Was this our most wasted summer transfer window yet?

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

My response to either we have mods or we don't

Is there need for mods

No one here is going to earnestly call for violence to be done to another user, no one will publish personal details of another user, and no one will use this as their alternative to deep web activities.

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The sites not growing and unlikely to grow if that's the attitude.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Someone that hasn't posted in a while engages with a new thread and you start wumming straight away because of some personal beef or whatever.

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This is an Arsenal message board not a support group, there are no safe spaces here

Or at least there bloody well shouldn't be

I think in all seriousness the mockery is what makes this place worth while, we know that this place isn't thriving and 95% of the reason why is total apathy towards the club and the manager.

You must get bored of having the same discussions week after week, month after month, year after year and whether this place is too restrictive to some or too hostile to others is rather peripheral to that.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

The sites not growing and unlikely to grow if that's the attitude.

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What attitude that this place should be a market place of open and free exchange, admin and mods on every discussion group i've ever belonged to just doesn't work because there is not a single interpretation on where freedom of speech should be limited.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Wenger recently corrected that statement about Xhaka being a box to box player.

http://www.squawka.com/news/wenger-x...fielder/836501

I don't see that in his game anyway. He's not mobile enough for that role. We just bought the wrong sort of player. He wasn't the sort of midfielder we needed and now we're scrambling around trying to find the right player combination to compliment him. It's a huge waste of money. Not good enough on the ball to protect it and recycle possession. Too reckless to protect the back four and pretty poor at defending anyway. A decent long pass but we can hardly take advantage of it because we usually play against a packed defence. I have no idea what we were thinking.

Too early to judge Perez. He has quality and needs more games to really judge.

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the best teams in Europe have over the last few years registas like Xhaka.

He is exactly the sort of player we need. The problem is we have the wrong manager to use him.

Good article on Xhaka's positioning and him getting Wenger'd

http://first-11.net/2017/01/arsenals...-granit-xhaka/

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Arsène Wenger prefers a dynamic midfield which suits Francis Coquelin and has utilised Xhaka to play the 8 role without the ball and the 6 role in possession, which leaves him unable to fulfil his full potential. The 8 is not suitable for a regista of Xhaka’s calibre: it takes him out of his depth, asking him to press extensively and ask him to support offensive phases. Xhaka now initiates the first counter press, and if it is bypassed is caught chasing back, trailing behind the play, a situation which should not occur for a player who should maintain the 6 role throughout.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

This is an Arsenal message board not a support group, there are no safe spaces here

Or at least there bloody well shouldn't be

I think in all seriousness the mockery is what makes this place worth while, we know that this place isn't thriving and 95% of the reason why is total apathy towards the club and the manager.

You must get bored of having the same discussions week after week, month after month, year after year and whether this place is too restrictive to some or too hostile to others is rather peripheral to that.

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Exactly. An Arsenal message board. What you're talking about has zero to do with football and the same goes for Letters campaign to hound out posters. This thread is something new. To a degree at least. You drawing up very old beefs about Zim's stance on Wenger is what's boring. People have heard it before. It's be done and dusted so I don't see the point in dragging it up every time he appears.

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Originally Posted by Özim

We do have that, but as mentioned before I don't attribute all of that to Wenger alone, he seems to get all the credit when in fact he didn't really risk anything himself to achieve much of this, he's played his part but so have many others who never get any credit and who probably put far more on the line than him, he was and always has been a handsomely paid employee, what did he have to lose?

Yes we're a bigger club with more money, I don't personally believe we're all setup for a new manager however, this club is too much about one man and this will mean when things change we'll go through a transitional period where we'll probably end up lower than we are through no fault of the next manager, coming into a club where someone has been in charge for 20 years is very hard, there's a lot to change including mentality which doesn't happen overnight.

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This is where it all gets a bit weird and personal with you and Wenger. You have French blood in you so what, is he your dad but he abandoned your mum when you were a baby and never saw you or something?
You don't attribute Arsenal's successes under Wenger to him alone, but you do seem to think our failings are entirely his fault? You can't have it both ways. The buck stops with the manager. He's part of a team, of course, but the manager is responsible for a club's success or failure, it's always the manager who gets sacked when things go wrong, no-one else. And before you say that Wenger hasn't been sacked for his failures, Wenger has always delivered what the board have required. I don't see what he had to risk has to do with anything. And while I'm talking about the board, although a manger is responsible for our success or lack thereof, it's the board's job to hold the manage accountable of he does fail. Ours don't because to them he is achieving success as they define it, and it suits them that he pretty much runs the show. And that is where I agree Wenger is hard to replace because he's not just a football manager, he's been allowed to take far too much control and you have to blame the board for that, they are his bosses after all.

Overall though I think he'll leave us in a much better place than he found us. I just hope he doesn't "do a Clough" and stay far too long and things start to go seriously downhill.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Someone that hasn't posted in a while engages with a new thread and you start wumming straight away because of some personal beef or whatever.

