Sporting H Thurs Mar 16th 2023 KO 8pm

[OneBardGooner]

Turner well Suspect - we need a new 2nd keeper


Kiwior - To duck in the corner is unforgivable (been training with Clive too long



Martinelli needs to pick his head up when running with the ball



Saliba is a Rolls Royce


Ref was a pansifiedCUNT


Their players all looking to fall over, dive, cheat and / or get our players booked - Fuckin SnowflakeSphincterLovers

[OneBardGooner]

Saka been invisible tonight

They doubled up on him again tonight, he's going to have to work some space in a lot of games from now on

Also (for me) He looked tired and leggy, like he didn't have that spurt of pace he usually has to pass players

[BFG4]

This competition feels like an exercise in going through the motions. As a fan, I found myself hoping we would win but very meh about the game finishing in a draw. Really hard to care too much when we are going for the title. We don't have near the squad to be going for both competitions.

[Stuart L (2)]

A Xhaka special

Oh dear - Tommy on

Gave it as an own goal, then realized it was Xhaka and so have awarded the goal to him. Fairs fair right?

If it is was a shot it was awful, if it was meant as a pass, it was worse….

Ended up in the net though

[Stuart L (2)]

Can see why Kiwior hasn't played in the PL, shocking how poor he looks

Bang of Pablo Mari off him

Harsh mate, no need to stab him in the back like that

[John F]

Saka been invisible tonight

They doubled up on him again tonight, he's going to have to work some space in a lot of games from now on

Also (for me) He looked tired and leggy, like he didn't have that spurt of pace he usually has to pass players

White looked knackered too. The entire defence may have been suffering from the same bug that Tierney has as they looked like they were shitting themselves every time Sporting attacked.I can see Sporting turning us over at home ,they looked dangerous on the counter.

[augie]

This competition feels like an exercise in going through the motions. As a fan, I found myself hoping we would win but very meh about the game finishing in a draw. Really hard to care too much when we are going for the title. We don't have near the squad to be going for both competitions.

Pretty much how I felt, and I suspect it was pretty much how saka felt cos imo he looked totally disinterested tonight

I wondered after Bournemouth game what exactly arteta see's when he took off smith-rowe ahead of vieira, and tonight I am asking the same question - the guy is so shit that he makes xhaka look good

[Clummo99]

This competition feels like an exercise in going through the motions. As a fan, I found myself hoping we would win but very meh about the game finishing in a draw. Really hard to care too much when we are going for the title. We don't have near the squad to be going for both competitions.

Pretty much how I felt, and I suspect it was pretty much how saka felt cos imo he looked totally disinterested tonight

I wondered after Bournemouth game what exactly arteta see's when he took off smith-rowe ahead of vieira, and tonight I am asking the same question - the guy is so shit that he makes xhaka look good

Smith-Rowe is coming back from injury as you well know. After coming on as an early sub there was no way he'd stay on until the final whistle.

[rodders999]

With the squad we have there’s just 2 options when it comes to this competition.

Option 1 - we’re serious about winning it. If that’s the aim then we need to play our strongest 11 every game in the knockout stages and see if that’s enough to get us over the line.

Option 2 - chuck it.

We’ve somehow done neither, made 6 changes from Bournemouth and put 90 needless minutes into the legs of Saka, Saliba, Martinelli (the only fit forward at the club ) and White 3 days out from a massive away game in the league.

If injuries/fatigue from this shit impacts our league results I’ll lose my fucking mind.

[BobbyPires7]

I think Arteta wants us to win every game. Momentum is key. We need a bigger squad but we don’t have it.

[augie]

This competition feels like an exercise in going through the motions. As a fan, I found myself hoping we would win but very meh about the game finishing in a draw. Really hard to care too much when we are going for the title. We don't have near the squad to be going for both competitions.

Pretty much how I felt, and I suspect it was pretty much how saka felt cos imo he looked totally disinterested tonight

I wondered after Bournemouth game what exactly arteta see's when he took off smith-rowe ahead of vieira, and tonight I am asking the same question - the guy is so shit that he makes xhaka look good

Smith-Rowe is coming back from injury as you well know. After coming on as an early sub there was no way he'd stay on until the final whistle.

