Even Tony Adams reckons we're a feeder club

[rigsby]

Plus last night he wore a stripey suit with a spotty tie. Unforgiveable

[augie]

Ok can we just focus on the statements he made and not the motives cos we all know that what he said is 100% on the money

Big Tone used to be my all time hero but I have to say that his non appearance at the last game at highbury and more importantly his no show at Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial has really shook my faith in the man To give the man his due nobody, and I mean nobody, knows more about defending than TA I would liked to have seen the man return
To AFC in some capacity but it seems highly unlikely to happen now

I would like to ask a question though (and maybe this should be in the bouldie thread) but how confident are we that the improvement in our defensive performances is down to bouldie ? I am not saying that it isn't down to him but every Gooner 100% believes that wenger rules the team tactics with an iron fist so do we buy into the train of thought that suggests that he is now power sharing with bouldie ? is it more likely that it could be down to playing a more disciplined player in the DM position (arteta) who also retains possession better than the lazy lump of shite that filled the role for the past few seasons ? Obviously it could be a combination of both but right now bouldie is the way getting all the acclaim for this and it would be interesting to see if he could do as well with anybody else in that DM position

[Red Member]

I think it is laughable how Bould seems to be some sort of miracle worker all of a sudden.

it has been clear to me for a while that the defence has been improving.

I said on this forum early in the year that I thought that Arsenal would soon have the best defence in the PL.
The trouble is the lack of competition for the goalkeeping position which is a fairly important part of the defence.

we have so far been lucky with a very easy fixture list.
we have only beaten 2 relegation candidates and a small french club.

[Skooner]

Ok can we just focus on the statements he made and not the motives cos we all know that what he said is 100% on the money

Big Tone used to be my all time hero but I have to say that his non appearance at the last game at highbury and more importantly his no show at Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial has really shook my faith in the man To give the man his due nobody, and I mean nobody, knows more about defending than TA I would liked to have seen the man return
To AFC in some capacity but it seems highly unlikely to happen now

I would like to ask a question though (and maybe this should be in the bouldie thread) but how confident are we that the improvement in our defensive performances is down to bouldie ? I am not saying that it isn't down to him but every Gooner 100% believes that wenger rules the team tactics with an iron fist so do we buy into the train of thought that suggests that he is now power sharing with bouldie ? is it more likely that it could be down to playing a more disciplined player in the DM position (arteta) who also retains possession better than the lazy lump of shite that filled the role for the past few seasons ? Obviously it could be a combination of both but right now bouldie is the way getting all the acclaim for this and it would be interesting to see if he could do as well with anybody else in that DM position

I was thinking about this last night as well and there is another factor, which is the work Podolski is doing in front of Gibbs (and last night Gervinho worked back quite a bit as well). Podolski has done it a lot in the last few games and I felt part of the reason we started opening up was that he seemed to get tired after about an hour.

I'd say it is a combination of all of the above and Bouldy is getting all the credit. Where it will become interesting is when we have to rotate the players that are doing a good job. If we play the likes of Theo and Arshavin in the wide areas and start conceding more then that is the indicator of where the real problem/solutions lies.

[GranadaJoe]

We can't know for sure why our defensive performances have improved, but it makes sense to look at what has changed.

1. The back 4 has been settled, though still contains Jenks, who looks good going forward but is still a bit naive in defence (but at least he's a fullback). Gibbs has been decent as well, although I think TV is looking a bit rash at times.

2. SheepsheadSong has gone. Off-the-ball he was hopeless and we now have more intelligent, disciplined players. The cover and anticipation shown by Arteta is much more effective than the muscular approach shown by Song.

3. Bould. We can't know what his brief is from AW, or what their relationship is like, but we know he's a strong character and imo I don't believe he would have taken the job without an agreement that he could have some input. I certainly think he's more likely to bollock the defenders than Pat, and was part of the tied together back four from GG's days, which knew the benefits of practice and discipline.
It's reasonable to think that he has played an important part.

[rigsby]

Defensively the midfield has approved in its defensive duties. Arteta actually stays where he's meant to, and with Coq/Diaby or whomever is in that role also just stays and drops back when necessary.

I know he mucked up last night a few times, but Diaby was back there, where as before nobody really would be.

[EC3]

I don't what it is but every time Adams opens his mouth it all sounds false to me.

it's as though he's trying to convince people that he is intellegent, also find the way he answers questions very concesending.

Other than that top player.

[1886 Cannon]

I prefered him when he was on the

[StuartL]

Wenker has admitted that with Bouldy and also Neil Banfield promoted to first team coaches, they now split into three units - defence - midfield - attack, so each area is having more specific training in positioning etc.

As others have already highlighted our full backs don't appear quite so gung ho this season, whereas last year often both could be forward at any given point, which when an attack breaksdown was suicidal.

The cover and workrate from Podolski / Gervinho is far greater than we ever got from Arshavin / Theo on the flanks so we are better protected out wide.

