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.
Physical power? Augie we weren't getting undone by long balls being lumped up to Kevin Davies and Peter Crouch whilst thuggish centre-halves knocked our strikers off every ball. The Liverpool and Chelsea games we lost in 20 minutes because they were zipping the ball around us for fun due to our awful set-up and mentality. Doesn't matter about physical power if you're chasing shadows, which we were.
And Terry and Drogba were hardly winning back the ball in the middle of the park. Have to be careful making a comparison with the great Barcelona side of a few years ago because we have nowhere near that quality and couldn't hope to emulate their approach BUT on a fundamental level they showed how tactical knowledge, discipline and execution can more than compensate for physical size. They never got the credit for the awesome defensive outfit they were, their pressing game and shape was so good that opponents could barely string 3 passes together. I certainly wouldn't be averse to adding some physicality but I also wouldn't discount anybody who isn't built like a brick shithouse or doesn't fly into challenges every 5 minutes.[/quote]
I agree with the whole DMC thing. I think post Viera we got a little obsessed with the physicality forgetting Viera was a beast on the ball. We need a Flamini and not his shadow of a former self.
SteveO 35 wrote:Any news on the GK front? Honestly, this has got to be one of his biggest priorities. The best thing that happened to Chesney was Flapper finally finding a bit of form and Wenger dropping him for a few games the season before last.
New Keeper Looks Sorted #Nice #AFC The Arsenal 49ers
According to the Arsenal49's fb - They have been reliable in the recent past. Ospina as the Nice hashtag is a big clue (or are they just saying that's nice )
augie wrote:
I cannot understand how some fans cant see or ignore the fact that a team consisting of ozil, ramsey, cazorla, ox, wally and sanchez (not at the one time obviously) need a tough ball winner to get them ball for them - I also am surprised that some fans don't recognise the lack of physical power is a key factor in why we get rolled over in those tough away games
Up until his injury on Boxing Day, Ramsey was 1st for most ground covered, and 2nd - behind only Joel Ward - for most tackles in the league.
Ramsey is the most efficient ball winner in the PL.
I agree that positioning and interceptions can be as important as tackling but physical power is important. It doesn't have to be the DM that possesses it, but as a team we are severely lacking in that department.
I'd be happy with Khedira, but I'd prefer a Bender (oooh matron!) or Scheiderlin.
Yankee_Gooner_Dandee wrote:We need someone like Mascherano or Xabi Alonso. Bender would be a decent fit I think but it doesnt seem like AW is interested? Khedira is a good player but we need someone that sits deeper so Ramsey can bomb forward. Flamini is a good player but not good enough to start the whole season, plus we all know he's prone to the red card. Arteta is TOO FUCKING SLOW and can't seem to pass forward anymore.
Can someone call Gilberto out of retirement
Don't need someone like khedira, Alonso or gilberto - not one of them is the tough physical DM that we need and Alonso is no faster than arteta btw.
You're a bit obsessed with this whole physicality thing Augie. Makelele was a tough little bugger but he was hardly physically imposing. 95% of the role is positioning, discipline and reading the game.
No I am obsessed with balance - makelele played in a team containing the pikey terry, dogbreath, essien, diarra etc and all of those c*nts would bring physical ball winning talents to the team. We have nobody in our team that can be classed as a ball winner so we need to correct that to bring some balance to our team. I cannot understand how some fans cant see or ignore the fact that a team consisting of ozil, ramsey, cazorla, ox, wally and sanchez (not at the one time obviously) need a tough ball winner to get them ball for them - I also am surprised that some fans don't recognise the lack of physical power is a key factor in why we get rolled over in those tough away games
Physical power? Augie we weren't getting undone by long balls being lumped up to Kevin Davies and Peter Crouch whilst thuggish centre-halves knocked our strikers off every ball. The Liverpool and Chelsea games we lost in 20 minutes because they were zipping the ball around us for fun due to our awful set-up and mentality. Doesn't matter about physical power if you're chasing shadows, which we were.
