Match Reaction vs. Sunderland

[Tipsychubbs]

Very impressed with the movement of the team again.

[Ollie the Optimist]

It says a lot about this team, that we have so many injuries, one fit striker etc that we are second in the league. There is a huge fight and desire about this team. Might not be pretty to watch at times, but the spurs game was a prime example of the whole team adopting the approach of we will win at all costs. Throwing themselves at every ball. Did it at Fulham, Sunderland too. It's the closest I've felt to the team for a long time. Might not be the worlds greatest team, but they all seem to care about the club right now.

[I am invisible]

Didn't see the game at the weekend, but I've just caught the BBC highlights, which I can only assume are fair and representative of what actually happened. Sunderland were clearly the better side throughout, from what I saw - that first half in particular looked a tight, even contest, with both sides having an equal number of chances...

[Niall_Quinn]

Didn't see the game at the weekend, but I've just caught the BBC highlights, which I can only assume are fair and representative of what actually happened. Sunderland were clearly the better side throughout, from what I saw - that first half in particular looked a tight, even contest, with both sides having an equal number of chances...

Yeah, I don't know what we're going to do with the BBC but something has to be done.

[Letters]

The better side throughout :lol:

Behave.

[Letters]

Oh I see...
Sorry
:getcoat:

[I am invisible]

It says a lot about this team, that we have so many injuries, one fit striker etc that we are second in the league. There is a huge fight and desire about this team. Might not be pretty to watch at times, but the spurs game was a prime example of the whole team adopting the approach of we will win at all costs. Throwing themselves at every ball. Did it at Fulham, Sunderland too. It's the closest I've felt to the team for a long time. Might not be the worlds greatest team, but they all seem to care about the club right now.

Two things have done this group of players the world of good, in my opinion: having to do without a player like that back-stabbing, dutch b-----d for a year, who could bail us out of a tight spot with a moment of magic; and the gradual phasing out / selling off of all the players who really weren't up to it or pulling their weight (or both). It's put out the right message about what is expected if you want to stay in this side, and also chucked a few of these guys into an uncomfortable, sink-or-swim situation, where we really couldn't absorb any passengers in any of our games. It's a situation that could have very easily blown up in our collective faces, but luckily, by the end of the season, they'd decided to swim.

What you say about feeling close to the team is a really important point that often gets overlooked - I don't think anyone's kidding themselves into thinking that this team couldn't be improved on, and they certainly give us our fair share of frantic, heart-in-your-mouth moments, but seeing a group of players out there who actually look like they give a crap makes up for a lot. I like this group, and it's been a while since I've been able to say that about almost every player...

[I am invisible]

Yeah, I don't know what we're going to do with the BBC but something has to be done.

I'm actually annoyed with myself for going to them for the highlights - after Lineker waving his arms around like a child last year, I vowed never again, but here I am. Really don't see why we need former players as pundits, or what relevant insights they offer to the modern game (the ones from more than 10-15 years ago, anyway), but I guess that's for another debate...

[Fist of Lehmann]

It says a lot about this team, that we have so many injuries, one fit striker etc that we are second in the league.

Could have still been top if Jonjo "Dobby the House Elf" Shelvey wasn't such a bag of shite.

And to think he rejected us to go to Liverpool.

Bullet dodged.

[Nayan]

Didn't see the game at the weekend, but I've just caught the BBC highlights, which I can only assume are fair and representative of what actually happened. Sunderland were clearly the better side throughout, from what I saw - that first half in particular looked a tight, even contest, with both sides having an equal number of chances...

sunderland deserved at least 6 points from the game

[Power n Glory]

Two things have done this group of players the world of good, in my opinion: having to do without a player like that back-stabbing, dutch b-----d for a year, who could bail us out of a tight spot with a moment of magic; and the gradual phasing out / selling off of all the players who really weren't up to it or pulling their weight (or both). It's put out the right message about what is expected if you want to stay in this side, and also chucked a few of these guys into an uncomfortable, sink-or-swim situation, where we really couldn't absorb any passengers in any of our games. It's a situation that could have very easily blown up in our collective faces, but luckily, by the end of the season, they'd decided to swim.

What you say about feeling close to the team is a really important point that often gets overlooked - I don't think anyone's kidding themselves into thinking that this team couldn't be improved on, and they certainly give us our fair share of frantic, heart-in-your-mouth moments, but seeing a group of players out there who actually look like they give a crap makes up for a lot. I like this group, and it's been a while since I've been able to say that about almost every player...

When we phased out Vieira, Pires, Ljunberg and finally Henry....the same sentiments were expressed about that group of players. A bit of investment in quality here and there would have solved a lot of problems back then. If we didn't buy Ozil this summer, I suspect we'd have had a crop of new disgruntled players on the rise.

[Ollie the Optimist]

When we phased out Vieira, Pires, Ljunberg and finally Henry....the same sentiments were expressed about that group of players. A bit of investment in quality here and there would have solved a lot of problems back then. If we didn't buy Ozil this summer, I suspect we'd have had a crop of new disgruntled players on the rise.

thats irrevlant though now because we did buy ozil. and the whole place, fans players etc was on (and still is) a massive high. no point speculating what might have been because we wont ever know, and frankly it doesnt matter.

this team seems to care, there is a refusal to lose. people are loving some of hte players ebcause they are genunie characters. BFG, Podolski to name two. im loving this team right now, not hte prettiest to watch but its spirit, desire and never get give up spirit is what i love to see.

