As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
In all fairness to Sunderland they have given it a go against most teams this season prior to our game, so I thought our set up of 4-2-3-1 was a reasonable one. But as soon as it became apparent that Sunderland were playing an effective 10-0-1 Wenger should have changed it. I believe that with five across the middle our full backs can't find the room to overlap.
To paraphrase what Keown said the other day about Gallas - he is not prepared to put his bollocks on the line. We need a lion or a nutter in there somewhere, someone who hates losing so much it hurts . I think Gallas is a quality player but he is not a dominating centre back who inspires confidence, or inspires full stop. He does not lead our back four never mind the team. He is not prepared to die for the cause and I believe this has effected Kolo. If Wenger believes in the kids maybe now is the time to go with the kids and just the kids.
Time perhaps for Song or Djourou to flatten some big names in training and show how much they want it.
Quartz: "i would use Ade and Bendtner, with Bendtner playing deeper to provide through balls for Ade."
For him to miss you mean. He's had fantastic through balls recently, on a plate, one from Bendtner, one from Toure. He scooped them both. His technique is faulty. His problem is that he's not as good as he thinks he is. I would agree that Bendtner has a similar problem with ego (in a recent interview here in Denmark, he was quoted as saying he didn't think there were any weaknesses in his game - I hope that was just a misunderstanding!), but I think he's a cooler finisher and he seems to have built a good understanding with Vela already. I'm not under any illusions about Bendtner, I remain to be convinced - I think he still has plenty to learn, but I think he is learning. His national manager has said the same after earlier going pretty public over NB's attitude problems.
I would agree with an experiment with RvP being the focal point (playing him wide left is a waste), I just think Wenger needs to try something different at the moment because the present combination just isn't working. He needs to drop either Ade or RvP (or both - maybe too radical?) and try something/someone else.
totally agree rebel. There comes a point when all the pretty football looks great and for the last few years I have thought any time now its going to pay off and will will take the next step. But it looks as if it not going to happen. I cant see this team winning the league and thats then bench mark for how good this team is. We need a battler and a bruiser. What happened to all the red cards we used to pick up (alot were never red cards) but even so it seems now we are just pretty on the eye.
As for Wenger moaning about Sunderland playing defensive - is he for real? Does he expect them to come out and try and match us for passing skills? Picking 4-5-1 was hardly adventurous. That excuse is getting boring now. The team needs to shape up soon and so does the manager. If Denilson isnt good enough then give Ramsey, Wiltshere a chance. Arsenal need to get some heart back. The thing is it wouldnt take alot for this team to be great, a couple of players but Wenger just wont have it.
Its sad but we will do well to match last seasons efforts. We have been given a very easy start to the season and have almost fluffed it. Good consistent run needed for Oct and Nov now.
On reflection, I can see I'm being a bit hard on Ade - just disappointed after Hull and yesterday and looking for a scapegoat, I guess. All players have off-days and the Hull result was more collective than individual. I agree that when Ade is up for it he causes a lot of problems for the opposition. But I do think that when we get to half-time and it's 0-0 against a team that clearly have little ambition, then an earlier change is needed. 4-5-1 makes no sense in those circumstances. AW seems to have the view that we'll persist with the original game plan when it clearly isn't working and then panic when it's too late. And I really don't understand the logic of replacing Theo with Bendtner when one or both of the 2 central strikers are off their game. If Bendtner is to come on, it should be at the expense of Ade or RvP and they should know that. And Vela needs more than 10 mins - it smacks of desperation.
The manager has got to go as simple as that! contentious I know - thanks for 1996-2005 but thats it.
Previous replies refer to Seaman, Adams,Kwoen,Berkamp all pre Wenger players.
His record in Europe where tactics come strongly into the equation is very poor, loosing finals and poor team selection.
Online Ed wrote an article after the transfer window closed stating the correct prediction that Wenger will either live or die by his sword.
Too many poor players that do not have the clubs in their blood - 20M for that overated wanker Adebuyor I would have snapped there hands off.
All this Wenger knows best is just beyond boring - he had the chance after stating the obvious in the summer stating a centre back and centre midfield player as a priority - then did'nt buy
Who motivates the players?? Benitez, Scholari, O'neil, Fergeson all COACH during the game and make key tactical changes - Wenger bemoans teams tactics because they don't allow us the room to play football - wanker
Wenger has never been any good with tactics. He sends the team out to play one way, sometimes it's great if teams play open football against us, when they don't, we struggle. It's not exactly a new thing, people have known for years that the best way to play Arsenal (if you're not Chelsea or Man U) is to close up shop and hit us on the break.
When you keep telling the public that you're kids are good enough and that you don't need to sign anyone then you are putting your job on the line, simple.
There are no more excuses (please stop having a go at teams for being defensive Arsene, you're embarrasing us).
I wouldnt say he has to go, thats just being bloody stupid at this point in time. But I would say he cant keep rolling out the same old lame excuses. It is getting insulting particularly when the players are all paid so well and the fact Arsenal charge the most in the Prem to go watch them.
