This is everybody's fault but mine.
This is everybody's fault but mine.
I don't think it comes down to confidence or fear. Too few players in this squad actually have the ability to control games. So little imagination, physical strength, speed of body and mind. These are absolute characteristics that are independent of psychology and determine absolute potential. We just don't have the personnel, and we haven't in the strength and depth needed to win anything important, for a very long time.
I think games against Bayern and Manure have shown a clear and demonstrable gulf in class.Quote:
Originally Posted by AKBapologist
You cannot lose Cesc and Nasri and still convince people you are a big club. Fact is, we are 2nd tier.
We have 2nd tier ambitions with a team to match.
Psychological factors are all too easy to throw around simply because they are nebulous, difficult to prove.
And anecdotally, they're an easy outball for manager and players to cite.
Sure, blame motivation or confidence for your own lack of performance, better to have fans (and yourself) believe that because then you leave open the possibility of improvement.
But never, ever admit that you might not be good enough. Because once you admit that, there's no comeback. May as well admit you don't deserve the fat wage you're pulling down.
I believe there is a developing gulf in class, but look at sides beneath us in the league that have shown far more fight against the top sides than us. Ribery stated today that he was surprised how easy it was for them, I think this is because Wenger doesn't want to admit he's not coaching the same team as he was two years ago in terms of quality.
Podolski and Giroud are not Van Persie, Arteta and Ramsey are not Fabregas and Nasri and in order to get the same results in the same games these players need not just an arm round the shoulder and told to show their quality (that word has as much meaning to me as the name Annakin Skywalker had for Darth Vader) they need drilling to show fight more than quality. To really grind out games, than the results like Swansea and Blackburn at home may not be as prevalent and against Bayern even if we had lost anyway we would have at least looked like we give a shit.
What has Nasri ever done for him to be such a strong referral whenever we are comparing our current lot to quality players that have graced our club?
if we had no fight at all and didn't react in the latter stages of games then i'd buy into the fact we were completely useless. however, games away to city, chelsea and the tottenham reaction show that there is something in there. not enough to win or challenge for the title but certainly better than we see most weeks. that reaction comes from inside the head, digging deep to do something but not having the mental strength to believe in it from the beginning.
coming back from adversity takes a different kind of mental strength to do that rather than take the bull by the horns and take charge.
:gp:Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry Tuffnutz
Very true. On paper, I do believe we have a very solid team. Our entire starting XI are starters for their international teams or right about on the verge of starting for their countries. These players just do not seem to be motivated enough to turn up for games.. they just seem to be coasting along in their careers. They really need a right kick up their arses.. give a couple of hair dryer treatments and see things change dramatically!
It's combination of laziness, lack of leadership, lack of confidence, bad organisation and the manager failing to motivate his players.
For the Blackburn game, we can't blame quality. I just put that down to laziness from some players and bad organisation. Against Munich, I'm not so sure about motivation but we lack the quality and confidence. That's partly down to bad management again.
What was that stat on Arteta? He made as many passes as Merts during that game? 32 passes was it? Highlights a key problem we're having in the middle at the moment. We can't play the ball out from the back because he's not good enough to play there or has the confidence to take the ball under pressure, turn his man and pass it off to the right players. Countless times I've seen him avoid receiving the ball by pointing away or running away from the open space so he doesn't get the ball. When he gets the ball he can often be in too much of a rush to get rid of it and instead of looking up to see his options or the space around him, he'll pass it to the nearest open man even if it's not the best option. It's not entirely his fault because Wenger decided to sell Song, a player a lot braver than Arteta with his passing and distribution but lacked a bit of defensive discipline at times. All Wenger had to do was tell the guy to sit deep, hold and imagine your Pirlo. That's it.
Arteta is an example of someone that lacks the quality and confidence to play in that position and the lack of movement may look like laziness because he's scared of losing the ball in the middle. Wenger has to change this or give him a little guidance with his all round play. The same can be said for a host of other players on the squad.
the lack of confidence is an interesting part, the downfall of chesney's confidence is extraordinary. he was a guy full of confidence when he first came on the scene and he wasn't afraid of anything. but now everytime the ball gets played back to him he approaches his kick in such a rigid manner. often he doesnt even know what to do, he gets caught in 2 minds.
his confidence is completely shot and it goes to show the disease that plagues our players when they get a run in our side. every season we hope it stops but it just gets worse.
The Ox....what the heck happened to him?