[Power n Glory]

thats irrevlant though now because we did buy ozil. and the whole place, fans players etc was on (and still is) a massive high. no point speculating what might have been because we wont ever know, and frankly it doesnt matter.

this team seems to care, there is a refusal to lose. people are loving some of hte players ebcause they are genunie characters. BFG, Podolski to name two. im loving this team right now, not hte prettiest to watch but its spirit, desire and never get give up spirit is what i love to see.

It's not irrelevant. As said time and time again, buying one or two really good players really lifts the fans and players. I don't think it's accurate to say there wasn't a buzz about the club 5/6 years ago when we had our young team putting Prem teams to the sword in the Carling Cup. If anything, the last few years of selling our best players and investing cheaply sucked the life out of us. I used to love watching us play each week.

[I am invisible]

When we phased out Vieira, Pires, Ljunberg and finally Henry....the same sentiments were expressed about that group of players. A bit of investment in quality here and there would have solved a lot of problems back then. If we didn't buy Ozil this summer, I suspect we'd have had a crop of new disgruntled players on the rise.

Yeah, I agree - let's hope the way that last team disintegrated will have stung everyone at the top enough to make sure it doesn't happen again...

[Ollie the Optimist]

It's not irrelevant. As said time and time again, buying one or two really good players really lifts the fans and players. I don't think it's accurate to say there wasn't a buzz about the club 5/6 years ago when we had our young team putting Prem teams to the sword in the Carling Cup. If anything, the last few years of selling our best players and investing cheaply sucked the life out of us. I used to love watching us play each week.

when i was talking baout hte buzz, i was talking about the ozil buzz. not from five years ago :good:

[Power n Glory]

when i was talking baout hte buzz, i was talking about the ozil buzz. not from five years ago :good:

And you don't think we could have had a similar buzz some years back? This is why it's not irrelevant. Remember when we signed Rosicky. The other window where we got Theo, Diaby and Ade....

[Ollie the Optimist]

And you don't think we could have had a similar buzz some years back? This is why it's not irrelevant. Remember when we signed Rosicky. The other window where we got Theo, Diaby and Ade....

well yes, but thats not my point. you said what would happen if we didnt sign ozil this summer. i was saying that its an irrelvant point to make, because we did sign ozil. its like saying, what would happen if we didn't win a trophy if we had just won a trophy. its irrevlant

[Syn]

Buzz and expectations are different things. There has been an even greater expectation to win things a few years ago. But our expectations in recent years have been downgraded. Wenger Abu Nazir'd us - depriving us of everything but bread and water for a few years so that when he unveiled his shiny new Ozil, we go mental. Can't remember such a buzz - to go from dreading to watch your side play to not being able to wait to watch them (as it was in the recent international break).

[Özim]

The Ozil signing was fantastic and I'm really pleased with that, I do however think we should in the 3 months available to us have signed one or two players more as our squad looks a little bare at the moment.

There's a buzz around the club due to this big signing, but I'm also a little nervous about any injuries at the moment as we really don't have cover for certain areas.

[Power n Glory]

Buzz and expectations are different things. There has been an even greater expectation to win things a few years ago. But our expectations in recent years have been downgraded. Wenger Abu Nazir'd us - depriving us of everything but bread and water for a few years so that when he unveiled his shiny new Ozil, we go mental. Can't remember such a buzz - to go from dreading to watch your side play to not being able to wait to watch them (as it was in the recent international break).

:lol:

Good one.

[LDG]

The Ozil signing was fantastic and I'm really pleased with that, I do however think we should in the 3 months available to us have signed one or two players more as our squad looks a little bare at the moment.

There's a buzz around the club due to this big signing, but I'm also a little nervous about any injuries at the moment as we really don't have cover for certain areas.

Up top is where I'm scared. We really should have made sure of covering Giroud. I hope it doesn't bite ass before January.

We're alright in midfield, and now Verms is back, we have four decent CB's (and yes, I include Sagna, as I think he's been very good) vying for two positions.

Slight concerns for me at FB, as beyond Gibbs and Sagna, Jenks is still not there yet, and I just don't like Monreal so far....his positioning is not very good....he has a bit of time to prove himself yet though, so benefit of the doubt.

But all in all, I agree. A couple more to boost the ranks was needed.

[Syn]

:lol:

Good one.

Can't take credit. Read it elsewhere before - may well have been on here.

[Power n Glory]

well yes, but thats not my point. you said what would happen if we didnt sign ozil this summer. i was saying that its an irrelvant point to make, because we did sign ozil. its like saying, what would happen if we didn't win a trophy if we had just won a trophy. its irrevlant

It’s not irrelevant to the argument because I disagree with the assumption that we had to get rid of players like RVP to get a better performance out of the rest. I was responding to IAV’s original post. Sagna looked like he was playing for the exit last season and now look. New signings can give fresh enthusiasm and hope. You’ve missed the point. A and B argument...:lol:

[Power n Glory]

Can't take credit. Read it elsewhere before - may well have been on here.

Homeland reference in case anyone else is wondering. Great show.

[I am invisible]

It’s not irrelevant to the argument because I disagree with the assumption that we had to get rid of players like RVP to get a better performance out of the rest. I was responding to IAV’s original post. Sagna looked like he was playing for the exit last season and now look. New signings can give fresh enthusiasm and hope. You’ve missed the point. A and B argument...:lol:

For the record, I wasn't saying that we had to get rid of those players, or even that we should have got rid of them - just saying that, as things turned out, it looks like it did the rest of the players some good to have that crutch taken away. Could have easily gone badly wrong though, and I certainly wouldn't recommend doing it again...

[Nayan]

when we lost henry adebayor plus that wingless midfield stepped up and we challenged for the league