Good morning Positives,
A game nine and a half out of ten of us had marked down for three points but, as it turned out, a game I was happy to escape from with the solitary single point as reward. The unbeaten run goes on, and we remain in the chasing pack for he CL places, but an unexpected and unwelcome slip. Three points from the previous nine PL points on offer, and now three points behind our North London neighbours. Plenty of time and games to improve and return to winning games, but a check to our confidence certainly. That we stagger into yet another international break is, for once, a welcome interlude in which Emery can get to work on the training pitch and iron out the ‘kinks’.
Of the game itself a sluggish first half, even among Arsenal’s sometimes slow starts with no urgency in our movement, and little accuracy in our passing. Wolves game-plan as superior to ours, when they advanced over the half way line they looked threatening and we never did. Having rattled us the duly took a deserved lead.
A better second half and a far, far better last 20 minutes when the kitchen sink was duly flung at the obdurate opponents. But for some dreadful marksmanship from Auba the equaliser should have come earlier but, eventually, Mkhi forced in the goal, scruffy, lucky even, but fair recompense from a lot of sweat from our lads. The visitors retained a sharpness that but for Leno would have embarrassed us further but Atwell eventually blew his whistle, thank Gawd.
No contest for the MotM so well done Bernd. If MotM was a podium ceremony you’d probably have been on your own.
We shall rise, we shall be better, we shall smash Tottingham. Know this.
Enjoy your week.
Positively Arsenal 
“If you are a fan of the club who needs to vent their frustration by denouncing players who are “Notfittoweartheshirt”, or who delights disparaging the efforts of manager, and the club’s coaches then the site is probably not for you. If you are an expert in the football transfer market, in sports medicine, in the mechanics of running a £1.5 billion sport
This is POSITIVELY ARSENAL. It is not an Arsene Wenger memorial blog.
Please try not to use Arsene as a stick to beat Emery with, or vise versa.
If you think someone is ill informed, then inform them. But bear in mind, that someone might actually be the informed one and you might be the one left looking foolish.
For fuck sake, lets not fall out about Arsene at this stage.
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I have updated the About Positively Arsenal introduction. We remain unvisited from just 8 of the 195 countries across the globe.
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Apparently Dannys had a second op on his ankle that went well, rehab starts now. Hope he comes back soon.
COYG!
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Life was simple back in the 1960s when I started following football down on the South Coast. I can’t remember the first game I saw at Fratton Park but I can certainly recall the feeling of love and awe I felt for Portsmouth back then. The impossible glamour of a midweek game under lights stands out as a real birthday treat (a 0-4 home defeat to Hull since you ask) and then the first times I managed to persuade Mum and Dad that I was old enough (I wasn’t) to stand behind the goal on my own. ‘These are the days my friend, we are the Fratton End’ I sang (Mary Hopkins eat your heart out) as John Milkins completed his warm up before taking his false teeth out and wrapping them up in his cap. Portsmouth then were a mid-table second division side, destined to never really win anything much but that didn’t seem to matter at all. They were just my side and I loved them.
Many, many years later I found my way to Highbury (to humour a friend) , and the worst ever Nil-all draw to a dreadful Palace side somehow did enough to rekindle my love for the so-called beautiful game: almost by default Arsenal became my side, if only because they seemed bad enough to support, and because there was something about those North London streets and the smell of onions that reminded me of my Pompey days. But as happens life got in the way a bit and I was barely aware of all that Arsenal achieved under Arsene until just as van Persie left I started watching again properly. And perhaps because I am nearing second childhood I find myself obsessed and captivated once more, and I wonder why.
