BIRMINGHAM THREAD

[Barriecuda]

"Well was that challenge by Wilshere as bad as the one Taylor had on Eduardo"

c**t

"Oh that was a leg breaker"

c**t

I was so disgusted when I heard this today. To have the audacity to even MENTION Taylor's tackle is something, but to suggest that it was close or equal to severity as Wilshere's... fuck. I have no words.

The only rebuttal I can point to is that Zigic walked back into play; Eduardo's career as a world class striker was finished.

Hoping to report on the game via CanadianGunners, but for now I will point out the main points:
-Man of the Match: Wilshere, although the red was deserved, losing him for City is disappointing. Chamakh second.
-Diaby: great dribbling, but terrible decision making and passing, a weak link in possession
-Arshavin: needs a few games on the bench, he is simply underperforming and costing us a lot of possession
-Fabianski: another "good" game where he did what he had to do; let's hope for more of this as his confidence grows
-Atkinson: terrible calls for both squads
-Arsenal overall: Need to get a lot more lethal and start putting in 3-4 goals against these kinds of teams (particularly not via penalties). Birmingham had a chance for a draw right til the death I felt and for a while I worried about a repeat of Sunderland.

[g88ner]

Nice to see that Hleb didn't celebrate the goal - of course, some would say that's because he hates playing for Birmingham, but I like to think it was in respect of the Arsenal!

Flappy had an easy game, but did well (I don't want to over analyse their goal), Wilshere picked up 2 assists, and although it was a bit if a lame performance.... we won!

Diaby looks braindead though. He's clearly trying, but he was pretty awful in the final third today

And Arshavin just isn't fit... and there's no excuse. It's ridiculous.

Still... 3pts

[augie]

Diaby played average. Fair enough he got the ball, he made some runs, but then what? He doesn't know where players are around him and he just gets stuck in the final third, which leads to nothing, no chances and no goals. Good control with the ball though, I'll give him that

Song needs to check his challenges.. he doesn't seem to learn from the past.

We held on to a one goal lead today, well done!! Here's hoping Fabregas is fit against shitty next week.

average, Average!!

He was so far from average, he would need a pair of f'ing binoculars to see average. He was complete dogshit yet AGAIN, it tells us everything we need to know about the state of the French team that he is a a first team regular for them. Arshavin did a good job keeping him company in dogshitsville

Abso-bloody-lutely.......arshavin was muck today but that long useless streak of shit needs shooting to put me out of my misery We all know that out little ruskie is as lazy as hell sometimes (today lazy and sloppy) but at least he plays better and more consistantly (plus chips in with a few goals) that that french *word censored* who is solid fcuking useless and it has now got to the stage that I would rather have almunia in midfield than diaby

[augie]

I know some of you will disagree but I thought djouru played really well today.........we bought toto to add some physicality to our back line but it was djouru that was winning the headers off zigic while seb wasnt even challenging

Fabinski did well in goals and looked to take control of situations instead of shitting himself every time a ball landed near to him

chamakh played well but again on occasions he looked short of support. I also dont like the lack of back up he got from his team-mates when the brum scum were after him

Lastly martin atkinson is an absolute wanker That manu reject was taking forever kicking the fcuking ball out in the 1st half and not alone did he not book the *word censored* but he only added 2 minutes injury time 2nd half see's fcuk all time wasting cos they chasing the game and the *word censored* plays 4 minutes injury time That scottish wanker (ferguscum) in midfield wanted the shit kicked out of him all day long as he stirred the shit and tried to get our players sent off..........am just home from the game now and I am still fuming

Has to be said that it was another poor enough performance today but the 3pts were more important than the performance so now we have to build on this and kick down the door next week in middle eastlands

[FrenchGun]

Wow....

Watching at some members posts regarding Diaby I'm also wondering if I've been watching the same game??