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I had a minor WUM, Zim can take it. He didn't run away, he's a big boy. I have since engaged in the debate. :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Exactly. An Arsenal message board. What you're talking about has zero to do with football and the same goes for Letters campaign to hound out posters. This thread is something new. To a degree at least. You drawing up very old beefs about Zim's stance on Wenger is what's boring. People have heard it before. It's be done and dusted so I don't see the point in dragging it up every time he appears.

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But still this does come back to my original point that, if there was something new, original or interesting to discuss Arsenal there probably wouldn't be this kind of thing in the first place.

Zim doesn't refrain from coming here because he stand the heat, he refrains from coming here because he's bored of the same old, same old with Arsenal FC. And that's one of the few things i can find some measure of agreement with him on.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Letters campaign to hound out posters.

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:lol:
If I wanted to "hound people out" I'd just ban them. Do grow up.

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Originally Posted by Letters

I had a minor WUM, Zim can take it. He didn't run away, he's a big boy. I have since engaged in the debate. :shrug:

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Major WUM.

Ground control.

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Originally Posted by Letters

Well, either this place is moderated or it isn't. If it is then it is for me, and the other mods, to decide. You might disagree with me and that's fine, but unless it's a completely unmoderated forum someone has to do it. :shrug:
I don't have to know people personally or worry about their relatives reading comments in order to think things offensive. As I said in the Olympics I made a joke which a couple of people thought was over the line - those people didn't know anyone I mentioned personally either but fine, I took their comments on board and deleted the post. Democracy doesn't work as we found out last year so this place is a benevolent dictatorship which I think we can all agree is the best form of government.

Changed your name back.

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Thanks.

My point is, it's not for you to decide what's tasteful. Sure thing, if somebody posts something that might cause the forum owners grief in terms of the law or unwarranted adverse publicity you have a right to protect your property. But judging when a joke is "too soon" hardly falls into that category. In fact if it was too soon then you imply it wasn't beyond the pale anyway and could be acceptable at some future date.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

My response to either we have mods or we don't

Is there need for mods

No one here is going to earnestly call for violence to be done to another user, no one will publish personal details of another user, and no one will use this as their alternative to deep web activities.

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Agreed :ninja:

:getcoat:

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Do something useful and make a formal apology to Cripps. The Real Cripps. :lol: NQ is doing a bad impersonation.

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This formal apology.

Would I have to do it with a straight face?

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Originally Posted by mastermind84

the best teams in Europe have over the last few years registas like Xhaka.

He is exactly the sort of player we need. The problem is we have the wrong manager to use him.

Good article on Xhaka's positioning and him getting Wenger'd

http://first-11.net/2017/01/arsenals...-granit-xhaka/

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Either way, Wenger has wasted yet more money trying to fit circles into squares, he can't help but try and reinvent the wheel, everybody says Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker, Wenger says he's not and tries converting him into a mobile box to box Midfielder. It's all a load of shite, Wenger should have just tried to upgrade on Santi in the summer, we needed a technical midfielder who is mobile, yeah maybe Jack in the future...not now as he's constantly crocked at ARSENAL.

Wenger found a solution, Santi and Coq, upgrade on them, don't try and reinvent the wheel.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

I am just stating the things on here that personally aggravate me. It's your forum you can do what you like, my suggestion is don't try and pre-empt people getting offended.

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The Big Four Forum ended up on the front page of Sunday newspapers with one of its members on the cover, taken to court and prosecuted.

We don't remove offensive posts, but we will remove those that risk the same thing happening here.

That said, I can't remember the last time I removed a post.

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Originally Posted by mastermind84

the best teams in Europe have over the last few years registas like Xhaka.

He is exactly the sort of player we need. The problem is we have the wrong manager to use him.

Good article on Xhaka's positioning and him getting Wenger'd

http://first-11.net/2017/01/arsenals...-granit-xhaka/

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I've seen a few articles about this online and I agree that we're probably not getting the best out of him. The regista/deep laying playmaker is nothing new. I just think Xhaka isn't a very good one. Play Pirlo, Xavi, or Xabi Alonso in this role and they wouldn't look this average. Also, it's not as if we've never seen how a deep laying playmaker can operate in this system. Cazorla's new role as CM is what we should have been looking for. Cesc is a deep laying playmaker but was coached badly here at Arsenal and played in a number 10 position because of Wenger's obsession with goals. Same goes for Rosicky who should have been playing there as soon as we signed him.

We've got a long running history of Wenger playing talented guys out of position but for guys like Cesc, Rosicky and Cazorla, despite how they were told to play, they never looked average. That's the problem I have with Xhaka and he's going to have to improve his game. Difficult under current circumstances but I don't expect to see the heavy touches and ball getting poached from under his feet when pressured.

Anyone have a link to the Big Four scandal? Couldn't find it on Google.

Fancy a bit of light reading before I leave the office.