Because with the way that football is financed these days it seems that only a few clubs have real prospects of success, and that for most of us we know pretty soon that this year, like the previous ones, are not going to be the stuff of dreams. I know that we will lose games we should win, I know that we will draw too often, I know that rival teams will scab spawny wins while we struggle to impose ourself against relegation candidates, I know that City will put us to the sword. So what is the point? Why put myself through it all week after week? Because every so often (and being honest, for Arsenal it is really quite often) something wonderful happens. We win when we should – we even win when we shouldn’t. We score goals of breath-taking beauty. We have players who might, just might, be the next Brady, or Wright, or Henry (but none will ever be quite as wonderful as Nicky Jennings). We have something special – and the fact that it isn’t guaranteed or doesn’t happen every week, makes it all the more special. Genius is only sublime when it is fragile.
So please forgive me when I feel down after a game and forgive me if at times I feel let down by the refs and the selections and Lady Luck and those not fit to wear the shirt because that is all part of it I guess. It is, after all, part of the entitlement, the only entitlement me as a fan is entitled to know. And that is basic frustration and disappointment, because it is only those two natural states that allow me to know the pure joy that sometimes happens when fantastically it all goes just right. Which it will again, once this latest and most stupid international break eventually ends.
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i wish i could do more to support arsene and arsenal in the last two seasons. but what can i do coming from a place self rightous said is not connected to the internet. but thank God i could use this platform to do my bit even without internet connectivity.
the truth is no fan however highly placed has the right to go into the stadium to abuse the manager and the players in the name of wanting their arsenal back. it happened to wenger and several players in his tlime but it shouldnt be allowed anYmore. i expected the club at the time to come out publicly and support the manager and the players and even warn those who carried banner agaist the manager to desist or get stadium ban. those who made bellerin to cry out of the pitch are no supporters and should have been given stadium ban. those fans who abused ebuoe ramsey and many other as well. i have nothing against those who say what they like on social media, it is their right but if you come into the stadium as arsenal supporter, you must support the club. the management as well must back their manager up always. this is what i expect them to do for emery as well. this is fiootball. it is win lose or draw. noone is entitled to win always.
i may not like xhaka but as long a he is on the pitch wearing the shirt, fans in the stadium must suport him.
emery needs all the support to do well. and he has mine all the way from naija where there is no connectivity.
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Folks, anyone know how to set up a just giving page?
Seems Scudamore is short of a few bob and his mate ,Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, wants each club to fork out 250 grand each as a retirement gift.
Anyway, that might answer my curiosity about who took over the responsibility of setting Scudamore’s yearly bonus among the club representatives.
Used to be the influential Utd chairman/ CEO who left when Fergie did, and i wasn’t sure if it was a hereditary title.
Apparently it’ll also be Buck, and Leicester and Burnley counterparts who are leading the manhunt for Scudamore’s successor. Big boots to fill.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6383681/Premier-League-clubs-stunned-request-raise-5m-outgoing-chairman-Richard-Scudamore.html
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welbz needs to concentrate on his reharb that is the more reason the club need to at least give him another year. .He doesnt need to be thinking of becoming jobless when going through his reharb.
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I think some posters here are being offended by my stance of remembering and glorifying Wenger’s reign on a positively Arsenal blog. I didnt mean to hurt anyone here I just wanted to share my feelings for Wenger. I really feel sorry if any one is hurted by my post. But do spare me to reply the malcontents as and when the situation arises.
Re UE and the, season let’s see how it pans out. I think he is doing well in line with his abilities but as I said earlier he faces a Stern challenge to keep us at the level Wenger kept us for 20 years on limited spending in comparison with Chelsea and Manchester clubs.
If people think we are better placed now in comparison to Wenger period I cannot stop anyone to have an opinion of his own.I can only caution for keping too much optimism when there are so many forces wanting Arsenal to fail.
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Rosicky,
Bearing in mind Tim’s comment above there is nothing wrong in contradicting the media narrative and to simply acknowledge that in the petro-club era that winning three fa cups in four years to become the record fa cup holders was the achievement of a great squad and team.
Therefore if Emery pulls off the same achievment I would likewise be hailing his Great team for their great achievement.
Only someone who has walked into one too many fists (punch drunk innit) could even attempt to disagree.
