It's too early to tell if we should be losing our opening game at home.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
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It's too early to tell if we should be losing our opening game at home.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
From the match reaction thread - and this is just from the first couple of pagesQuote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
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this is a very eazrly reminder that this team can still fuck up at any given moment and it is not ready to mount a serious challenge.
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We should be grateful that we've had our optimism absolutely shat on at the very start. Get rid of foolish title hope and settle down for our perineal top four scrap out. We've got a whole season of the same old shit to come
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If you thought at any point this offseason that we were going to win the league, I hope you know better now.
Really? :lol: After 1 game?!Quote:
Same as usual, 3rd or 4th place finish this season after dropping out of the title race by October
And no, we shouldn't have lost it but the above is a ridiculous over-reaction to how a season will go 1 game in.
No, after 10 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
Bull. Shit.
No-one would have been posting that sort of guff had we won the game.
As NQ said, that's not an assessment after just one game. That's 10 years of sheer frustration. I won't go over this debate with you because I'm starting to think there is something mentally wrong with you. Certain things you just fail to process and comprehend despite being repeated over and over.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
Yeah. I think going overboard after one game is ridiculous and I'm the one who can't comprehend things :lol:
Case and point. Totally retarded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
Another 5 years of this same mundane crap and we will still be accused of overreacting. Winning leagues isnt important. we get it Letters. Back to your wormhole.
Winning arguments by declaring yourself right, the tactics of an intellectual giant as always... :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
So you think those quotes above are reasonable and rational responses to the first game of the season?
Forget the last 10 years, the last 2 years we've won the FA Cup, last year we also finished above everyone apart from the two billionaire-fuelled teams. There is some cause for optimism. And you think those quotes are a reasonable, logical assessment?
Pretty much, we've been there and seen it for 10 years now, football is suppose to be unpredictable but sadly it isn't for us because we already know what we're going to get, qualification for the CL and last 16 in CL.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
We've done nothing this season to prove anything is different, once again we've started badly and don't look anything like title contenders at all, but then it's not too surprising when barely a thing has changed since last season, we had our chances to try and change stuff this summer and miraculously failed to do so, but as always we had our lame excuses at the ready.
Straw men :bow:Quote:
Originally Posted by Globalgunner
It's so easy to win arguments when you lie about the other person's position.
No we haven't.Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
This is why you're retarded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
I think we have, we've played pretty poorly and already lost and drawn a game (both at home, somewhat lucky not to lose to Liverpool as well) and got lucky against Palace. We haven't got a hope of winning the title, that much is clear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
It was only the other day you were telling me what I thought and what I believed. For a while I took you seriously but ended up not being able to live with myself, so I rebelled and formed my own opinions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
:). OK, so unable to debate the point you just resort to insults.
But yeah, I'm the WUM...
:coffee:
Hell of a brass neck considering Cripps was banned for this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
I think we've played poorly too - until Saturday which was much better - but the results have been fine, we're way above Chelsea and only City have hit the ground running so no, nothing is clear yet. As I said earlier in this thread - well, someone else said and I agreed - the Chelsea game is key. They're there for the taking right now but our record against them is awful. Hopefully the Community Shield result will have got that monkey off our back. We could almost kill off their title chances which makes me think we won't. A draw wouldn't be a terrible result, a win would, in my mind, show we're serious contenders this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
The problem is, you are unable to debate the point. As has been said, the point has been stated 10,372,448 times, but you still don't register it let alone debate it. I wouldn't have called you retarded, personally. I'd have probably settled for something more political, like "resolute", or "committed" (not literally committed)Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
I've done it repeatedly in the last few pages, the usual suspects have just resorted to personal jibes and insults.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
The "point" seems to be "the last 10 years" but that "point" makes no sense when things change constantly in football, the new financial deals have seen a new level of signing and those players have clearly made a difference. Belittle the FA Cup all you like but it's a start and 3rd and the FA Cup last year is a pretty decent season. Yes, we need to push on and challenge for the biggest prizes, yes the lack of a major signing up front will hamper our chances. But over-reacting after 1 game makes no sense. 5 games in and we're doing OK, Saturday was a good performance. Lose the Chelsea game and yes, it's back to square one but FFS give the lads a chance.
