It's all about opinions I suppose. To me, the ability to do this is one thing we have been badly missing all season. The other team can't play without the ball, just retaining possession frustrates and tires the opposition. We have been giving the ball away far too easily all season.
Very pleased with the performance today. But for an unfortunate og and a dubiously disallowed goal, we could have won that and great credit to the lads for working so hard. It's a brave manager who takes off two matchwinners, but good call to bringon fresh legs to keep up the intensity until the end.
How things have changed, this was probably a stronger Arse side that not only scored 6 past us, but dominated us in every part of the field. Arse never really looked like scoring. Just a few things I took away from the game, Cork was brilliant, had thier wide men in control and was a threat. Nice to see Shaw getting forward, but he needs to learn how to beat the first marker when he crosses, but a good performance. Morgan, we are a different team when he presses forward. So good that the fallbacks and the cetre midfield pushed forward with real determination, the amount of bodies around the ball resulted in the Arse defence not clearing thier line and resulted in our goal, something we were guilty of way too many times in the first 10 games
[video=youtube;xYBMgSZYfV4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYBMgSZYfV4&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
Exactly. It is people like Rabbit spectrum demanding that we knock the ball forward early in a 50:50 manner, that frustrate me as it gives the opposition the ball and momentum; they just don't understand the modern game at all.
Davis was excellent for us; really, really good. Schneiderlin was excellent second half, but for the first half an hour, maybe first half, I thought he was terrible. He hit so many poor passes or 30-40 yard balls over their fullback that were 50:50, it was shocking.
True they were not at there best but we still played well and deserve credit, even if arsenal are playing bad its still hard to get anything from them
We stopped them playing, by denying them space, pressing them on the ball, and cutting off the supply to the frontmen. Any team that boasts Chamberlain, Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski and Wilshire can always spark into life and rip you to pieces. We didn't let them. Down to Nigel's team selection and a great effort from every Saints player, I reckon.
Two teams are involved in any game. We played well and didn't allow them to get into the game too much. Adkins and the team have learnt from early in the season...this turn around shows what a good manager Nigel is. I had to turn the sound up when Wenger's interview came up on Sky...he was so down about the game he was virtually whispering.
i reckon we played a great game,our midfield hassled and tackled everything in a blue top for the entire match . Davis and Morgan were very good,and i must say i thought Guly worked well with shaw. My only complaint would be that i thought punch could have done a bit better with some of his attempts on goal,on another day he may well have had a couple in the back of the net....we played very well and stopped the gunners from playing their game,to hell with all the talk from the gunners about them not showing up...they were not allowed to show up due to a very solid and complete saints performance...with the exception of our looney toony goalie,who i think may well turn out to be a match saver,even if he does give us a few scary moments.....i am not sure if all boruc's dogs are barking.
I had a long night following the game, a long drive north and couldn't sleep cursing a perfectly good goal that was disallowed. I think their defender realised he was in trouble and made the most of it. Apologies if I misinterpreted your post
I completely agree with this. The initial contact (if it could even be called that) did not affect him at all and then suddenly he fell to the ground when he realised he had been caught out. VERY frustrating!
Got no problem with keeping the ball but would prefer to play players who pose a threat offensively (not that Davis is incapable, rather he seems reluctant to take the game on when he starts). Keeping possession in the back two thirds doesn't threaten the opposition although it may be useful at times it doesn't lead to goals of itself. Puncheon and Ramirez may give the ball away a lot but that is because they are trying to score goals. Davis is far too content to play a simple pass.
But if you have a team of Ramirez, Lallanas and Puncheoons, you'll lose games. My favourite old line is about Nobby Stiles; he was so important in England winning the World Cup, but hardly your attacking inspiration. You MUST have players who do other jobs to win games.