My reading has long been that this is not a local blog for local people only.
I hope that this remains the ethos.
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It is the game by game comparison that is pointless – Wenger did this, Emery has done that et cetera et cetera.
I have seen plenty on the pitch so far that reminds me of Arsene’s teams, at their best and at their worst – How could it be otherwise, but so what?
The Spaniard comes with plenty of coaching experience and a few trophies already on his mantlepiece. He seems to work hard and to be willing to back his judgement on using players. He comes across well in his dealing with the media, measured and standing a foot away. He is a fairly difficult bloke not to like really. I shall therefore get solidly behind him.
As you say let’s see how the season pans out.
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The biggest difference I’ve seen so far is the difference. Basically like Andy says there is alot still the same but because there’s a new manager and new set up alot of fans have breathed a huge sigh of relief. The arguing killed the atmosphere, affected the team and was killing the club.
I never wanted Arsene to leave however the repair ( of the fans) needed to be started because I think it will take a long time.
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I mentioned a few months back that I was told that there was a core group in the FA/BPL who seen Brexit as a way to rid the English game of Foreign player, well a large amount of them at the very least, and now today some of the mainstream media have reported that some in the FA/BPL are seeking to introduce a maximum 12 out of 25 man squad foreign quota, they’ll not be happy till we are back to the 70’s and 80’s up and at em kick and rush game, feck all these fancy dan highly skilled foreigners.
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I fancy a spot of loggerheads at Thursday’s meeting between the PL and the FA. It is not a momentous change as the max in the squad reduced from 17 to 12.
So for us choose any 12 from 15;
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Petr Cech, Mohamed Elneny, Sead Kolasinac, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Bernd Leno, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, Mesut Őzil, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka.
For Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool and Totties it will be more grief.
Weirdly, as far as I can see, the FA have offered a guarantee hat any overseas player who signs a contract with a PL club will be granted a work permit.
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One thing that is a bit odd, the whole feeling in Arsenal world is as if we’ve lost to Wolves and the last three games (etc) and we’ve got John Laurie in our ears whispering ” we’re all doomed!”. No we fackin aint! Its not over till its over, and then its not over, its starting!
But I think Im the biggest berk in all this as it feels in some ways as if “Arsenal” has been handed on to others ( its not true, but feels like it), youngsters talking with such tactical knowledge and confidence that I cant understand why we didnt sign them for two pahnd fifty instead of getting Uncle Emery in.
Feeling disenfranchised is a bit of twat really, and is the Great cultural crime of ze West, but the cat shall mew and the dawg have its day, as all ye old Gunner contemptibles know. Lets hope Shakeys-peare and Mr. Warhol be right about AFTV and their longevity and the fellow travellers. But what will come next after them? Something worse?
As a veteran of five years of tours on the Conspiracy blog (a tad unfair to that fine regiment methinks) fighting in the Wenger wars, I feel like its time to surrender, time to sit back and just enjoy the Uncle Emerys version of Arsenal. (who am i kidding!? )
Theres still vast areas of the game that get overlooked in all the upset that we haven’t already won the league. Those are the areas to be enjoyed. Its weird how we seem to only be allowed to enjoy things if we’ve given a team a good thrashing.
To say “we’ve got our Arsenal back” is not too smart really, what can ever come back? Nothing? Nothing doesnt exist, so no noble prizes for finding nothing! But why trust the judgement of people singing that number? Its an opinion, in the great seas of opinions.
Arsenal are much healthier than the nasty old November Scorpio darkness suggests: not yet out of touch with the league and in all competitions.
Another thing that seems an oddity is the divide that in the PL this season; top six big clubs, then the rest seem like “bottom clubs”? This must the the money problem, it doesnt make for excitement and perhaps is an element in the Wolves/Sporting games ‘problems’?
Same with the CC and EL? This is the first season why we can see its a bag of kack. A tight league with all competing would be the best? Unless of course youre on AFTV then every game we have to win 5-0. Yawn! I dont like fox hunting myself but John Fowles came up with a good quote: The keenest fox hunters preserve foxes.
