Match Reaction vs Newcastle (home).

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Originally Posted by Grebbo

Massively messed up, we're only top of the league.

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Sure, we are top and have done very well so far but we're clinging on IMO and are about to face what I would call a real acid test for our title credentials, we have a brutal January Schedule with games against Stoke & Liverpool away as well as a resurgent Chelsea at home.

I'm more than happy to be proved wrong, I want us to win just as much as you do...I just worry we'll fall short due to lack of bodies...we have a pretty major injury list right now....and many of them aren't back until mid next month.

FWIW and I won't change my opinion because you see things differently, Wenger should have added to the squad in the summer, I think we should have bought a DM and a Striker.

I think it remains to be seen whether Wenger messed up last summer.
My take on last summer is that he didn't feel he could sign any striker who would push us on (either because they weren't available or they didn't want to come or whatever) so he didn't sign anyone.
I'm OK with that, do we need more Danny Welbecks sitting on the bench? Would it really improve us?
But we are creaking somewhat right now, we only have a few really world class players and it's debatable whether that's enough. It has been so far but we will need Sanchez back during this nasty run.

We have been here before so I understand people's scepticism but we've never had players like Cech, Ozil and Sanchez before. They could drag us kicking and screaming to the title if they stay fit.

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Originally Posted by Letters

I think it remains to be seen whether Wenger messed up last summer.
My take on last summer is that he didn't feel he could sign any striker who would push us on (either because they weren't available or they didn't want to come or whatever) so he didn't sign anyone.
I'm OK with that, do we need more Danny Welbecks sitting on the bench? Would it really improve us?
But we are creaking somewhat right now, we only have a few really world class players and it's debatable whether that's enough. It has been so far but we will need Sanchez back during this nasty run.

We have been here before so I understand people's scepticism but we've never had players like Cech, Ozil and Sanchez before. They could drag us kicking and screaming to the title if they stay fit.

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As positive as I am about our current situation, it is obvious Wenger made a mistake in the summer. If he signs Elneny as cover, then he realises it was a mistake too.

Several times you’ve made this claim about having more Welbeck’s on the bench when it comes to striker, overlooking the fact that buying in another striker at Giroud’s level should not have been impossible. Getting in the top-tier, premium strikers was harder because they were so few and far between but Giroud is not in that bracket and buying a striker than can supply 10+ league goals should’ve been possible. Instead, Wenger banked on Walcott, despite his horrendous injury record that once again took him out of the side for months and because of the usual plague of injuries we suffer, he is being used on the left-wing rather than upfront, where Giroud is definitely looking fatigued at the moment.

We’re doing well right now and plaudits go to the team and manager for that but it has to be recognised that he made mistakes too.

Look!
Wenger is infallible.
Now let's hear no more about it.
:sulk:

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Originally Posted by The Emirates Gallactico

Not everyone is a Messi or Ronaldo. Bale only started to blossoming around this age, likewise Alexis.

I do however agree with some of the "brainless" comments regarding Ox's play. He just has no idea what to do to postively contribute to the team. He's either running down blind alleys or trying some ridicolous pass which ends up losing the ball. However that's probably why we should still keep the faith in the Ox as that's easier to rectify than technical defiencies in his game.

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Some people can instinctively read a game, others need to learn how. Ox has no instinct and there is no-one at the Club who can coach it into him. The talent is there, but it may be best for both us and Ox if he were to move on.

Tbh, I see a lot of talent in Ox. He just needs some grooming. He has brilliant pace and has great technique... he just needs a brain.

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Originally Posted by Bob Loblaw

Some people can instinctively read a game, others need to learn how. Ox has no instinct and there is no-one at the Club who can coach it into him. The talent is there, but it may be best for both us and Ox if he were to move on.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcMsABSfAms

Worth listening to Henry talking about the challenges with coaching in the Henry/Cesc Q&A. Around the 15min mark.

You might be right about the instinct thing. I think Ox has some sort of instinct but he's not a natural winger so it will take a lot longer for him to get up to par. We forget that he came from Southampton as a CM and Gerrard was his favorite player. His instincts are all off and he hasn't worked out how to be more than just an energetic winger that occasionally beats his man and works the flank to being an actual useful weapon. Playing on the wing and getting goals isn't easy and I think we're in danger of doing a botch job on his career. It's similar to Theo and Ramsey being played wide and I'm guessing it's difficult for a player to ignore old habits and instincts learned to develop new ones. We really should be honing in on what these guys had learned when young, sharpening it up and bringing them up to world class level.

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Originally Posted by Letters

I think it remains to be seen whether Wenger messed up last summer.
My take on last summer is that he didn't feel he could sign any striker who would push us on (either because they weren't available or they didn't want to come or whatever) so he didn't sign anyone.
I'm OK with that, do we need more Danny Welbecks sitting on the bench? Would it really improve us?
But we are creaking somewhat right now, we only have a few really world class players and it's debatable whether that's enough. It has been so far but we will need Sanchez back during this nasty run.

We have been here before so I understand people's scepticism but we've never had players like Cech, Ozil and Sanchez before. They could drag us kicking and screaming to the title if they stay fit.

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Wenger has quite clearly been after a forward since the failed pursuits of Higuian (sp) and Suarez. He has had 3 windows now to address the Centre Forward position, how much time does he actually need?

I'm not asking for anymore Welbecks and I agree that players at that level wouldn't improve us, however I think we've come to a point now where Wenger is going to have to spend big regardless, players like Martial now trade for 36million, so if Wenger is in the market for an improvement on Giroud or for someone with "World Class Potential" at a very young age like Martial then he's going to need to spend big, this is what worries me because I am not so sure Wenger is prepard to do that.

Ah well..we've been here before many times, I am desperate to be proved wrong and I want us to win the league just as much as anyone.

I do agree with you re: Cech, Ozil and Sanchez.

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Originally Posted by fakeyank

Tbh, I see a lot of talent in Ox. He just needs some grooming. He has brilliant pace and has great technique... he just needs a brain.

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I can do the grooming.

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Originally Posted by Jimmy_Saville

I can do the grooming.

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What - now that you finished with Letters!!