And Terry and Drogba were hardly winning back the ball in the middle of the park. Have to be careful making a comparison with the great Barcelona side of a few years ago because we have nowhere near that quality and couldn't hope to emulate their approach BUT on a fundamental level they showed how tactical knowledge, discipline and execution can more than compensate for physical size. They never got the credit for the awesome defensive outfit they were, their pressing game and shape was so good that opponents could barely string 3 passes together. I certainly wouldn't be averse to adding some physicality but I also wouldn't discount anybody who isn't built like a brick shithouse or doesn't fly into challenges every 5 minutes.
It seems like there are about 3 footballers in world football who you wouldn't have some significant gripe about us signing. I understand that a lot of people are getting extremely carried away and I agree that our weaknesses are still overwhelmingly unaddressed but it seems like even for you you are trying extremely hard to be negative.
Does not playing against a tough physical midfielder not make it easier to zip balls around the place ? Do you think that it would have happened if we had schweinsteiger (who I don't think is a realistic target btw) in midfield ? Would facing an intimidating midfield warrior not alter your mindset ? Nobody is afraid of our players and that's a fact ? They know that we can play ball with the best of them, but they also know that they can rough us up and we wont be able for the battle. Positionally discipline arteta is as good as anybody and gets an unfair slating imo but he isn't imposing enough and that is what we need most imo
There are more than 3 names that I wouldn't object to - it isn't the names that I am stubborn on, but the job requirements are non negotiable for me
OneBardGooner wrote:Ouch! nasty!.....did the bike survive?
Yes luckily I highsided, the bike kinda wobbled and run on into gravel (so I'm told I was too busy thinking it's gonna fa king hurt)
Brands hatch trackday
5 broken ribs, broken metertarsal, one broken elbow (in 3 places (titanium screws implanted)- always gets a oooooo that one) discolated shoulder, and one dodgy knee
bike - new exhaust, break lever, and a bit of fairing - oh and a wash
So you had a skid lid on...used to have a Kawasaki 900 (back in the 80's) - fishtailed like a fukka over 80mph...
MrT wrote:Conte has resigned as Juve manager allegedly due to transfer differences. Which probably means Vidal is off to the mancs. Fuck knows why he would want to go there.
GranadaJoe wrote:I agree that positioning and interceptions can be as important as tackling but physical power is important. It doesn't have to be the DM that possesses it, but as a team we are severely lacking in that department.
I'd be happy with Khedira, but I'd prefer a Bender (oooh matron!) or Scheiderlin.
I have wanted us to sign a tough tackling hard working midfielder since Flamini left in 2008.
We re-signed him, but he cannot be relied on to last the whole season playing as he does, and he is good but not great, gives away too many needless fouls.
I do not see what the fuss is with Khedira, he looks like a well rounded player but not the out-and-out destroyer/intercepter that we need.
Vidal would be my choice, no idea if we could prise him away from Juventus but the presence of Sanchez might help?
Bender another option, no idea if we can get him from Bayer Leverkusen.
OneBardGooner wrote:Ouch! nasty!.....did the bike survive?
Yes luckily I highsided, the bike kinda wobbled and run on into gravel (so I'm told I was too busy thinking it's gonna fa king hurt)
Brands hatch trackday
5 broken ribs, broken metertarsal, one broken elbow (in 3 places (titanium screws implanted)- always gets a oooooo that one) discolated shoulder, and one dodgy knee
bike - new exhaust, break lever, and a bit of fairing - oh and a wash
So you had a skid lid on...used to have a Kawasaki 900 (back in the 80's) - fishtailed like a fukka over 80mph...
agrees with quartz...we all know we have needed a Mid-field marshall/destroyer - and Arteta is NOT that, besides he's past t now...and whilst Khedira is a quality player - a Mid-field destroyer he AIN'T!
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(or are they just saying that's nice 
