Anderlecht Away match thread

[Chips and Chocolate]

On an other note, all those twats with selfie sticks want sectionning!

[foxinthebox2001]

Apparently the whole episode worked out just as Wenger had planned. These are his genuine post match quotes, I kid you not.

"It's a gambling situation in these games and it worked,"
"In the last five minutes in the Champions League the nerves play a part and we had to get into these five minutes without conceding a second goal,"
"I had hope, it maybe didn't look like it, but it happened"
What a f*****g clown.

Didn't he say after the Hull game 'the result did not reflect the performance'?
I bet he won't admit that neither did last nights result.
Sitting watching it on Sky, I just knew we would scramble a goal before the whistle, when it came I could barely bring myself to celebrate, it was more a feeling of relief.

[Eboue-Why?]

Dreadful...lucky...got absolutely no joy from that win.

I've never felt such apathy at 2 late goals. I'm just fed up and the sooner the Specialist is gone the better.

Spot on mate. Unfortunately this type of reaction to goals which turn a defeat into a win is becoming more regular. I feel like I'm being unfaithful reacting like this but as soon as Podolski's shot hit the net my first thought was that Wenger had got out of jail again and that I'd have to put up with his smug face afterwards telling me about the spirit in the team....
This isn't what supporting your team is about...is it?!

[DB10GOONER]

Heard there was a bit of infighting on the train to the ground? Can anyone who was there confirm that?

My mate texted me that there was far more anti-Wenger songs before the game than you usually get away in Europe and that led to a few blue on blue "incidents".

" Blue on Blue " ?? that is a new one to me .

Military term for friendly fire.

[A dallying Gus Caesar]

Dreadful...lucky...got absolutely no joy from that win.

I've never felt such apathy at 2 late goals. I'm just fed up and the sooner the Specialist is gone the better.

Spot on mate. Unfortunately this type of reaction to goals which turn a defeat into a win is becoming more regular. I feel like I'm being unfaithful reacting like this but as soon as Podolski's shot hit the net my first thought was that Wenger had got out of jail again and that I'd have to put up with his smug face afterwards telling me about the spirit in the team....
This isn't what supporting your team is about...is it?!

No, it is not. Sadly, many of us feel the same.

[Bendtners Drinking Buddy]

It was a strange feeling - you DO have to give credit to the team for working till the end, the United teams of old used to be lauded for it, it instills confidence and doubt in the opposition, thats a good thing.

That, unfortunately is the good news over - it was an absolutely diabolic performance.

I think the defence is obviously the issue because i think it is instilling fear into the rest of the team (not willing to take risks, over cautious, knowing any missed attack could cost even more) - and whilst our first choice back 4 is one id put up there with the best in the league - its irrelevant because they never play together.

Not strengting the defence was criminal, and thats a huge part of why we are struggling now.

He doesnt know his best team, or where they should play and that in turn rubs off on the players.

442 has its drawbacks, but the current system doesnt suit the players we have (the players fit anyway!) - that system was brought in around 2008 to suit Cesc - but its never changed! We should have 442 up our sleeves, around 60 mins at 0-0 yest would have been an opportune time to get Pod and Rosicky on - experienced heads to help us through, instead we had to play catch up.

Remember the days when if we were losing we would throw on Suker and Kanu, Wiltord? Fuck the formation and go for it - last night was the first time he has thrown caution to the wind in years, and i dont think its something we will see a lot of unfortunately!

[SPUDMASHER]

last night was the first time he has thrown caution to the wind in years, and i dont think its something we will see a lot of unfortunately!

He absolutely had to do so last night or even he could not have talked his way out of that one. In reality though he would probably have claimed to have been too busy to give a post match interview

I think we'll probably see it a bit more now actually. I rather fear that we shall be in the same position on several occasions this season. Whether we get the same outcome again though is yet to be seen!

[Eboue-Why?]

last night was the first time he has thrown caution to the wind in years, and i dont think its something we will see a lot of unfortunately!

He absolutely had to do so last night or even he could not have talked his way out of that one. In reality though he would probably have claimed to have been too busy to give a post match interview

I think we'll probably see it a bit more now actually. I rather fear that we shall be in the same position on several occasions this season. Whether we get the same outcome again though is yet to be seen!