If City have won the league already at this stage, then how fricken boring is that!?
I still think its odd that it feels like we lost to Wolves and the last three games…(goes of muttering in the gloaming….
COYG!
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What’s your thinking on where we stand at centre backs,folks?
Anyone very happy with options, sure what the best partnership is, or have any thoughts on whether we should be targeting another addition?
I like all five options to a degree, but am not completely sold on any pairing, or even particularly an order of preference, since Kos’ injury that is.
I’ve liked Holding being back, and dream of him getting better and better, but am not even 100% committed nor sure whether he should be near enough nailed on from hereon out.
Enough prevaricating, I’m still hankering for a good tall un, and that was certainly tweaked again at weekend with all those corners and so little belief a goal was likely to come from them. Mustafi’s prob our best threat, but the ball needs to be perfect and he needs to get a run and a bit of space.
I’ve noticed that the 5 or 6 centre backs we’ve been linked with recently are all taller, until the one this week from Espanyol, recent call up to Spain squad, who is just over 6 foot.
My early impression of Sven is that with him in place we are more likely to highly target specific types and attributes within our budget, as opposed to good players who are available within our budget, but who knows.
I think we’ll sign a tall centre back this window or in summer but it could be wishful thinking.
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anicol as I understand it they want it a max of 12 foreign, not 12 non homegrown,
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It is eddy – that is why I say choose your 12 from our current 15
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anicol the work permit thing was worked out last year, there are all sorts of stuff in it, including the fee, something like any player costing £10M or more will get one. But the work permit will make no difference to the quota rule or the quota rule that some at the FA and BPL want. They will be happy to hand out 12 Work Permits to each club, as it would be a big reduction in foreign player numbers.
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Hmmmm Rich – Hold the centre back posse until we know of Kosc is fit enough to return and put in a ten games. He is still a class act but he has to be fully fit, not the player who really did see to be staggering from game to game. If not we need to invest and invest a lot.
For those staying; I’d keep Holding as he is very good and young. I’d like Mustafi to stay and be paired with Kosc again. Chambers would solve a PL/Brexit problem referred to above.
Sokratis though ?? I am not convinced on what little I have seen so far. Mavropanos ? Great potential but needs a year on loan elsewhere in England playing regularly.
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so anicol you would also have to include Bellerin, maybe even Iwobi who could now be considered Nigerian and not English, also Martinez, and what about Mavropanos and Guendouzi
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The BPL/PL – according to the news reports don’t want anything to do with it eddy – this is an FA idea to give England national team managers a wider choice of experience players with PL playing time to choose from. The clubs have no interest in that. Understandably the FA do. To be fair to he FA the junior England sides have done well in the past two or three seasons in international comp so surely some of the lads must get a chance rather than constantly being sent on loan or left in the academy.
The guaranteed work permit is, as you say, bollocks. If you cant be named in the club’s squad what use is a work permit ?
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Hector and Alex Iwobi qualify as home grown because of the time the time spent in our academy (unlike Eric Dier and Andy Robertson who do not ??)
Not sure where Matteo fits in. He is named in the squad and an overseas player but not on the list.
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My understanding is premier league firmly holds balance of power over FA, so really can’t see them implementing the 12 foreign player idea.
Fingers crossed job on Kos returning in good shape. Had a look at time and couldn’t find too much on players who had suffered his injury and how it affected them.
Only one I knew off top of head was Hermann Hreidarsson, and think it was a long time- maybe a year- until he was playing regularly after his first return from the injury.
Also found out ,long after, it was a tendon rupture that forced a massive change on John Barnes as a player. That one had always confused me, as I had only the vaguest memories of him as a fantastic thrilling attacker, but knew he had been from clips etc, and knew him much better in his slower, central midfield guise. The picture didn’t add up for me till I learned he suffered that injury.