We no longer have either Song or Denilson to be caught dithering on the ball or halfheartedly jogging towards our goal as the opponents and referee's alike sprint past them. Arteta's covering is excellent, Carazola although small appears willing to get stuck in and we close down the opposition far quicker, giving them less time / space to make decisions therefore forcing errors, or winning the ball back ourselves.

We also have a greater physical presence in Giroud, Podolski, Jenkinson so are not such an easy touch for those who look to play that type of game against us.

Overall, I would say that we have a better balance, team ethic, workrate etc, perhaps even RVP's departure has benefitted our overall play as we are more of a team unit now ?

Still early days, of course but very encouraging start with still Sagna, Kos, Jack to come back in and Rosicky to add to our options we would have a very strong looking bench if everyone was fit.

Keeper still of some concern to me, but Mannone did great last night, so can't complain with him.

[armchair]

Wenker has admitted that with Bouldy and also Neil Banfield promoted to first team coaches, they now split into three units - defence - midfield - attack, so each area is having more specific training in positioning etc.

As others have already highlighted our full backs don't appear quite so gung ho this season, whereas last year often both could be forward at any given point, which when an attack breaksdown was suicidal.

The cover and workrate from Podolski / Gervinho is far greater than we ever got from Arshavin / Theo on the flanks so we are better protected out wide.

We no longer have either Song or Denilson to be caught dithering on the ball or halfheartedly jogging towards our goal as the opponents and referee's alike sprint past them. Arteta's covering is excellent, Carazola although small appears willing to get stuck in and we close down the opposition far quicker, giving them less time / space to make decisions therefore forcing errors, or winning the ball back ourselves.

We also have a greater physical presence in Giroud, Podolski, Jenkinson so are not such an easy touch for those who look to play that type of game against us.

Overall, I would say that we have a better balance, team ethic, workrate etc, perhaps even RVP's departure has benefitted our overall play as we are more of a team unit now ?

Still early days, of course but very encouraging start with still Sagna, Kos, Jack to come back in and Rosicky to add to our options we would have a very strong looking bench if everyone was fit.

Keeper still of some concern to me, but Mannone did great last night, so can't complain with him.

Agree with most of this. Still not convinced by Bignut though.
Just a pity this "new" approach its only happening this season with the appointment of Bould as no. 2. Why on earth Wenker didn't do this years ago is beyond me? The world and his brother could see that we needed a defensive coaching regime and defend as a team. One can only speculate how many real trophys we "may" have wone had this been done earlier.

And to all those AKB's out there who like to blame "the board, the refs, the pitches, the media, Man Shitty, Chelski, Fifa fair play,the credit crunch, the weather, the tea lady, ets, etc, etc.........................
This is down to Wenker - no-one else. Hateful stubborn fool, toying with our club.

[DarylAFC]

Don't see where this slating of Adams comes from. As a pundit he looked just like a normal person watching it at home as a fan, just the way a pundit should be IMO.

[StuartL]

I think it is laughable how Bould seems to be some sort of miracle worker all of a sudden.

it has been clear to me for a while that the defence has been improving.

I said on this forum early in the year that I thought that Arsenal would soon have the best defence in the PL.
The trouble is the lack of competition for the goalkeeping position which is a fairly important part of the defence.

we have so far been lucky with a very easy fixture list.
we have only beaten 2 relegation candidates and a small french club.

If it was such an easy start how come the champions Man City played Stoke away and drew (same result as us)
they also played Liverpool and drew (where you may recall we won)
Oh and the small French club were the Champions of that league, finishing above free spending PSG.

[Clash]

Adams is 100% right and while I agree with some of the comments about him I think he is more worth listening to than some make out.

Also think its harsh to dismiss Adams credntials because of what he did (or didnt do) at Portsmouth. I aint saying I think he'd make a great manager but that was hardly the ideal job for someone looking to prove themselves.

What sort of job would Wenger do at that sort of club in those circumstances I wonder? Sadly I dont think we'll get to find out.

[villej]

He's saying what everyone knows but does he really need to say it in the media?

Reads like someone is jealous Bould is no 2 and he ain't.

Absolutely spot on.

[Clash]

I think Wenger missed a trick by not having some of our ex-players around the club. Liverpool did it in the past with the boot room etc. Its good that Bould is in there now but I do think Adams and a few others could have made some contribition before now. Especially when there was a lack of experience on the pitch

Spurs do it too. The big difference is their legendary players are either too old or too dead. They've only got dross like Clive Allen, Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand to call upon.

We could have had the likes of Bergkamp, Vieira, Dixon, keown, Winterburn, Adams, Bould and Wrighty in and around the dressing room or at the club in some capacity encouraging the players and giving advice if Wenger wasnt so domineering. Would the likes of Song have been so compacent if those characters were about? And would we have understimated teams like QPR and Wigan so often?