A better team would already have been 3 up at that point given our shambolic defending.
Loved Alexis's reaction at the final whistle. Raised eyes and shake of the head as if to say ' what the fuck am I doing here scraping a lucky win against a team who hadn't won in the CL for 2 seasons'

[clockender1]

last night was the first time he has thrown caution to the wind in years, and i dont think its something we will see a lot of unfortunately!

no, he did it in the FA Cup - we were going to lose and he brought Sanogoals on to go 442 alongside Giroud.

basically he is clueless and throws on whichever forwards he has on the bench to try to save games.

i'm happy for the players that they stuck at it despite being given no direction.

this is only goals.com but its pretty savage - "how long can Arsenal Tolerate treading water with Wenger ? "

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/pre ... ater-under

telegraph is a little gentler, but the implication is clear - go now :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... later.html

this is pretty damning too :

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2241 ... mime-horse

[DB10GOONER]

442 has its drawbacks, but the current system doesnt suit the players we have (the players fit anyway!) - that system was brought in around 2008 to suit Cesc - but its never changed! We should have 442 up our sleeves, around 60 mins at 0-0 yest would have been an opportune time to get Pod and Rosicky on - experienced heads to help us through, instead we had to play catch up.

All systems have their drawbacks, BDB - which I'm sure you know, mate. It's all about flexibility and coaching; the best managers/coaches familiarise their players with 2 or 3 systems and variants thereof. Some teams are beatable with 4-4-2, some with 4-5-1, others with a combination of them depending if we are attacking or on the back foot.

For my mind, our problem is we are almost exclusively reliant on one system, a system our players are not best suited to, certainly not 100% of the time. We have no flexibility, thus we go to Old Shatford with our second team and try to pass our way through Manure and get raped 8-2. This is entirely down to Arsene - he is the manager.

[northbank123]

The amount of late goals we have scored this season suggests there is spirit in the team , maybe as the game nears its end and we need goals the players instincts kick in and Wenger's philosophy is forgotten. That apart nothing excuses the 88 minutes that preceded Gibbs' goal last night.

YEsterday and on Saturday our players gave up long before the end and were walking round. Then miracle of miracles as soon as we equalise everybody suddenly looks interested.

Our set up was absolutely appalling. We know Ramsey and Wilshere doesn't work, we know that a lone striker will be isolated without a number 10, we know Cazorla is going to be peripheral on the wing and tire dreadfully.

[defleppardisking]

last night was the first time he has thrown caution to the wind in years, and i dont think its something we will see a lot of unfortunately!

He absolutely had to do so last night or even he could not have talked his way out of that one. In reality though he would probably have claimed to have been too busy to give a post match interview

I think we'll probably see it a bit more now actually. I rather fear that we shall be in the same position on several occasions this season. Whether we get the same outcome again though is yet to be seen!

A better team would already have been 3 up at that point given our shambolic defending.
Loved Alexis's reaction at the final whistle. Raised eyes and shake of the head as if to say ' what the fuck am I doing here scraping a lucky win against a team who hadn't won in the CL for 2 seasons'

One can only imagine his reaction come the end of the season when we secure fourth place and the players celebrate like as if they have won the Champions League.

[SteveO 35]

I've been tugging away at the old pud all night after that

2-1 against the side that have finished bottom of their group in their last seven attempts in this competition and who have lost 5 consecutive home games

ONE ARSENE WENGER.....THERE'S ONLY ONE ARSENE WENGER

[StuartL]

The amount of late goals we have scored this season suggests there is spirit in the team , maybe as the game nears its end and we need goals the players instincts kick in and Wenger's philosophy is forgotten. That apart nothing excuses the 88 minutes that preceded Gibbs' goal last night.

Or maybe it suggests that when we (Wenker) gets desperate and abandon the abject failure of a system that has failed for 88 mins, we actually look dangerous, create chances, cause opponents to panic, have forward players in the box and actually end up taking a shot instead of looking to pass the fucking thing to someone else to take responsibility.

[Ricay]

Not sure if this is the incident you're talking about but I was on the train when a little fight broke out ...was nothing much...handbags...I held back one geezer..then it calmed down... A mate on that side of the carriage said one of the blokes was a spud (!) who got the hump over a song being sung...that can't be rite surely

Great night.

Was in the home end, I went mental when that 2nd came in, no reaction from them lot very disappointing

Was next to our end and couldn't hear us much before we scored though.

Bit of bother when we got back to town, pepper spray an all couldn't breathe. From what I understand the local Northern Africans tried it on with those who'd stayed in the pubs.

I was on the train when the infighting happened, fucking stupid!

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