Now i know they have potential (like most players) and defending is also a team game but you are suggesting you want the 3 of the back 5 from a team with the leakiest defence ....
We need to maintain that consistency! I think that Norwich are always susceptible because they've got virtually no threat going forward. A back line with very little experience at any level is asking for trouble, too. They play quite expansive football and they're constantly exposed. I wouldn't have them as starters, but we lack depth. I doubt we'd get any value there, though.
Looks like Arsenal are in the final, City have been poor. Main issue for us is obviously the euro spot they take, meaning we would need 6th for Europa league. On current form United would be favourites for the final, but I'd fancy Arsenal over Chelsea if they get there.
Have to say Arsenal's defence has been excellent against Liverpool and now City. Yet against us they looked inept. The only conclusion I can possibly infer from that is that Tottenham Hotspur are (by far) the greatest team the world has ever seen. Just going with the science.
Banter aside, it's been a tremendous response from Arteta and our players after the dismal result in the derby. I never thought we were capable of performing like this. The much maligned Luiz and Xhaka have been utterly faultless against the two best sides in the division. For as bad as we've been in recent years in the league, this is our 3rd cup final in 3 years. We've got a chance to win a 14th FA Cup, which is surreal considering the season we've had. I'm obviously hoping the result of this final does not match the last 2, and it obviously won't be easy vs Utd/Chelsea, but at least we have something to play for. It's also further proof as to why Arteta needs to be supported in the transfer market regardless of whether we win the trophy or not.
You had them whipped today. That game could have gone on for another hour and I couldn't have seen them scoring. And when you've got Aubameyang scoring from the occasional chances it's a good setup.
The difference between our match against the Woolwich and those of City and Liverpool is who was on the front foot. We sat back and picked them off on the break, while they did the same to the other two sides. They had their defence packed and organised by surrendering possession and focusing on limiting chances. They pushed out against us and it exposed their weaknesses. They'd lose the ball, get outnumbered and struggle to recover in time. Guardiola has no Plan B. His teams often have far superior players to everyone else and they're relentless. Aguero is lethal. Jesus is not and he doesn't offer something different, in terms of tactics. They didn't replace Dzeko, much as Arsenal didn't replace Giroud and we didn't replace Llorente. If you can't pick the lock, then it's often helpful to have someone who can just break the ****ing thing.
I think part of their problem is they're young, as well as inexperienced and just had a season in (arguably) the best league in world football. Three young players in a back line of a team which is far below the quality of most in the league was always going to be tough. I think Aarons especially has a big future. He's got the technical ability and that raw speed, with those attributes alone coupled with the right coaching he can become a top FB in my opinion. He probably just needs that manager like how Rose and Walker needed Poch, those two were probably on the verge of being sold before he came in then he immediately tapped into their potential and they became brilliant for us.
I think we also did a good job on nullifying de Bruyne and Sterling. The former tried to split the defence open countless times, but had no space to operate in and our defenders read/anticipated his passes when he was trying to carve us open. We made some critical interceptions to break up play and disrupt the flow of the game. We also doubled up on Sterling, which reduced his effectiveness. Although he probably should have put one of his chances away, he was often faced with a congested penalty box full of red shirts that didn't allow him the right angles or spaces to attempt a clear cut opportunity on goal. Both of the aforementioned players normally score against us or have MotM performances against us, so I was glad we found a way of limiting their influence. City kept trying to unlock us in the same way every time they came forward and, like you said, they had no alternatives to turn to who would give us a different problem to think about.
Didn't see the whole game just the highlights from MOTD and it seems the team in red were definitely favoured by Jon Moss again
Still not a fan of aarons. Anyway i know they are young and the team isnt the most defensive and are exposed. I just found it funny that it wasnt just 1 of the defenders or even 2. Pnp was happy to take all 3 who have played the majority of games in the leakiest team (obvs they arent all starting).
West Ham got relegated in the 02/03 season with a bunch of talented players. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002–03_West_Ham_United_F.C._season#Squad We were happy to take Defoe, Kanoute and Carrick. Defending isn't just about defenders, but I think that they've got potential. Not sure they're worth spending massive amounts of money on though, which would probably have to be the case.
I think the final part of your sentence is key. Only Aarons would join as a potential starter from the beginning. Lewis would compete with Davies and Godfrey would take Vertonghen‘s/ Foyth’s role in the squad behind Sanchez, Toby, Dier and possibly Tanganga too. Of the three, Godfrey is the one we least need in terms of talent as it’s better we aim for a CB of higher pedigree, besides if Norwich are truly expecting £50m for him, he’ll be remaining there regardless of who’s interested in him.
Yeah but that team scored a few goals and it was at the other end of the team that was the main problem (and they were relegated with the highest points total). We are literally talking about the worst team in the league by a country mile with the worst defence!. I think if you were to take godfrey, aarons and lewis (obviously not necessarily all), i reckon norwich would want a minimum of 20m for each. 1 maybe but 2 or 3 and i think you are asking for trouble.
I think that the issue was actually with the manager, rather than any area of the team. Roeder had an undiagnosed brain tumour and he wasn't getting the best out of his players, understandably. They had four talented strikers (Defoe, Kanoute, Di Canio and Ferdinand), yet none of them hit double figures in the league. The midfield doesn't even explain it, as they had a solid bunch of players there and decent depth.
