Yeap very good selection. Think lesson learnt last week but too late. As long as Dempsey helps the midfield.
There is no way Arsenal will be taking Berbatov! The reason is very simple... He will slow them down to death as he is doing with us!
Not the worst day for us, think we all expected to lose away to the league leaders but sounded like we did ok, I'm sure somebody who attended can give an update later. sky stated we should of had a def pen when Bent got cleaned out while shooting late on. I was sure that if we lost we would find ourselves in the bottom 3 but have kept our heads above it, two of the the three teams below us are away to Chelsea and Man U next up, and Stoke and Hull have been dragged right into it. What we do need is a much needed 3 points soon either at Swansea or Home to Saints.
A very decent first half when we more than held our own and kept the Emirates quiet. Just a pity that neither Dejagah nor Kaca had composure in their finishing or crossing. Second half? A number of the old problems. With Parker struggling to know where Sidwell would turn up next never mind the Arsenal players and the game passing by Dempsey, we struggled. The back four looked solid throughout though and Stekelenburg was just excellent. Clutching at straws maybe. However, (although I admit it was difficult to be sure from the Clock End) it looked to me as though at least one Arsenal player was offside and obstructing Stekâs view for Cazolaâs second. And, we should have had a penalty. Yes Bent had got off his shot but he was fouled with the intent of stopping him a fraction later.
I thought we did ok particularly first half and although we lost I think we can take away many positives. Hangeland and Burn for a start made the defence a lot stronger and Steklenberg was in great form. Upfront I though Berbatov and Bent did ok. I didn't see the penalty shout properly as the crowd jumped up and blocked my view but it looked like it was going to be a certain goal, although it would have been a consolation goal in any case. I think Rene has now found his strongest team selection, perhaps with Kasami instead of Dempsey for now. Other results did not go our way today but I'm a bit more optimistic now for the Swansea game and next Saturday.
Hagaland & Burn was agreat pairing,and certainly strenthened our mid field,he as i said some time ago can learn a lot from Brede, several of the arsenal supporters i spoke to were quite impressed and thought he had a great future ahead of him. (so please no more Senderloss). The left fullback is our weakest position,and we realy needa much better quality player in this window.Bent for me was slow and cumbersome,and i would have Dembele in the team if only for his speed and enthusiasm. My big worry is that against lower teams we seem to switch off,which has got to be sorted,and pretty soon, as i am convinced that we have a better team than at least 6 others in this division
Not exactly the hardest thing in the world eh....... Credit to you guys..2-Nil against the Gunners at the momeent is a decent result. Im sure most would have predicted worse. You need to start picking up some points soon though.. Good luck
Stekelenberg made some good saves and kept us in the game, but the Hangeland clearance saved us from going behind early in the game. First half we should have done better with the crosses, and Kaca should have done better to control the ball when he was in on goal. Brede and Dan seem to be getting a good partnership together and the back 4 seem more solid and they give a good Ariel threat for corners. Richardson had a good game but I still think that he gets let down by Kacaniklic who is very light weight in the tackling and tracking back. Parker and Sidwell are a good combo, but at least one of them should have been tracking Corzola for the goals. Dempsey was disappointing and it would have been better if Kasami or Taarabt had played. Didn't think Dejagah had the best of games as his crosses were poor. And again we slowed the play down too much, when we attacked at pace we were more of a threat, and you could hear their fans getting worried. Berbatov for me had his moments, and heard a few Arsenal fans after the game saying they wanted him, and liked his one touch control and passing, but I can't see him playing 90 minutes for them each game as he'd slow them down. Not seen the TV but how did Bent miss that goal, he did well to get the ball, but from where I was sat it was an open goal. Their keeper got lucky with the Kasami free kick at the end because it almost went under him. In all we had chances and if we'd taken them could well have tested them more and at times our defence looked solid and at times controlled the ball well against a good side, but if Stekelenberg hadn't made a few saves and a couple of clearances off the line the score line could've been worse.
I saw the replay this morning. I was actually encouraged by the first 60 minutes of the game, particularly the defense. Stek was amazing in goal, and I think Burn and Hangeland made a nice partnership, along with Rieter and Richardson. I was expecting the team, after last week's display, to lay down and die after the first 10 minutes. But I found the game encouraging. Dempsey was poor, as was Kaca.
Was it a case of the players raising their game against quality opposition? We all used to play better against top of the league when we were younger (implying we are all over the top ex sunday league players, except Bandit who is a nipper!).
No I think it was a solid performance that would have been against any team. Very promising. Especially if we can grab a point against Swansea...
Overall good performance but the result is what I expected. Negatives....Dempsey...he's off the pace and add's little down the left. No way he's fit. We still need some industy in the CM slot. Its ok to have Parker and Sidwell sitting but Berbatov needs more support. Postives...yes we need a LB but Richardson played ok. Better than Riise IMO. Burn was excellent considering this was Arsenal. Overall the back 5 played better. Stek was outstanding at times. Sidwell had a good game, he's playing for a contract here or elsewhere but fair play. If we can beat Sheff U get a point at Swansea it would really set up the home game Southampton game - a little run would give us confidence going into Man U and Liverpool after that.
Why didn't they play like that against Sunderland? Proof will be in the pudding when we play at home next in the league.
It was a different team against Sunderland... Senderos and Amorebieta, Duff, Taarabt and Dempsey in midfield.. Plus Stockdale 5 out 11 did not feature... Personally I would not put Dempsey in either and have either Kasami or Kara to start. Also the formation was ^(*(&(*_
Kaca was our worst by a mile. I Berbatov dished him the most perfect chance which he squandered. I think I'd swap him for Kasami and keep Dempsey in there to start the game, bringing Bent once Dempsey (inevitably) stops running. That was Berbatov's best performance in weeks (seems to me). He's been rumored to be a target for Arsenal; I wonder if he was auditioning.
DR I don't know how many games have you watched this season but neither Kasami or Dempsey offer what Kaca is offering which is simply speed and width... The issue was highlighted against Sunderland. Both of them cut in the middle, Kasami less than Dempsey causing congestion outside the box instead of opening up space...
Agree Madness. It was DR. Excellent control and telling passes. However he still just struts about and means we lacked any fight at the top off the field and rarely put their CBs under any pressure.
