For me, that's the one thing that would make an instant improvement. I agree with Bear to an extent that it's the 'way we play' that is causing us problems - although you could argue that with better players, our system would work - But concentrating on what we've got, we currently have three up front and three midfielders who want to attack. Our defence play the ball out from the back and then all of our players are bunched up in the final third, there's no movement ahead of them, you see the defenders ushering the MF to fall back and link up the play, and we're then playing with our backs to the goal. There are ten oppo players behind the ball, so we pass it sideways and backwards trying to pick out a pass in the congestion, we lost the ball and then we're on the back foot again, because we've got no DM. I really think we need a player in the middle, to shield the back four, provide the link out of DF into MF and to break up play when we haven't got the ball.
No I like him. He's a good 15 goal a Season man. He works hard, is great in the air just lacks that sharpness that the TOP target men have. I'm still glad we bought him just dont think he's good enough on his own. I just feel that if you play an attacking system you need TOP forwards. It's like if you play like Italy you need TOP Centrebacks. Well I think.. Walcott is good enough - I still maintain he's getting better every year and we will regret selling him. Podolski looks unhappy on the left - Think he would be better utilized as a second striker in a 4411. Gervinho - Complete headless chicken. Eboue mk II.
With the players we have, we'd be better suited to a four/four/two or a three/five/two This would allow us to play a DM, allow our fullbacks to attack without be left out of position and allow our strikers to play the positions that they are best at.
You make perfectly valid arguements but the big problem is the manager. I really dn't want Wenger to go but his stubborness to see the obvious weaknesses are what's causing all our problems and I really don't see anything different happening in the near future.
For those wanting Wenger to go i would ask a question.If Wenger was to leave and be replaced by another manager how long would you give the new manager to win a trophy before wanting him sacked ? I see no point in replacing Wenger now but i can see him assesing his position at the end of the season if he feels he no longer has the confidence of the players and has taken the club as far as he can
I regularly view not606 to gauge peoples reactions to results and Arsenal fans are great at going from one extreme to the other. The team last night included: Wilshere Cazorla Arteta Mertesacker Szczesny Rosicky Gibbs Ox Now how many of these have we praised as being on a great run of form at some point in the last year (apart from Wilshere although he is quality full stop)? Even with Gervinho, Arshavin, Ramsey and Chamack (squad players at best) the above players can drive our team to 3rd or 4th but with three or four replacements then we could get to the next level. We need a decent striker who isn't afraid to get in the box ... and shoot. Step up Theo Walcott, the time is now! Although the Ox was poor last night, he can take Theo's right wing place and mature, leaving Theo as the main centre forward. I had a sneaking suspicion that when Wilshere came back it would set us back a few games and the style would change but after that period we would have an amazing midfield of Arteta, Cazorla and Wilshere. I said in a previous post that we raise ourselves for big teams and lower ourselves for small teams thereby making every game a challenge ... we did that last night. We also need to start fast in games otherwise we just don't get going until we let in a goal. I don't want Wenger to go, I want an active transfer window ... four squad players out and four internationals in (although this is more difficult in the January transfer window as the good players are still in the Champions League). If we managed this then it would again hold the team back until the new players settled but 3rd or 4th place and a few exciting cup games would be enough if we could see a future in the new squad. If we don't manage Champions League qualification then I'm afraid Wenger's time is up ... financial stability is very important but without Champions League football then we don't even have that. Even with an improved squad we can't guarantee trophies but we have to be able to complete with the best from now on, anything else is a compromise.
I think you are comparing apples with oranges. Obviously the quality of the team in 2005 was superior to today's so Wenger's expectations would have been higher - hence his disappointment then. Clearly he is aware of this team's limitations and has lowered his expectations of them accordingly. Anyway, the last thing this precocious team needs is for their manager to start slagging them off in public. Last night cannot be blamed on the manager or the board. It was mostly down to a lack of desire (for whatever reason) from the players themselves. I say 'mostly' because there is clearly something else wrong, but I don't know what. No, Gerv & Ramsey aren't exactly world beaters, Sagna appears to be playing under duress and Cazorla is cream crackered, but they should have had enough in their locker to beat last night's opposition. If anything, last night was proof positive that our problems aren't only down to our manager's poor tactics or a greedy board!
Last night was Wenger's fault, because Gervinho and Ramsey should never play for us, playing with them, and an anonymous Podolski, is going into a game with 8 men. Gervinho missed an open goal, he is utterly useless, so Wenger does get the blame. If we had actual competent players, a competent striker, things could be far different. Obviously, the blame always comes mainly to the players, but who plays those players?
Should've never gone to penalties, when our first team isn't capable of beating a league 2 side in the allocated playing time, then you know you have problems. Que OXO to come and say BUT BUT GIROUD, AND THEO AND ARTETA weren't playing, because missing 3 players means its no longer your first team, and missing 3 first team players while having the majority of everyone else, means it's all of a sudden acceptable to lose to a league 2 side.
That you don't think Podolski is good enough to play for Arsenal says it all really. Your disappointment is obviously having a VERY negative affect on your ability to reason and think clearly. I'll bow out of this one from here on in
Where did I say Podolski isn't good enough to play for Arsenal? I think you need to go and learn to read. Podolski was anonymous in the game, was he not? Podolski has been anonymous in most Arsenal games, has he not? YES TO BOTH. Does that mean I don't think he's good enough to play for Arsenal? Not at all, it seems your the one who can't think clearly because you're trying to put some view on me. I think we should try Podolski as a striker because it's clearly not working in the left midfield. So maybe you should perhaps try paying attention next time. Or actually, I feel like calling you out, produce my statement, where I said Podolski isn't good enough for Arsenal.
Too funny indeed, your response is a true cop out, you basically misrepresented me and made something up, and when I call you out, you say, "too funny" yeah, why don't you be a man and just admit you were wrong and I made no such claim? Or, stick by your claim and show me where I said Podolski isn't good enough for Arsenal, go on, I'm waiting.
Even funnier. Taka a mogadon or three then come back and try to discuss it without ranting. I think you have had your head up that imaginary Romanian hooker's fanny for too long
lol you still seem well peeved off. Wenger has a very winnable string of games ahead of him. The pressure will really be on him and the team to perform until Jan. If we lose about two Premiership games during this time, then things could get a little ugly for Wenger and the team. But it shouldn't happen with the players we had, until of course we lost against Bradford....
So you're still not going to go back on making a false claim I made? Oh well, so you just want to remain a liar, ;-). Nothing imaginary my friend, just because i have a much better life than you, doesn't make it a fantasy, ;-).
oi. Will you lot stop agreeing with eachother. Hasn't anyone told you that you are the minority and the haters are the majority? You're in danger of bursting his bubble if you carry on like this