I can totally agree that Diaby is awfully inconsistant and that he plays one good game out of five, but today had to be that day! He was very good! The part about him slowing the game down is bullshit, with all due respect! If you watch closely at these moments, Abou didn't have any other choice than wait for his team-mates to come higher on the pitch! He held the ball well in their half despite being outnumbered on many occasions.
ANd FFS peeps! Diaby is probably the only player in our WHOLE TEAM who is not a midget and can't be bullied of the ball + he can get past players with the ball in his feet!
I can totally agree that some of you see him as shit, he has a lot to prove yet. But I'm pretty sure that he's technically one of the most gifted players of our team. It is also my intimate conviction that he will find consistance one of these days and end up being one of the finest midfield in Europe.
Concerning him being a first teamer in the French team, I can assure you that many people who saw the last games of France will tell you that Abou has been one of the best players for France so far, in front of the likes of Malouda, Gourcuff, Anelka etc...


It's ok you can tell me I lost the plot but I'm sure I'll have the last laugh!

[FrenchGun]

OH, and credit where it's due, I agree that Flappy had one of his best games in red and white by his low standards so far. Let's hope he can keep his current form as long as possible!

[GunnerRyan]

got the three points which is the main thing
pretty average performance

is it only me or is arshavin really fucking useless lately, his attitude is so lazy and half the time he tries a fancy flick to a team mate and it hasn't came off once
against chelsea he was the worst player on the pitch and gave the ball away 10+ times

[USMartin]

Diaby played average. Fair enough he got the ball, he made some runs, but then what? He doesn't know where players are around him and he just gets stuck in the final third, which leads to nothing, no chances and no goals. Good control with the ball though, I'll give him that

Song needs to check his challenges.. he doesn't seem to learn from the past.

We held on to a one goal lead today, well done!! Here's hoping Fabregas is fit against shitty next week.

average, Average!!

He was so far from average, he would need a pair of f'ing binoculars to see average. He was complete dogshit yet AGAIN, it tells us everything we need to know about the state of the French team that he is a a first team regular for them. Arshavin did a good job keeping him company in dogshitsville

Tell us what you REALLY think

I can't comment as I couldn't watch the match and am watching highlights later but I'm just glad we got the three points

[QuartzGooner]

I know some of you will disagree but I thought djouru played really well today.........we bought toto to add some physicality to our back line but it was djouru that was winning the headers off zigic while seb wasnt even challenging

I am a fan of Djourou's and even think he could be teamed with Song in midfield when Vermaelen comes back to partner Squillacci/Koscielny but...

Djourou looked short of match fitness today, he lacked sharpness, and failed to deal with Zigic for their goal.

Most of all, he looks terribly short on confidence, but that should return with games under his belt.

Squillaci had the better game of the two centre backs.


Diaby was ok but nothing more, others have rightfully said he once again had no final ball in his game and it is a huge flaw, but just as equally as others have said, too often there was no one making themselves available for him to pass to.

[OneBardGooner]

Wow....

Watching at some members posts regarding Diaby I'm also wondering if I've been watching the same game??

I can totally agree that Diaby is awfully inconsistant and that he plays one good game out of five, but today had to be that day! He was very good! The part about him slowing the game down is bullshit, with all due respect! If you watch closely at these moments, Abou didn't have any other choice than wait for his team-mates to come higher on the pitch! He held the ball well in their half despite being outnumbered on many occasions.
ANd FFS peeps! Diaby is probably the only player in our WHOLE TEAM who is not a midget and can't be bullied of the ball + he can get past players with the ball in his feet!
I can totally agree that some of you see him as shit, he has a lot to prove yet. But I'm pretty sure that he's technically one of the most gifted players of our team. It is also my intimate conviction that he will find consistance one of these days and end up being one of the finest midfield in Europe.
Concerning him being a first teamer in the French team, I can assure you that many people who saw the last games of France will tell you that Abou has been one of the best players for France so far, in front of the likes of Malouda, Gourcuff, Anelka etc...


It's ok you can tell me I lost the plot but I'm sure I'll have the last laugh!