I have said on other sites that when Barca / Milan offered the money for Ade we should have taken it and laughed. Having said that I think he has shown willing and has put the effort in - he just isnt a natural finisher. RVP - well i dont know whats up with him, for long periods I didnt even know he was playing. Taking off Walcott just amazed me. I dont know, is Wenger losing it. For the first time in years and years I actually thought to myself I wish we had a leader like George Graham in the background. When you look at that back 5 or 6 players it still an amazing achievement. Wenger just doesnt seem to have that in his locker.
We need to get angry, and have the mentalilty if we lose then the team that beats us is going to know they have been in match, instead of the same old bemused sulky school boy look when things dont go our way. I just dont think we are strong enough this season. Flamini all of a sudden looks a massive loss. Cesc has had his playing style comprimised by a poor partner and if it goes on he will go elsewhere. Notice the way the directors always come out shouting when we are doing well, but the truth is we need some backing. We need quality, it cant all come through the youth system. Imagine what Torres or Riberry (who we were tipped to get) would have come.
Fo rme Ade can play either as the most forward striker, or as the deeper player.
The choice depends who he is playing with.
Bendtner is not fast, but he has a nice passing technique.
That is why I would would play him slightly deeper than Ade. It would also give Ade the change to receive a pass, then "hold the ball up" until another player is in a better position to shoot. Ade does that well. He also heads the ball well, so needs to be near the goal for that to be effective.
If RvP is playing then there is no question. RvP must be the front striker to use his best technique, the ability to shoot with no backlift and surprise the goalkeeper.
The same is true of Eduardo and Vela, who are clinical shooters.
It may also be true of Walcott if he was paiured with Ade, but I am not sure yet as I need to see more of Walcott in that pairing to decide.
Walcott might just be best running with the ball from deeper in midfield, then passing it to Ade and receiving it back from Ade to then shoot.
It could be that next season, the axis of Cesc to Walcott to Ade then back to Walcott to shoot, is the main way we get goals?
Wenger does not make bold decisions.He needs to drop either Gallas or Toure and bring in Djourou and drop either Ade or RVP for Vela or Bendtner.
He had a perfect opportunity to do this after the Hull defeat when he promised cxhanges but sadly he bottled it
Quartz said " It would also give Ade the chance to receive a pass then "hold the ball up" until another player is in a better position to shoot."
Blimey Quartz, this all sounds a bit too technical for Adebayor. He doesn’t even understand the offside rule! When has he ever been able to hold the ball up? His 1st, 2nd and 3rd touches generally let him down!
I think we need to stick to the basics with him E.G.
Ball……white leathery thing you kick . P.S. you are allowed to use BOTH feet when trying this
Goal……White sticks with net. The idea is to put the white leathery thing BETWEEN the posts ( amazingly you did this quite a bit last year! ).
Offside……If you are in front of the ball keep two opposing players between you and………probably too complicated…just give an astonished look when the whistle goes for offside and try not to get into double figures in one match.
Team mates……These are the players that are trying to pass to you to score….it is easier for them if you find such suitable positions P.S. Note the word MATES.It is probably NOT advisable to nut one of them during a match especially a televised game against your local rivals.
Crowd……We are the people that gasp, yell and shout to you during a match especially when we realise you are on £80 000 a week and that it us that are paying for it ( in more ways than one ).
Money
Contract
Dosh You already understand all of these.
Cash
Pay
Quartz, you mention hold up play. The only thing Adebayor can hold up are his arms before he walks on the pitch. This does not often seem to work for him or his mate Eboue. Perhaps God isn’t listening or maybe God thinks it is too difficult a job to help either of them. Mind you if God had wanted to help either of them, surely he would have given them some TALENT in the first place!
Perhaps we could use both Emmanuels in the pre match warm up. Put one either side of the pitch with a robe on and give each a pair of huge hands like Kenny Everett used to wear. They could give us a rendition of “ Brotherly, brotherly, brotherly love. “ Maybe as it was them that were singing, a better song choice would be “ We’ve got to get out of this placeâ€
lol.....its starting already...just listening to the interview with Fabregas....he will be gone within 2 years. And yes we might make a huge profit but what does that matter, its not like we can sign anyone better or any one at all really. Wenger has let it slip too far now. He had a good chance to strengthen and didnt take it last Jan and again in the summer.
The thing is that Wenger doesn't go out looking for these people that are tough in the tackle. He usually goes for the engines who are tecnically gifted. He hasn't ever bought anyone decent as a defender, except for Sol and Toure, which was the best defensive partnership for the past 5 seasons. The interesting thing is that he didn't realise why it worked so well...
We need a couple of grafters or sticking the kids on who will push the 1st teamers for spots. I would like to see Bendtner with RVP and perhaps Vela getting some games either up front or on the wing.
Centre of the park, I think that we are pretty fucked, so unfortunately, you can pick Song or Denilson and thats it, unless you want to play Ramsey, which some are advocating for, I am not convinced. Diaby will only play in a wheelchair and Randall or the 17 year old Frenchmen would be the other choices. In other words, either Song or Denilson will get the nod despite how shit that they play.
Drop Toure or Gallas and stick Djourou in. This hasn't happened yet for whatever reason.
The thing is, we don't need to make loads of changes, maybe two of those to send a message to underperforming players (Gallas, Ade) to get their head out of their arse...
Oh - and Cesc for Captain before he fucks off to Spain....