:gp:Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
He just doesn't get it and there is no point in 'debating' with him.
Oh, now you want to politically correct! :lol:
:gp:Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
:coffee:
Football does indeed change, no arguing against that. And it has changed over the past 10 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
BUT IT IS THE MANAGEMENT OF WENGER THAT HASN'T CHANGED. That is the problem. Yes he has signed better players now he has access to more funds. That's a good thing and everyone agrees with it. But even with these players he is still making many of the same old mistakes he has been making for a decade. This is what stressed out and pissed off observers are keying on. Bad tactics, bad formations with players out of position, seemingly zero appreciation of the opponent (and for Man City, which apparently the players managed themselves anyway, you can point to a Monaco and call the former a one-off), penny-pinching when he no longer needs to, HIS ideas about what represents value even though, as you correctly point out, the game has changed and the whole notion of value has gone out the window. All the signs that have foretold a failure to compete in the league or put up a respectable showing in the CL are still there, including this season. The 10 years are important, despite the new signings and FA cups, because the same patterns are consistent over those 10 years. The game has changed, the manager hasn't. There lies the problem. You have actually stated it yourself, probably without realising. That's what people mean when they say fresh blood, fresh ideas, a manager who realises the game has changed and is suited to dealing with those changes. Agreed, it won't be easy to find somebody suitably qualified, but we should be looking. We mustn't drift into a situation where 2017 arrives and there's no viable alternative so Wenger signs up in a fait accompli. Rather like the striker situation, years to sort it out but again we are hearing his excuses about nobody being available THIS season. Convenient but it's a framed excuse that ignores the past.
Yes, I'm always politically sensitive. Show one example where this isn't the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Encouraging performance from Theo, I thought? First time I've seen him play CF where he's looked constantly involved and threatening. Should have smashed about 9, of course, but the chances he was getting on the end of looked varied, and I was pleased to see our playmakers starting to pick him out with some regularity - if that understanding is finally starting to develop, then it bodes well for us.
Is it just me, or is he starting to look a little bit more stocky? And is his first-touch starting to look half-decent too? I'm not sure I'd go as far as saying it makes him a strong dribbler or anything, but if it's getting good enough to control the ball under pressure, and create space for himself to shoot, then that might be enough?
Be prepared for some comeback about competing against two oil baron run clubs with the infinite money cheat and us winning the FA Cup, it's not that bad, judge him at the end of the season....;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
Yes, it looks like he's bulked up a bit. Or else he's eating doughnuts with his broccoli.Quote:
Originally Posted by I am invisible
It really was a beautiful touch. Controlled it so it took the ball out of the defenders path and closer to his stronger foot so he could shoot. I like when we plays CF because he can have games where he's just a constant threat like against West Brom, Newcastle and the FA Cup final. Just wave after wave of attack. But he needs to relax a bit and not rush his chances. That should come. But he also needs to a big performance against a major club. If he gets a nod against Chelsea, he has to show up.Quote:
Originally Posted by I am invisible
Unfortunately I have to leave for the airport otherwise I would reply along those lines. Will do so later though ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
And if he doesn't show up? Do we stick with him in the hope he eventually gets it together and his long history of injury (unfortunate and unlucky as it is) doesn't come back to bite him? Is he a viable long term option?Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Which would lead me to point out another inconvenient truth you simply won't acknowledge. We could have finished above one of those oil cheats last season but we collapsed. Nevertheless, it showed we can indeed compete with the oil cheats when we need to qualify for the CL, so it's not just a case of the money. The question is, why can't we compete when the primary objective has been achieved (qualification for the CL)? Regardless, the money cheat excuse was laid bare last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
