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.
SteveO 35 wrote:People getting excited over a goalless draw against Chelsea Reserves
Sink any lower and we'll be running out to Hi-Ho Silver Lining next season....
Exited, no! lowered my expectations to crawling over the line for 3rd? yes!
As for "Chelsea reserves" - well quite, but how many titles have Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Mikel, Essien and Kalou been involve with? and how much did Cahill cost? and Torres? and then you have Sturridge who isn't bad either. Chelsea have one of the most expensively put together squads in the history of football, and have a very strong squad that is never going to be easy to beat... especially with the worst Arsenal team since Wenger arrived in '96/97.
All of the players you mention are either on the way down or were just fringe players in those title winners (FFS - Mikel and Kalou !!!) - it would be like all of the teams that beat us in 2006 saying we beat a team containing Lehmann, Ljungberg, Pires, Cole, Henry, Bergkamp etc.....and quite a good few teams did beat us that season, despite whatever trophies they'd won in their best years. In 2012 that was a Chelsea second string. From that starting XI yesterday how many will start in the Nou Camp - Cech and Terry ?
How much did Cahill cost? Reportedly £7m - something we baulked at but were quite happy to pay €9m for donkey Mertesacker.
Sturridge isn't bad I agree but at a club that challenge for trophies he is one of four strikers they are able to rotate......and our second, third and fourth choice strikers are.......?
I just think the Arsenal team we had out (especially with no Arteta) is very, very average so dropping points (and playing dreadfully) against chavs wasn't that surprising to me and coming away with a point and having 3rd still in our hands was a relief.
Gervinho, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky (who had been ill) and Chamberlain was just not a midfield 5 that inspired me with confidence
g88ner wrote:
I just think the Arsenal team we had out (especially with no Arteta) is very, very average so dropping points (and playing dreadfully) against chavs wasn't that surprising to me and coming away with a point and having 3rd still in our hands was a relief.
Gervinho, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky (who had been ill) and Chamberlain was just not a midfield 5 that inspired me with confidence
But that was possibly our strongest possible team bar Wilshere and Arteta - and it's doubtful the latter would even have been bought had Jack not picked up his injury. The fact that it was a 'relief' to come away from a home game against an severely under-strengthened and tired Chelsea who also had other things on their mind, when a victory would have all but guaranteed a CL place just about says it all about the pile of pony assembled by one Arsene Wenger!!
So basically, and correct me if I am wrong, we all think that we are shit but g88ner thinks that it is a good point because we are shit whilst hlebby, steve o,up 4 grabs now and myself think that it is not good enough becuase we are shit and should be better - clear as mud really
augie wrote:So basically, and correct me if I am wrong, we all think that we are shit but g88ner thinks that it is a good point because we are shit whilst hlebby, steve o,up 4 grabs now and myself think that it is not good enough becuase we are shit and should be better - clear as mud really
Yep - we're all in violent agreement. We are shit. Its just that g88ner is slightly happier to be shit and in 3rd place whilst I am still fucking fuming that we ripped our home of 93 years to tolerate years of mediocrity and watching the likes of Gervinho gracing our once great club
augie wrote:So basically, and correct me if I am wrong, we all think that we are shit but g88ner thinks that it is a good point because we are shit whilst hlebby, steve o,up 4 grabs now and myself think that it is not good enough becuase we are shit and should be better - clear as mud really
Yep - we're all in violent agreement. We are shit. Its just that g88ner is slightly happier to be shit and in 3rd place whilst I am still fucking fuming that we ripped our home of 93 years to tolerate years of mediocrity and watching the likes of Gervinho gracing our once great club
Absolutely - these great custodians of our club (board members/former shareholders) spouted so much dogshite about the future of our club and what a huge boost this new stadium would be and also how committed they were to the long term future of the club but of course the first chance they get they start to skimp on squad investment, boost the financial accounts of the club and then jump ship as they rake in massive massive profits for no fcuking investment (all those c***s inherited their shares so never put a penny of their own money into our club
Of course, as steve o has pointed out, what we are now left with is an average squad, on too much wages, who cant be arsed to raise their game against "minnows" and are managed by a clown who has lost all sense of reality as he sits up on his untouchable throne - this is what we are all paying massive money for every single fcuking season
I think the 0-0 was a fair result considering the team we put out, which would have been a good result IF we had beaten QPR and Wigan.
Augie
Yes RvP, Walcott and Song are the players who have played the most.
But RvP and Walcott are players who shine when in full energy, but who lose effectiveness when lacking energy, more than other types of players.
Both especially rely on sprints and sharpness as part of their general play, as do most strikers.
But a centre back or a defensive midfielder will rely more on concentration, anticipation and overall stamina.
It was the London marathon today, and RvP looked like he hit his "wall" in the home game against Villa.
Song? - If we do not buy any midfielders this summer, I would hope we start next season with a central midfield trio of Wilshere - Arteta - Rosicky or Coquelin - Arteta - Wilshere.
What a contrast to the City game. Atmosphere flat, performance flat - yes we could/should have won but overall disappointing. Walcott again awful, Gervinho...just don't go there! We seem intent on making this as difficult as possible. Probably just limp over the line - I want/expect more than that.