Hopefully treatments improving all the time in these areas. If he can be roughly as he was before, then I’d hope that by using him sparingly and never twice a week he could ideally be like before before.
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If you’re discussing HG status then discussing the cock up with the handover from Ivan and Ramsey’s contract is relevant and not a case of “Wenger this” and “Emery that”, not many British midfielders earn all the plaudits when playing in the CL or tournament football, for example this past summer, possibly because decent footballers like Milner or Carrick often get overlooked.
Certainly the Ramsey situation is not a game by game topic. First game of the season and the new gaffer shunted Özil out wide which even the outspoken Mustafi didn’t agree with as per some post match comments! all to make Rambo happy (& possibly sign on quicker, it seems a likely guess!), now he’s not even in the team. No mystery here!
Perhaps Bama and others are concerned that some of the problems for the new gaffer are the same as they were for the old gaffer. To complete that last consideration, I am happy to remind any and all that I got my moaning about Ramsey’s contract situation out the way last summer! Hehe. But taking a survey from people I sit with all of different, you know, subjective thoughts on, life, the universe and everything, it’s fairly unanimous that they all want the double cup winning club legend to stay and be club captain. Imagine how Liverpool fans would’ve reacted to serious talk of Gerrard leaving as he so nearly did for Chelsea on a few occasions a la Viera. This is not rocket science and it’s a topic that will drag on till February, when Ramsey signs up to to be the new club captain! I remain: positive (on this matter in particular).
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anicol I know bellerin and co are homegrown now, but the proposals would do away with the home grown status, it would be English and foreign,
I know its an FA move, but what I was told a few months back was that there was people in the BPL who are in favor of it, even if the clubs are not, also that Taylor of the PFA is fully behind it, but then he has always been against foreign players.
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anicol as things stand Guendouzi does not count as either cos he is u21, but he under current rules will be a non homegrown when he turns 21 or should i say 22
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I’m referring to the invariable theme of Ro in his posts this season to the effect that ‘we’ – by which I assume he means PA – might be cheering on Emery but we shall be undoubtedly fucked as he is not Arsene Fins
I had enough of what I regarded as that sour shit and said so.
I think Ro and I are good having vented our tubes – different perspectives but hey ho.
Do you want to carry on the same topic ?
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Don’t mind one individual myself having the odd rant, that don’t include comical boomerangs made from snide “insults”, and I also enjoyed the amicable comments as you describe them above.
But I’m definitely interested in the HG thread, the Ramsey situation and what it’ll mean going forwards: to wait several years in the hope that one of the kids currently making a breakthrough might get lucky and hit the same levels?
I am all ears.
Apologies for boring you all was interested in this topic last summer (nowt to do with who the gaffer is).
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I don’t think it will affect Hector or Iwobi as even if the FA proposals were brought in tomorrow they still allow for academies to sign 18 year old players – though the option to sign 16 and 17 year olds will be removed.
On the claim that there are clubs in the PL (what’s the BPL ?) keen on the FA scheme I have never heard that – any idea who – or why ?
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< to wait several years in the hope that one of the kids currently making a breakthrough might get lucky and hit the same levels, whilst not getting poached by a petro club, a rival in a less intense league who can offer up the minutes the young players need…etc.
The longer the time passes, the more I think the sums don't add up with this Ramsey situation. Which is why I convinced he is going to sign back up with the club! Haha! Unless Barca come calling looking for someone up to the challenge of filling an Iniesta or just CM sized hole in their squad – haven't looked at their squad of late but I'm guessing a 28 year old with all the experience would still be a boon to them or any other team, even the good old Arsenal.
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not clubs anicol, in fact staff at the BPL, although some of the smaller clubs such as Burnley are said to be open to the idea
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You’ve got me
What is HG thread ?
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fins what I don’t get about the Ramsey thing is that from what we saw from him a few years ago playing wide right, he would be our best option there right now.