I'm not against him quitting but we need a proper replacement . Someone who could take us to a higher level straight away . We don't really need to experiment managers until we find a better one the way Wenger experiments his players . We might end up miles behind Spurs and might start begging Wenger to come bak " all being forgiven "Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
If the alternative is Giroud, then I’d stick with him. In 7 appearances, Giroud has never scored against Chelsea. The thing with Giroud, we know his full capacity. We know his strengths, weaknesses and it doesn’t look like he has another level to his game. With Theo, we don’t know. I’d take rather take that risk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
We shouldn’t be in this position. I’ve said for a long time now that Theo should be developing as a striker and plying his trade there. The decisions he makes in the centre and challenges he’ll face with different opponents is totally different from what he faces in the right wing so I don’t understand what Wenger had in mind for this guy when we signed him. The original idea was that he developed into a striker like Henry but he’s a totally different player. We should have been thinking more Ian Wright. Sharpen up his shooting technique and how to negotiate around the box. He’s wasted years of development on crossing the ball, trying to learn how to dribble like Robben when he’s totally incapable of that and that’s something you won’t develop late in the game. But he can develop as a striker. He may have a Daniel Sturridge moment in him but he needs a run there and the manager needs to back him or sell him. I think Wenger has made a complete hash of his development.
Yeah, I'm not so worried about his finishing - we know he's got a shot on him, and , s others have said, with a consistent run of games he should start to relax into the role, and stop over-thinking his choice of finish. He just needs to work on that kind of relentless effort across 90 minutes - keep moving and probing, and working your markers, even if things aren't coming off.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
What I'd really love to see from him, is the kind of off-the-ball, defensive shift that Alexis puts in - I don't want to see him tracking back for miles, or anything like that, but imagine using that pace of his to chase down and press oppo defenders when they're trying to play from the back? That could be a real weapon for us (especially with ALexis doing it too!), and it's the sort of thing that starts to chip away at your markers' confidence and composure after a while...
Does it really matter at this point? Until we get to the next window, there's really not that many alternatives...Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
Yes I agree, a proper replacement. We should be looking NOW, with a view to having somebody commit by the end of 2016 and starting to get involved as early as possible while Wenger winds out his current contract. Unfortunately we are hearing the opposite from the board, it sounds like they want Wenger to stay forever. And why not? He ticks every box for them. I believe everything would calm down and there would be much greater unity if it was made clear Wenger definitely is leaving in 2017. Everyone could live with that I think, and the search for a replacement could begin nice and early in order to get the very best result.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpha
Probably doesn't matter even for that reason. Theo or Bif will probably get injured long term anyway and settle the issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by I am invisible
Or both. More likely both.
And yet Theo didn't test Courtois once in the community shield. As far as I can remember he couldn't even manage to have a shot on goal. Unfortunately Mourinho knows how to defend against Wenger's teams and Wenger doesn't know how to adapt his tactics to the opponents.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice
This isn't about Chelsea though, it's about how effective Theo can be against organised teams that sit deep and don't give Theo the space he thrives on in behind. I don't think he's been tested in that respect yet, but we'll have to wait and see how he deals with it.
The bottom quote is mine, I am happy to admit that and I stick by my predicition that we will finish 3rd or 4th this season. If I am proven wrong in a positive way then I'll be delighted.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
Any team who harbours ambitions of winning the league doesn't get turned over by West Ham at home with a 16 year old schoolboy running the show. We move on, but I personally think there could be more "banana" skins like that for us this season, I remain unconvinced about the team and the way it has been set up.
Yeah, Theo needs to work on pressing teams high up the pitch. I think the team need to work on their pressing game overall. That goal we scored came from winning the ball back and it's exactly the type of goal we were scoring during the Invincible days. Win the ball back then attack quickly.Quote:
Originally Posted by I am invisible