Lee1 wrote:What a contrast to the City game. Atmosphere flat, performance flat - yes we could/should have won but overall disappointing. Walcott again awful, Gervinho...just don't go there! We seem intent on making this as difficult as possible. Probably just limp over the line - I want/expect more than that.
Atmosphere was great before the game, I think the performance can be blamed for the atmosphere during the game though, I almost fell asleep and I wish that was a joke.
I'd have been happy with a draw before kick off...........
Atmos was good, crowd was up for it - then the match started.
To say our performance was pedestrian,lacking urgency, motivation and ideas is an understatement.
All the ingredients were there for a positive performance - a depleated Chelski with their eyes elsewhere, good noisy support, chance to really cement 3rd.
Really looked to me like both sides settled for a draw. Thats what made me so angry - a glorious chance for some quick, incisive passing, fast movement, urgency, positivity. Something to match what the fans were showing. But no - it was truly awful. Slow slow, slower.
Example of the apathy towards the end. Were chasing a win, get a corner and NO-ONE goes to take it! They all stand around looking at eachother like feckin eejits. We were all up on our feet berating them until eventually Santos woke up and ran over to take it. Just apathetic, unacceptable and very, very sad to watch.
While I said I'd have taken a draw before kick-off, after watching such a lame, slow, shambles I most certaintly am not happy with a draw after the final whistle because lets call a spade a spade - that game was there to be won and won comfortably.
A bit more motivation and tactics from the bench and more urgency from the players and three points were ours. Where was the urgency and quick incisive passing we seen against City?
Ultimately happy with the overall outcome on the day but soooo pissed off cause it should have been so much better
if we beat Chels 1-0
and Sperz filled in QPR
we'd be in a worse position
game was poo - RdM is a loser, they needed a win but played for a draw
thought Gervinho was better than Ox, surprised to hear him slated for a slightly improved cameo
RVP should have won it from Walcott's very good fk
highburyJD wrote:if we beat Chels 1-0
and Sperz filled in QPR
we'd be in a worse position
game was poo - RdM is a loser, they needed a win but played for a drawthought Gervinho was better than Ox, surprised to hear him slated for a slightly improved cameo
RVP should have won it from Walcott's very good fk
Ever so slightly harsh wouldn't you say for a man who has lost once in 14 games - a narrow 2-1 loss at City who needed a penalty.
They are playing top game after top game - big league games, FA Cup semi-finals, CL semi-finals. In the same position the Self Harmer would be rolling over in the league harping on about fatigue, fixture schedules etc. He moans when we only have one game per week about the demands on players
highburyJD wrote:RdM is a loser, they needed a win but played for a draw
Ever so slightly harsh wouldn't you say for a man who has lost once in 14 games - a narrow 2-1 loss at City who needed a penalty.
bar the Sperz game every time I've seen them play they've been poor and lucky
Wigan dicked them and were totally robbed, Fulham could and should have scored several in the first half
RdM has them defending better because he accepted Chelski's old players refusal to press high up the pitch
Chelski are at 11th in the form table - he basically gave up on top 4 by playing for a draw as a Barca practice run
Barca will thrash them, I expect at least 3 different goalscorers and Barca aren't even on good form
Chelski will probably win the FA Cup - I really hope it's enough to keep Robbie in the job
1. Song MUST be replaced as first choice DM. For all the reasons I've repeatedly stated on here for over a year now. He demonstrated every bad point about his game throughout this match.
2. Arteta is a real loss in midfield. No, he's not Cesc ( ) but he is an intelligent calm and effective player.
3. Walcott was utter shit. Again.
4. Gevinho was utter shit. Again.
5. Ramsey was utter shit. Again. I still believe there is a player in there trying to get out but surely a loan spell is now called for?
6. RVP is actually really off form at the moment. One goal (a penno) in 7 games? Still a class player but I think the season has finally caught up to him. He looks tired.
7. Wenger STILL has no plan B to deal with oppo defensive formations.
8. Against a weakened Chav side that is psychologically only thinking of Barca and the CL final it's 2 points dropped for me.
1- trouble for me is Song looked like he was still playing twin pivot
2- and without Arteta that's difficult - luckily it's a more natural fit with the reurning Diaby and Coq
3- Walcott was mostly poor but RVP should have scored from his excellent FK. Strange to isolate Theo rather than everyone's hero Ox who was far worse IMO
4- I thought Gerv showed a slight improvement (albeit from a very low base)
5- Rambo dwelt on the ball and was robbed by Torres a few times (when did Torres start tracking back?) apart from that thought he was just a bit too conservative with the ball - trying to fill in for Tets. I thought Rambo's passing accuracy was improved (cue stats to prove me wrong...)
6- RVP was poor - shows how bad our bench is
7/8- I have to say I assumed Chelski would go for it last ten mins, maybe Wenger did too. A draw was a terrible result for them - all their eggs are now in the beatBarcabasket. Very poor management from RdM IMO.
) but he is an intelligent calm and effective player.