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Burnley – a fair idea I suppose as they produce youngsters in reasonable numbers who they could sell on if English players started commanding a premium – I think they will find a bit of opposition from clubs who want to be free to buy who they want, at least within the current structure – wheels within wheels though
We shall see what happens Thursday
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I think anicol that any restrictions like those talked about will only hasten a European Super league
on that topic I laughed when I seen FIFA say they would ban all players in a super league from playing international football, I bet that had clubs saying “well there is another great reason for it”, also I really can not see FIFA depriving themselves of the best players in the world playing in their competitions, the sponsors would never accept it
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Home Grown
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Eds I may have asked you to stop moaning about the drop off in the team’s quality some time after the loss of Cazorla but I meant no offence!
Not being an expert in these things it seems that attacking teams prefer to have more then one truly creative player on the park? At the moment for Arsenal when Mkhitaryan or Ramsey (not in CM) start with Özil or together?
Against Wolves movement by the most forward players against the opposition when they were high in their press wasn’t picked out by their team mates as well as they’d have liked? Iwobi has earned the starts, perhaps he was not his sharpest on Sunday as he also started in the tough midweek game? In my simple reading of the football what Wolves did well was to nullify Xhaka and this led to Özil dropping deep which in the absence of the two above left a hole in the attack? Two years ago there was a pattern of teams in the PL playing three at the back against opponents playing 433 and all the variations but not so much at the moment? Do Wolves play this way against teams lower down the table? I need to watch Clarke’s Breakdown! No doubt he’ll have some praise for the new signings in midfield and in goal. Torreira is a special talent, can we say that now or is it still too early? Top, top, top player. There’ll continue to be debates about some of the other signings made by the transitional/new team not including the two top European strikers both who’ve been great from the off (given Laca’s injury he only took off in the new year!).
Some have said that Arsenal have just returned to the mean from the previous pattern since the Chelsea match of scoring from more or less every chance and in doing so they reminded me of some of the missed chances in that Cheksea match. I wasn’t worrying about the future and was enjoying that unlikely pattern for as long as it would last.
Welbeck was a part of the plan, whatever it may be. And a consistently goalscoring Welbeck was possibly close to some starts, especially if you saw him in the Adebayor or Giroud role in the squad. Heh!* The break might allow time the new gaffer needs to practice or work on other options.
Maybe it’s because I am simple, but stats in sport are simple for me. Five goals for them Wolves in their previous two matches. They looked good in the old second division last season (not forgetting comments from opponents about super agents?) A strong team, who played well, Neves, Moutinhio, have a manger who fair to say is smarter then me: My bets before KO were on two goals for the Arsenal being necessary to snag the three points. With Wolves eating the fourth offical along with the clock I guess the Gunner’s scored too late on the day to find enough time for a second.
*The very attacking and straight talking new gaffer said in his first press conference that he was a successful student of the old gaffer. More successful then any manager in the league apart from the two Manchester managers? And that he would play with two CMs and therefore would let Wilshere go. The worry about that decision was on numbers, but the French rookie (don’t think he’ll be HG?) looks exciting though still very inexperienced at the old defending, from set plays too (I don’t blame the coaches).
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< after Ramsey's good effort in CM against Sporting I'd like to see him in CM even more then previously but i guess that won't happen till February when he signs up to stay, or suspensions etc. affect selections.
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<< along with the opposition was Xhaka's ability to create more in this match especially first half affected by the LB's lack of confidence/match fitness or sharpness?
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<<< a result of the switch at HT probably a result of the slow left side was a glimpse of Özil in his 2014 German role, roaming from the left. Which was super exciting!
What is interesting to reflect on the first half is that most frequent comment was that the team was passing too slow. But they were clearly weaving the ball from side to side under instruction, though it looked like that option to play quicker passes was there when the opposition were pressing high. The change in system might mean the manager felt his tactics weren't working, but better passing out the back could've seen more success in the first half.
