Thank you, Smithers... Sorry I mean Oliver!
Off Topic Non-Sunderland games
- Thread starter Blond Bombshell
- Start date
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To be honest I think I just dislike Arsenal due to their season of goals from set pieces, which wouldn't bother me if it wasn't for the obvious bias from refs and var in their favour!
They were stamping out grappling at corners until it became clear that allowing it would give them a change in the man city or Liverpool merry-go-round. Which i believe they are all. I truly believe they are all for 4-6 clubs winning it between them and it being a different one of the 6 often!
Some of the fouls they got away with at corners is a joke!
I didn't watch the match, but I found this interesting, which backs up what most of us seem to think ahout 'Boring Arsenal' 
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I’m baffled by the notion that we’ve defended our way to success in 2 years.
That’s the ****e the media comes out with.
We’ve done it in select games which is smart coaching and good management but we’ve known when to have a go.
We have played fantastic pass and move football for a large portion of the season as immortalised in many a club video. We’ve had a go. The lack of goals has been due to a slight lack of quality on final 3rd and lack of connection which we seem to have cracked towards end of season.
To compare is to Arteta with the riches of attacking talent he’s spent close to a billion on seems a bit of a wild take to me.
It’s got him a PL fair play, but I’d be stunned if it got him another one playing same way.
Iraola’s mesmerising football with that Liverpool squad and a fiercely revived United with £250m to spend, then Alonso at Chelsea will not half change the complexion of next season.
That’s the ****e the media comes out with.
We’ve done it in select games which is smart coaching and good management but we’ve known when to have a go.
We have played fantastic pass and move football for a large portion of the season as immortalised in many a club video. We’ve had a go. The lack of goals has been due to a slight lack of quality on final 3rd and lack of connection which we seem to have cracked towards end of season.
To compare is to Arteta with the riches of attacking talent he’s spent close to a billion on seems a bit of a wild take to me.
It’s got him a PL fair play, but I’d be stunned if it got him another one playing same way.
Iraola’s mesmerising football with that Liverpool squad and a fiercely revived United with £250m to spend, then Alonso at Chelsea will not half change the complexion of next season.
Whilst our defending has been a major strength, it certainly doesnt mean thats all we are about.
Its really a clever set up as its also quite fluid, for example Hume in midfield allows the right back or centre half to go wandering and he drops back in keeping us solid while Nordi etc go forward.
Some out our build up play has been lovely to watch, the second goal against Chelsea is a prime example.
We are a good team that can adapt to each game and the signs towards the end of the season is the forward play is starting to click
Being solid at the back is absolutely our strength, course it is mate and we know that.
That doesn’t make you a defensive team. We score low goals due to that lack of fluidity at times not due to not attacking.
How many times over season did we say ‘we such a good team on the front foot’ but just the final ball and finish was missing.
5 in last 2 games and should really have had 2-3 against United. It’s coming together.
Very different to defending a 1-0 constantly with the players they have. It almost cost them the lead (would have without a City mini collapse)
Its the usual no nothing press just assuming rather than seeing the bigger picture.
100% it was the right way to go and still is while we are growing as a squad. We would get no extra points for playing expansive wide open football and losing most games 5-2.
Its all about steps and we are in good hands, the attacking will come but being solid at the back is just as important.
We are becoming a very dangerous outfit
100% mate, we are beautiful to watch at times and in spells.
One thing I’ve noticed is Granits favourite reverse pass inside, other lads doing that and finding Granit.
That’s not coincidence that’s worked on.
We won’t be rebuilding a whole team this year we will be ‘adding to’ so the fluency won’t be lost.
I imagine we score and concede more next season as we will be more open, but we have superb defenders and worth ethic so the growth in goals will exceed the excess conceded.
I’ll happy to be quoted on this end of next season.
I have to say, I have loved watching the defensive side this season, its so well drilled and coached, every player knows their role inside out, when to press, when to sit in etc.
Then you have the back 4 (which ever version) that just love defending and throwing their bodies on the line. Man City at home was brilliant, Nordi had Haaland in his pocket and bullied him all game, was beautiful to watch.
There are loads more examples i could use, Ballard against Arsenal, Alderete against Forest away, 09 against Chelsea last sunday
My big concern for next season is if Dembele will fit in
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Bringing in a dozen new players and playing an open style would’ve been risky, throw in half of them going to AFCON and we had to play it cagey.
Happily Europe, in a season without AFCON, should be easier to adapt to especially as most of our players have played in these competitions. Even those like Hume, Ballard, Rigg, etc have played in serious internationals.
I have a feeling RLB will allow us to open up against visiting European teams because you can’t really win the competition without goals. This should be about excitement and enjoyment, in my opinion, not grinding your way through games to progress ....
... whatever happens it'll beat trudging out of Cheltenham rolling your eyes!
Happily Europe, in a season without AFCON, should be easier to adapt to especially as most of our players have played in these competitions. Even those like Hume, Ballard, Rigg, etc have played in serious internationals.
I have a feeling RLB will allow us to open up against visiting European teams because you can’t really win the competition without goals. This should be about excitement and enjoyment, in my opinion, not grinding your way through games to progress ....
... whatever happens it'll beat trudging out of Cheltenham rolling your eyes!
Talksport doing full reviews and breakdowns of the penalties last night. It's simple, the lads that ****ed about missed and the keeper went the right way to save the other. Banging on about centre backs taking penalties, saying its risky, I'm sorry, but ANY footballer should be able to kick a ball 12 yards. Piss farting about cost Arsenal. Simple as that.
Well they see the fourth best defensive record in the league, and I think the fourth most clean sheets. So we do, without apology, defend well, and do it first and foremost. No other way to play IMO.
But what the talking heads are mostly too lazy to see is that we can also play when we have the ball. It's nice for us to have Brobbey up there, so we can get behind the ball and be uber compact, knowing we have a really good out ball.
But we have also scored some belters with quick interchanges and slick passing, and at other times controlled the game when winning by keeping the ball.
I hope they don't cotton on at all actually!
The fact of the matter is, PSG won that match on penalties without their goalkeeper making a single penalty save.
As soon as I saw the stuttering run up I knew he was missing it. He probably changed his mind 3 times where he would try and place the ball he took so long.
Pick a spot before you set up, simple run up and hit it.
If you miss the goal twice out of 5 shots, I didn't watch but didn't Eze miss with his effort you cannot hope to win the shootout...simples.
Let them crack on mate.
4th favourites for relegation again, we were often second favourite for home games all season even against lesser teams.
Only recall us being favourites v Burnley.
Longer we underrated, faster we grow.
By the time they realise and accept we a ****ing good side and great club we will be established.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Arsenal’s defeat in the final may be disappointing for some, but there’s no denying the considerable pleasure in seeing Piers Morgan and Sir Keir plunged into deep despair.
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And it restricted PSG to 1 goal in 120 mins of play, well done Arsenal.I didn't watch the match, but I found this interesting, which backs up what most of us seem to think ahout 'Boring Arsenal'
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