post Liverpool Hysteria

[DB10GOONER]

Firstly, fair farcks to our travelling supporters on Saturday - totally outsung the Mousers. Top Job lads.

Secondly, does anyone else think there has been a little bit of an over reaction to our narrow defeat in Mickey Mouseville? (I say narrow because we had 60% possession and hit the woodwork twice and one of their goals was borderline off side!)


I mean, some of the hysterical stuff on the web (on OUR sites) calling for Wenger’s head is just OTT. Same too of the calls to let Dennilson and Clichy go. It’s only Dennilson’s first BIT of a season for God’s sake (and he’s only 10 years old or something!! ) Ok, Clichy was pants on Saturday and spent the whole game in Pennant’s pocket, but he is quality and he just had a bad game.


And, I admit, we still don’t really have an effective Plan B, and yes, we were very poor and we were beaten by a very poor Liverpool team that also don’t have a Plan B (their Plan A being; Fire It At Crouch) but so what? The score line flattered them. It was an extra bad day at the office for us, that’s all.


I agree we do need some serious signings this summer, particularly of experienced players to bolster the side and teach the kids, but there isn’t that much wrong with the squad as is – at least nothing a bit of experience won’t sort out. For them to get that experience they have to play, unless we loan them all out to Birmingham or somebody…


Also, (and I have been as guilty as anyone here) I think maybe we are rushing to write off the Beast a little too quickly. After all, he has had only half a season with us, being played out of position for most of that, in a team that has had to change its starting line up a hell of a lot because of injuries and suspensions.

Think back; Pires, Henry, Toure and Adebayor were all ropey as f*ck in their first year with us (Adebayor is still a bit dodgy to be honest). It’s the second season when you can really judge a player’s ability to adapt and excel in the Premier League. I say give him another season, another chance and if there is no marked improvement next year then “bye-byeâ€

[Trevheff]

Wenger out is completely over the top and calls to let Denilson and Clichy go also ridiculous.

However you can't hide from the fact that the performances from all except Adebayor in my opnion was pretty woeful. I'll excuse Cesc simply on the basis I think he badly needs a rest. You know we were bad when Arsene publicly criticises us (how refreshing that was to hear!). Everyobne has a bad game from time to time but the lack or spirit and effort was concerning.

As for The Beast, I accept he's been played out of position and it's his first year in English football, but a shocking first touch is a shocking first touch whether you're stood in centre mid or playing upfront. His control and all round technique really don't fill you with confidence. I do think he's suffering a crisis of confidence which is starting to make him look alot worse that what he probably is and in normal circumstances I'd say give him another chance next season. By normal circumstances I mean a player we already own and wouldn't have to shell out £millions on. However if we want to keep him it looks like we'd have to pay around £12m which could be as much as 50%+ of Arsene's total summer budget (dependent on what we may/may not get for Reyes). From what we have seen of Baptista can you really tell me with any confidence that he is worth that size of gamble??

With Henry and Pires, in the second half of their first seasons both were starting to show signs of how good they would become. And you need to remember that Adebayor was bought in January so didn't have the full season. For me Baptista shows little sign of adapting or settling so the money he'd cost would be better directed elsewhere.

Finally I wasn't at the game on Saturday but from all accounts the travelling Gooners were fantastic throughout and did the club proud. Great effort lads and lasses at a time when it would have been easy to sulk and feel sorry for yourselves.

[exiled in notts]

Agree with a lot of the above and at the risk of parroting it...

Some of the players on Saturday need to ask themselves some questions. We shouldn't criticise players who are simply beaten by the better team on the day, but when they look like they're not interested then we've got every right to have a go. I'm not talking about everyone. Adebayore worked his socks off and I think Cesc is just plain knackered and needs a rest, but Hleb couldn't have looked less bothered if he'd tried.

I watched the game on TV in the boozer and from what I could hear if the team had shown the same level of passion as the travelling Gooners we might have got a different result.

I know it's Baptista's first season, but aside from one decent game against Liverpool's kids he's done nothing. His first touch is garbage and as for accuracy, he couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo. Ask yourselves, if he wasn't already here and was playing for another club would you even consider suggesting that we buy him?

However, there's no need for all this "Wenger must go" cobblers, or for suggesting that kids like Clichy and Denilson aren't good enough.

[brady]

I would give baptista until the end of the season to show that the carling cup game wasn't a one-off. I would not want to start next season still wondering. He does not need to show us that he is the finished article or the answer but by god he ought to show some improvement.

I think the team has just lost confidence that's all, though having said that, we do need a real poacher and a top class centre back. Actually we need two, but gallas will do for now. I agree aliadiere can go. Not a bad player but not what we need. Don't think he's suited for the english game.

[N22Gooner]

off topic: always wanted to know why we call the sousers the mickeys?
Isit rhyming slang for scouse, Mickey mouse=scouse?

[DB10GOONER]

RE; mickey mousers, I assume so (not being a cockney myself!!) I first heard the term from an English Gooner mate of mine about ten years ago.

RE; the team, I have reconsidered my opinion on the Beast after reading TrevHeff's point about how much he might actually cost. Totally overlooked the moolah issue and I have to agree, he wouldn't be worth the risk for that kind of money.

How much we have underachieved this year was really rammed down my throat last night watching a very ordinary Mouser team demolish the truly crap PSV.

I keep thinking that if poxy Drogba hadn't scored that winner at Cardiff, our season would have turned out soooo different. But then another part of me realises that basically we were understrength for so many crucial games to come together in such a short space of time that late in the season and that the young players are tired physically and, possibly more importantly, mentally as well.

I'm gonna try and just put this season behind me and look forward to next year.