we do not have any resources if there is an injury. It might be very expensive to upgrade on any of them, so splashing out on someone young with potential would be my preference, but if we can find someone at their peak for a reasonable price then I certainly won't say no!
'Six things we learned' article from EDP. These two sentences stood out for me:- "At times he (Wisdom) allowed Nacho Monreal too much time to cross but generally Wisdom was defensively sound as well. He looks increasingly likely to see his season-long loan become a permanent transfer next summer." "The Arsenal attack had little joy up against City’s centre-backs, as Sebastien Bassong and Ryan Bennett’s partnership continues to go from strength to strength. In the five consecutive games the pair have played, they have conceded five goals. In the three previous matches, with Bassong and Russell Martin at the heart of the defence, 10 goals were let in." Considering the 'heavyweight' opposition in those five games, full credit to them Full article here. http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...city_s_valiant_draw_against_arsenal_1_4329824
Here's the Arsenal version of the article in my previous comment ^ http://www.allarsenal.com/2015/11/matchreports/10-key-points-defeat-like-draw-norwich-city/? Not saying they're an unsporting bunch, but... "Here are the key points from a defeat-like draw against The Canaries." "We defended so dreadfully against one of the worst teams in the league that..." "and even poor opponents like Norwich carve us open with ease."
So humble and gracious. I mean honestly, for a team which should garner such respect their fans are quite simply the worst I've seen.
I know, buddy, but it still rankles a little. Considering Ozil cost them a reported £42.4m - more than our entire squad, it's not hard to see why they were expecting to brush us aside like annoying cobwebs. Full credit to Alex Neil and the boys for pissing on their parade
I wonder if we'll see Whittaker in the starting 11 again any time soon. For me, he is too intent on going forward and he worries me in defence!!!! Edit - I see Martin and Lafferty are in the under 21s squad at Carrow Road tonight against Southampton. (KO 7pm)
This piece turns out (with hindsight, obviously) to be priceless http://readnorwich.com/2015/11/29/twitter-reacts-grabban-starts-arsenal/