If you watch Diaby - even on his Best Day the one in eight games (at best) he DOES Slow the breaks & attacks down, he does the same thing every time - The ball comes to him and he does this pirouette like turn and takes at least two other touches before then looking up to see where his team mates are....THAT is his ONLY Consistency....we all know he has ability and talent and when he is Conscious and Awake he can glide thorugh the opposition (seemingly at will - as can eboue and arshavin) BUT...he only does that on rare occasions AND when it comes to his decision making in the final third of the opponents half he is a Useless Prick...


Maybe that injury affected him more than we all realise, as he showed tremendous potential up till then, to the point where some Gooners were beginning to think maybe - just maybe - we may have a successor to PV4 - of course we all know (well all except people with the seeing ability of stevie wonder) he is anything but....(and regardless of the horrible nature and unfortunateness of that injury - it's time for him to step up or ship out!).

Also I think you'll find that there are other players who don't/won't get bullied off the ball Song...and Wilshere and he's half the size of Diaby...

Diaby - get shot of him asap I say
Arshavin - Laziest fecker in an Arsenal shirt sice greedywhore and will go at the end of this season (with any luck)

[TeeCee]

Barriecuda - Good analysis of the game mate.

People are spot on about Diaby, he was poor. It's no good getting possesion in your own half then sprinting 50 yards forward to either lose the ball, pass directly to the opposition (which he did several times when we had a great chance of a 1 on 1), go backwards, or fail to shoot!
There's a very interesting quote in the post on Diaby a few days ago - this is what Diaby said of himself "I do a lot of running between the boxes but after a 50-metre dash, I’m no longer lucid enough to find the right pass or put in a good shot." That is bang on for yesterday. He needs to improve, fast.
Arshavin is not interested, not at all. Wenger HAS to drop him.....and probably will now Theo is back to fitness.

Thought the ref was really poor yesterday, got loads of 'small' decisions wrong and at points, lost control of the game I felt.
As for Jacks red, obviously deserved but hopefully he'll learn from it - that's been coming for a while as he has been diving in.
One last thing - the atmosphere was absolutely dire yesterday. It truly is amazing how quiet 57,000 people can be!!

Almost forgot.....Djourou......thought he was very shaky yesterday. Made a couple of decent tackles but on at least three occasions when he tried to clear, he just kicked the ball up in the air. He has never been, and never will be, good enough.

[Nick Bendtners Ego]

Is it me or was there more of an edge to our game yesterday ?
Just seemed we were putting ourselves about more and was at times , a hark back to tougher players of old , almost like there a few Martin Keown Masks handed out to some of the Team Pre match . Even Nasri showed a sightlier ugly side (albeit indisciplined )
Of course that might have seemed the case due to
* Who we were playing , recent history and all that
* The referee losing control of it
Still , in the recent light of 'Pretty Boy ' accusations and lightweight jibes , it was good to see us standing up and being counted ,excluding Jacks over enthusiastic challenge that if earlier in the game could have cost us dearly .
The word i would use to describe the match overall would be 'Frustrating '.
Frustrated at Diaby's lack of ability / football brain to pick a pass and move the ball at speed when necessary .
Frustrated at the lack of pace in the Attack , frustrated at AA23's lack of interest and as has been mentioned , the even quieter than usual masssed ranks of fans .
Happy though for the 3 points , happy Hleb did even less than usual and always happy for Flappy when he doesn't need slappy

[storrmin571]

In my opinion which like arseholes everyones got one, diaby did a decent job although was utter shit in the final third should have shot or looked for a better pass. Wtf was AA doing with those back heels? Save crap like that wheb we are 3 or 4 up not 2-1. The atmosphere where we were in the clock end by the opposition was great up and shouting all game.

Can't get the Nasri song out of my head again,but what is better is if I sing a few notes the mrs has to then join in cos she is stuck with it.

Enjoyed the gunners pub yesterday too.

[BournemouthRED]

How did bendtner look when he came on? Only seen the goals due to being in the middle of nowhere at a wedding surrounded by west brom fans!!!

[LDB]

How did bendtner look when he came on? Only seen the goals due to being in the middle of nowhere at a wedding surrounded by west brom fans!!!

Wasn't on long enough to say really, had one "chance" racing in at the near post but there wasn't much of an angle and he didnt connect properly. Cant really remember much else.