SHAKHTAR DONETSK THREAD
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IW8Goalmachine
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GunnerDude
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IW8Goalmachine
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olgitgooner
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RoscommonGooner
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I Hate Hleb
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Great result but without meaning to sound churlish, that was the most underwhelming 5 goal performances I've ever seen from us.
The first 15-20 minutes was as bad as the WBA game and it appeared to me as if we never got out of first gear all night. The passing was too slow and hap-hazard for the majority of the match and even though we scored 5, in reality there was barely any more chances. Clinical? Yes, but nowhere near as fluent at creating openings as we normally are.
Although it's easy to say that the team took it easy because of the lack of quality from the opposition, I worry that our slow starts is starting to become a habit and better sides will make us pay. Especially when we defend as poorly as we do.
Now I'm really happy for him that Eduardo got his goal but I have to ask: how can a defence that's put under so little pressure still appear uncomfortable in almost all aspects of their play?
Djourou looked and played like someone new to the position; Squillachi has a tendency to head the ball up rather than out and his pace is seriously lacking; Clichy was his usual self - giving unnecessary free-kicks away either because of misguided attempts at stealing the ball, or for pushing the forward in the back when there was no need to; and likewise, Eboue does what he always does - goes wandering forward and across the field, vacates his defensive position, barely makes a concerted attempt to get back and though he threatens to, adds almost nothing in the final third.
Song hasn't learnt to keep his game simple and seems to think he's better than he really is; Fab and Nasri - despite their goals - were quieter and less dominant than usual and again it was Jack that ran the midfield for us. As for Arshavin - instead of saying to himself: " I'm going to go on, grab myself a goal, and put my disappointing form behind me" might as well not have bothered coming on, such was his interest in the game.
Like I said at the beginning, it might sound churlish, even harsh, to criticise the team after a 5-1 win but the fact remains that we will face much tougher sides than this and we need to learn from our mistakes if we're going to stand any chance of pulling off an unlikely Premiership Title or CL win. I'm afraid to say that at the moment I don't see those lessons being learnt and fear we'll get beat by most good sides playing like that.
Having got that frustration out of my system, my tin hat is well and truly on in anticipation of the rose-tinters onslaught.
The first 15-20 minutes was as bad as the WBA game and it appeared to me as if we never got out of first gear all night. The passing was too slow and hap-hazard for the majority of the match and even though we scored 5, in reality there was barely any more chances. Clinical? Yes, but nowhere near as fluent at creating openings as we normally are.
Although it's easy to say that the team took it easy because of the lack of quality from the opposition, I worry that our slow starts is starting to become a habit and better sides will make us pay. Especially when we defend as poorly as we do.
Now I'm really happy for him that Eduardo got his goal but I have to ask: how can a defence that's put under so little pressure still appear uncomfortable in almost all aspects of their play?
Djourou looked and played like someone new to the position; Squillachi has a tendency to head the ball up rather than out and his pace is seriously lacking; Clichy was his usual self - giving unnecessary free-kicks away either because of misguided attempts at stealing the ball, or for pushing the forward in the back when there was no need to; and likewise, Eboue does what he always does - goes wandering forward and across the field, vacates his defensive position, barely makes a concerted attempt to get back and though he threatens to, adds almost nothing in the final third.
Song hasn't learnt to keep his game simple and seems to think he's better than he really is; Fab and Nasri - despite their goals - were quieter and less dominant than usual and again it was Jack that ran the midfield for us. As for Arshavin - instead of saying to himself: " I'm going to go on, grab myself a goal, and put my disappointing form behind me" might as well not have bothered coming on, such was his interest in the game.
Like I said at the beginning, it might sound churlish, even harsh, to criticise the team after a 5-1 win but the fact remains that we will face much tougher sides than this and we need to learn from our mistakes if we're going to stand any chance of pulling off an unlikely Premiership Title or CL win. I'm afraid to say that at the moment I don't see those lessons being learnt and fear we'll get beat by most good sides playing like that.
Having got that frustration out of my system, my tin hat is well and truly on in anticipation of the rose-tinters onslaught.
Last edited by I Hate Hleb on Tue Oct 19, 2010 9:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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RossieGooner
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- Location: Roscommon, Ireland
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Irish Gooner
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I Hate Hleb
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- Location: London
Yeah, probably Rossie. Although I do find myself feeling relief rather than outright joy when we win, and get frustrated more often than not when watching this latest reincarnation of Wenger's Arsenal than at almost any point of my Arsenal supporting life - even back when we had a shit side.
At least then I could accept more easily our lack of ability and with it trophies. Whereas with this lot I feel that, with a bit of organisation, direction and common sense decision making, we're so close to being the real deal that our lack of displaying these disciplines seems to hurt and frustrate me even more.
Especially as it happens so often and has been going on for so long. 
At least then I could accept more easily our lack of ability and with it trophies. Whereas with this lot I feel that, with a bit of organisation, direction and common sense decision making, we're so close to being the real deal that our lack of displaying these disciplines seems to hurt and frustrate me even more.
Especially as it happens so often and has been going on for so long. -
I Hate Hleb
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Yes we did - just like we destroyed Braga yet when confronted with a bit stiffer competition, were made to pay for our continued weaknesses. And that's my point - that the mistakes we seem to always make and our lackadasical attitude at the beginning of games will cost us against better teams.Irish Gooner wrote:Agreed, destroyed them.RossieGooner wrote:We completely controlled the game from start to finish IHH... think you being bit OTT tbh .......
