Agree with this ellers, enjoyed visiting the emirates albeit in the goon end, but other teams seem to be picking up points successfully. I'll give keen his due, all that abuse but those players are still running through walls for him
Deserved home win, but it doesn't deny the fact that with a bit of luck we could have had a goalless draw. We're in the mire now, and sinking fast. Two points out of eighteen in December, regardless of how tough the fixtures' just isn't good enough. Take into account November and it's five out of twenty seven, horrifying reading I know! I'm afraid Warnock has underestimated the effect his openness towards the media and this waiting for the transfer window has had on the current group of players. We have three crucial home games coming up against Norwich, Wigan and Wolves, and with our abysmal run we simply can't afford anything less than nine points in those games. New players or not, our home form doesn't fill me we great confidence... Sorry 'bout the negativity, but I'm still enjoying the ride Happy new year everyone!!!!!
Daft thing is that as Arsene and Neil said we played well, but no points, whereas Wolves got one, and now are above us. There's something wrong defensively - can't see that anyone had a bad game defensively.but we're giving opponents too many goal scoring chances and we got to stop that, whoever we get in our back 4. hope Neils knows , f*cked if I do!
The problem is with the midfield not the defence.Our midfield are all over the place. Get caught in posession which puts pressure on the defence and are far to defensive which also means they dont create enough chances upfront. Even if we had Messi upfront he wouldnt score.
From what I saw on Football First, 2-0 would have been a fairer scoreline. We seemed to play reasonably well, particularly just after half time. Agree with a previous poster, Luke Young is a top player.
Was at the Emirates and think Ellers' post above is just about spot on. We did not create enough to deserve more from the game. But we were playing a side that is on a terrific run, is in the last 16 in Champions League and have been in CL competition for the last 15 seasons consecutively. Let's be honest we expected much worse, and I was happy overall with the performance. Positives - Faurlin, Barton, Young and Traore. He had Walcott sewn up, best defensive performance of the year - though I am getting a little tired of him asking to be taken off. Taarbs - nothing really special. Negatives - SWP, not only for his stupid pass for the goal, but for doing what he has done for most of his career - run into blind alleys. Bothroyd - thankless task but he showed nothing. DJ - may be unfair as he had limited time yesterday and hardly any pitch time overall, but I am far from convinced. Sat with Gooner mates who were extremely nervous after first half and complimentary about us for having a go and not sitting back. Have to agree with Ellers - fantastic stadium (the comfort of legroom!), bizarre flat atmosphere. Mates think it is because the hardcore North Bank support got split up after leaving Higbury or did not make it because of the cost (£1100 for a season ticket anyone?), but they admitted even the old ground could be the Highbury Library a lot of the time. The R's fans were magnificent, as usual. It all really kicks in tomorrow - have to win these home games from now on. You R's!!!!
Midfield is the big problem, the balance isn't right and there's no creativity. Taarabt flatters to deceive and with one up front there are only limited outlets for a 'killer' pass because there aren't enough 'runners' coming from midfield to support HH or whoever the striker is. So many promising breakouts from defence yesterday floundered because the passes out of midfield were hopeful instead of precise. The pass Taarabt played to put SWP through early on was the only quality bit of vision we showed in the whole match and Taarabt was muscled off the ball too easily at times. We have to get a playmaker that is the central focus of the team and Faurlin has the ability for such a role and is wasted playing too deep in the current set-up.
I would agree with the Faurlin idea if he could shoot but he cant.I,ll expect Watford to tell me that stats prove otherewise but honestly hes hopeless in front of goal.
Personally I feel that when Barton and Faurlin have played alongside one another and gelled, then we have looked at our best, e.g. vs Stoke; troubled is NW cannot find a persistent pattern as he's always chopping and changing the team. Under the current circumstances, I believe that our best midfield 3 would be Barton, Faurlin and Adel. Adel for my money is still the most potent attacking threat we possess, one of the only players that the opposition has to watch and are drawn to. Yes he lost the ball yesterday on occasion, but along with Faurlin was the only player to threaten the opposition goal in terms of 'killer passes'. It has been said we lacked creativity, but what to people expect getting rid of Adel would do for the team? Who on earth are we going to replace him in the Jan transfer window? No doubt virtually all of the teams in the PL would like a creative player who can open up the opposition, yet certain members on this board would sooner cast off our only unique talent. Adel needs a run of games and the manager to show some faith in him by playing him centrally. Given that he's only just returning to 1st team action,
