It's been a mediocre game since the two goals, but Ramsey has provided us with real impetus going forward. So far, it's been one of his best displays since the City game.
I don't care about Speed TBH. Our team is full of pace I just want a top quality defender. Someone who can make a tackle and organise the back four. Hummels is a leader and an exceptional defender.
0-2. HT. Decent 25 minutes without being spectacular, scored two lovely goals in quick succession and since then we've just taken the sting out the match. A fairly controlled performance, although one could argue we are slightly fortunate to not be down to 10 with Flamini's two-footed challenge. Although he got the ball and didn't take out his opponent, it was a stupid, rash tackle. He is a massive liability and I still can't believe he starts for us! Ramsey for me has been the standout performer, but Flamini, Gabriel, Giroud and Sanchez have all looked quite poor.
Happy with that at HT, 0-2 up. But still a bit concerned at how easily we have allowed Bournemouth to bypass our midfield and get in behind. A team with more quality would punish us. Also now that Flamini is on a yellow, he can't make a tackle, so I would sub him for Elneny or Coq (who's on the bench?)
Wenger's trying to get on Flamini's good side and get some shares in his green energy company, it's the only logical explanation I have for why Flamini keeps playing.
Flamini would not start for any side in the Premier League and arguably for some Championship sides too. So how he is still starting for a team that apparently want to challenge for the title is well and truly beyond me.
I can only think that Wenger feels that Coq needs to be eased back in and Eleney needs a bit more time before being thrown in at the deep end. But I agree, Flamini can be a liability. Personally I would sub him now because Bournemouth will throw the kitchen sink at us and he is one bad / mistimed tackle away from a red card. We just don't need to invite that sort of pressure.
I understand that, but surely Chambers, who has looked decent in midfield when he's played there, would be a better option. He may still be young, but he has better positional sense, isn't so rash and is a quicker passer of the ball. If Coquelin isn't fully fit, fair enough. Elneny isn't in the squad because his wife gave birth which is fair enough. But the absolute worse case scenario should be Flamini on the bench.
Seriously, are we deliberately trying to let them back in it? Why is our midfield not closing the spaces down?
This It's absolutely vital that we don't allow the oppo time on the ball, but we always seem content to let teams get right up to our box before we think about closing them down. We can prevent this pressure, but we seem to be inviting it.