Sokratis as others have mentioned here can also pass it out much better from RCB. He's impressed me, a good replacement for Gabriel who may possibly be nearly as good as Mertesacker in his play making from that position. Might still need to ask Grimandi to unearth another gem or pull a player who is already a German legend at CB out the hat, to find one seriously good player to replace Koscielny, possibly two if Mustafi can't show any consistency or reduce the frequency of heckles of "idiot" in his direction, from all directions. Holding may have a say. Chambers was in good form at the end of last season, Fulham are not Wolves, so fair to say still a prospect?
Was looking forward to seeing Ramsey come on to play somewhere along side Özil in that wide left role. Still hoping he signs up!
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Ed, bunged you a line and a few suggestions for your show at Cavan radio via the email there.
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Fins
Think Grimandi may have left.
That was claim from someone, on twitter last week, who seems fairly credible and must have at least some connections to club (he goes to all games, including invitation only youth ones)
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My main problem with our centre back situation is that none of them are left footed. Kos and, it would appear, Holding can get away with it but would, I think, both be better off on the right. The left footed Medley is both very tall and skillful but needs a lot more time (and maybe a loan-out) to be ready. In order to provide cover we need two such players anyway.
Being left footed is an advantage building from the back and is especially important defensively if we are going to push the full back high.
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Vermaelan was looking good before first one then another ankle injury almost ended his career as an athlete. Some say he wasn’t a good CB, however a simple study shows that unlike Song or Hleb (who were poorly coached by the non-caog=chinh coah, apparently…just like Sanchez then…) that he has remained on the Barca books whilst they offloaded other CBs like Sporting player who got himself sent off mid week, he oversaw Koscielny’s first season as he adapted to the league and the step up and got more experience under his belt, and he earnt the affection of the fans and the captain’s armband so the Experts clearly know what they were gibbering on about with this player, heh.
The German legend at CB bought in at the cost of ten bob and a pre-season friendly was not a shabby replacement! Given his appearance in at least two tournament finals prior to arrival in north london a bigger steal then the Cazrola signing. We’ve been spoilt by the quality we have seen at CB, that’s why last season’s drop off with Kozza’s injury was so obvious. Which completely and finally undermined the remaining credibility of our arseblaggers and their esteemed opinions on the football (if that didn’t do it for you then I hope that you were amused by the pre-season avoidence of the new gaffer wanting to play it out the back a little bit more, of the football on the pitch, in favour of their own confirmation biases). In fact when perusing some gibberistic content from some blagger or the other, their account of the “Spiral of Decline” they have been ramming down people’s throats included an account of CBs bought by AFC over the last, appalling, decade that had to airbrush Mertesacker out of the club’s history. I kid ye not. It’s not about the new gaffer or the old gaffer, it’s about wanting to steer clear of the pile of stinking gibberish and have a place free from football memes and narratives that can best be described as: useless. narratives are important in the modern game whoch is why a TV exec. has just got the top job, it’s a fair sentiment to want to focus on the sport and not the storytellers.
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I profoundly enjoyed the synchronised description by the broadcasters of LCFC’s title victory as ‘the greatest story ever told’. Not a sporting achievement, an act or event, but a story. Fascinating.
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Tommy was too good a footballer to be a centre back – he started so well though in his opening season. Injuries, loss of form, loss of confidence. Great pity we never got the best out of him.
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As Rio said on the goggle box the position has evolved and playmakers at the back like Mertesacker (very under-appreciated part of his calm, zen game) and what became known as the “Merte-goal” are crucial for the modern attacking teams. Mascherano. Etc.
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Fins great post at 2:11
The WOBS made jokes of Per during his tenure at Arsenal. But infact he was part and parcel of the teams which won 3 FA cups in 4 years for Arsenal Infact he captained the team in the semi finak and the final when kos was not available.He with Holding dealt with City and Chelsea attack with complete authority not putting a foot wrong.
Who can forget his partnership with Kos against Peps Bayern at the Emirates when we beat them 2 nil in a CL match.
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