You are entitled to believe that was the thinking behind the move, but personally I dont buy it - I think that if you believe that there isnt 70 mins in a player then you dont bring him on that early and you opt for one of the other subs. There are few things in football more embarassing for a player than to be brought on as a sub and then be subbed yourself, and managers know that and would avoid that scenario if at all possible. I also feel that starting vieira ahead of smith-rowe tonight enforces my opinion that it is managerial preference that is driving these decisions, as does leaving the portugese lightweight on for full game again tonight

[Clummo99]

This competition feels like an exercise in going through the motions. As a fan, I found myself hoping we would win but very meh about the game finishing in a draw. Really hard to care too much when we are going for the title. We don't have near the squad to be going for both competitions.

Pretty much how I felt, and I suspect it was pretty much how saka felt cos imo he looked totally disinterested tonight

I wondered after Bournemouth game what exactly arteta see's when he took off smith-rowe ahead of vieira, and tonight I am asking the same question - the guy is so shit that he makes xhaka look good

Smith-Rowe is coming back from injury as you well know. After coming on as an early sub there was no way he'd stay on until the final whistle.

You are entitled to believe that was the thinking behind the move, but personally I dont buy it - I think that if you believe that there isnt 70 mins in a player then you dont bring him on that early and you opt for one of the other subs. There are few things in football more embarassing for a player than to be brought on as a sub and then be subbed yourself, and managers know that and would avoid that scenario if at all possible. I also feel that starting vieira ahead of smith-rowe tonight enforces my opinion that it is managerial preference that is driving these decisions, as does leaving the portugese lightweight on for full game again tonight

Because that's the bloody obvious reason surely!

You are so unique in your opinions Augie mate.

A couple of seasons ago you were slating Arteta for having an agenda against young players which you then changed a season later to him preferring young players because they didn't answer back.

You're raving mad!!

[DB10GOONER]

I think Arteta wants us to win every game. Momentum is key. We need a bigger squad but we don’t have it.

Agree with this. Its a noble ambition, but at some point pragmatic thinking has to come into play. This is a two bit competition. The league is what we need to win as a club. I fear Arteta's lack of top level experience and arrogance might make him believe he can win both comps with this paper thin squad. Hope I'm wrong.

[DB10GOONER]

With the squad we have there’s just 2 options when it comes to this competition.

Option 1 - we’re serious about winning it. If that’s the aim then we need to play our strongest 11 every game in the knockout stages and see if that’s enough to get us over the line.

Option 2 - chuck it.

We’ve somehow done neither, made 6 changes from Bournemouth and put 90 needless minutes into the legs of Saka, Saliba, Martinelli (the only fit forward at the club ) and White 3 days out from a massive away game in the league.

If injuries/fatigue from this shit impacts our league results I’ll lose my fucking mind.

Same here.

I vote chuck it. Put everything into finally winning the league again.

[OneBardGooner]

This competition feels like an exercise in going through the motions. As a fan, I found myself hoping we would win but very meh about the game finishing in a draw. Really hard to care too much when we are going for the title. We don't have near the squad to be going for both competitions.

Pretty much how I felt, and I suspect it was pretty much how saka felt cos imo he looked totally disinterested tonight

I wondered after Bournemouth game what exactly arteta see's when he took off smith-rowe ahead of vieira, and tonight I am asking the same question - the guy is so shit that he makes xhaka look good

Smith-Rowe is coming back from injury as you well know. After coming on as an early sub there was no way he'd stay on until the final whistle.

You are entitled to believe that was the thinking behind the move, but personally I dont buy it - I think that if you believe that there isnt 70 mins in a player then you dont bring him on that early and you opt for one of the other subs. There are few things in football more embarassing for a player than to be brought on as a sub and then be subbed yourself, and managers know that and would avoid that scenario if at all possible. I also feel that starting vieira ahead of smith-rowe tonight enforces my opinion that it is managerial preference that is driving these decisions, as does leaving the portugese lightweight on for full game again tonight

Arteta explained the reason for this in his post(Bournemouth) game interview:


They brought him on earlier than intended because Trossard got injured, but knew that he (ESR) didn't have enough in him (yet) to do 70 minutes, hence he was subbed. Nothing strange in that, also he said (in tonights post SL presser) that Vieira has been needing a full run out for weeks and they saw this as an ideal opportunity. In all honesty I thought Vieira was one of our better players tonight, along with Jorginho and Saliba.