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Originally Posted by Letters

This is where it all gets a bit weird and personal with you and Wenger. You have French blood in you so what, is he your dad but he abandoned your mum when you were a baby and never saw you or something?
You don't attribute Arsenal's successes under Wenger to him alone, but you do seem to think our failings are entirely his fault? You can't have it both ways. The buck stops with the manager. He's part of a team, of course, but the manager is responsible for a club's success or failure, it's always the manager who gets sacked when things go wrong, no-one else. And before you say that Wenger hasn't been sacked for his failures, Wenger has always delivered what the board have required. I don't see what he had to risk has to do with anything. And while I'm talking about the board, although a manger is responsible for our success or lack thereof, it's the board's job to hold the manage accountable of he does fail. Ours don't because to them he is achieving success as they define it, and it suits them that he pretty much runs the show. And that is where I agree Wenger is hard to replace because he's not just a football manager, he's been allowed to take far too much control and you have to blame the board for that, they are his bosses after all.

Overall though I think he'll leave us in a much better place than he found us. I just hope he doesn't "do a Clough" and stay far too long and things start to go seriously downhill.

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lol

No I blame the owner/board for being so indifferent about success and being mainly really interested in money and having no real interest in football, sadly that isn't going to change until the owner chooses to sell up.

The manager however I blame for the failings on the pitch (this has been going on for years), he doesn't sign the right players, the style of play is woeful, he never learns a thing and his tactics and subs are rubbish. In the end I care about what happens on the pitch and he's the one to blame for that. Sure the owner/board should have got rid of him, but in the end ambition also comes from a manager, if he really wanted to be a sucess he'd do more to achieve it. He's too principled and stuck in his ways and too interested in finances to do a good enough job.

Yes he's been part and parcel of the sucess and boy did he get lauded when we had success, the board etc never got praised, so likewise now he has to take his failings on the chin, which incidentally he doesn't seem to do very well, whenever people question him he get very defensive and comes out with stuff like the 20,000 subsitutions comment.

I don't recall this and can find literally nothing about it on google

That's not me saying i disbelieve you because three/four seperate people have mentioned this now

But you've left me something damnably intriguing in the form of nothing but breadcrumb trails

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Anyone have a link to the Big Four scandal? Couldn't find it on Google.

Fancy a bit of light reading before I leave the office.

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I thought it couldn't just me who gets bitten by the old morbid curiousity bug

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Originally Posted by Letters

Overall though I think he'll leave us in a much better place than he found us. I just hope he doesn't "do a Clough" and stay far too long and things start to go seriously downhill.

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At the moment we aren't in great shape and Wenger is totally responsible for that. Our two best players are dragging their feet over contract negotiations and it's looking like they want out. We don't look any closer to being a title challenging team despite our manager spending vast amounts of money over the summer, in fact I'd say we look the weakest out of the top 6 sides based on current form. In addition to Sanchez & Ozil we have a number of decent squad players who are yet to extend their contracts, if you include Sanchez & Ozil, we could have up to 5 players this summer who we are uncertain of their future....these players are Wilshere, Gibbs, Ox aswell as our two stars.

Wenger's future is up in the air too...I certainly don't want him to extend...if he doesn't plan on doing so I'd much prefer if he came out with it so we can plan accordingly...the last thing we need is a summer of discontent where Wenger leaves along with our best players.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

I don't recall this and can find literally nothing about it on google

That's not me saying i disbelieve you because three/four seperate people have mentioned this now

But you've left me something damnably intriguing in the form of nothing but breadcrumb trails

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I remember stumbling across it a few years ago. Funny as fuck, mainly because the people on that forum were idiots.

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

I remember stumbling across it a few years ago. Funny as fuck, mainly because the people on that forum were idiots.

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So they wouldn't let you join either?

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

I remember stumbling across it a few years ago. Funny as fuck, mainly because the people on that forum were idiots.

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was the prosecution justified? or was it little girl syndrome?

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

was the prosecution justified? or was it little girl syndrome?

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Justified, I think.

What that guy wrote is on another level to anything potentially offensive said on here.

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Originally Posted by selassie

Either way, Wenger has wasted yet more money trying to fit circles into squares, he can't help but try and reinvent the wheel, everybody says Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker, Wenger says he's not and tries converting him into a mobile box to box Midfielder. It's all a load of shite, Wenger should have just tried to upgrade on Santi in the summer, we needed a technical midfielder who is mobile, yeah maybe Jack in the future...not now as he's constantly crocked at ARSENAL.

Wenger found a solution, Santi and Coq, upgrade on them, don't try and reinvent the wheel.

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Exactly. It goes back to buying more playmakers again which doesn't actually solve defensive issues or even result in us scoring more goals.

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Justified, I think.

What that guy wrote is on another level to anything potentially offensive said on here.

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:crying: I try my best damn it

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Exactly. It goes back to buying more playmakers again which doesn't actually solve defensive issues or even result in us scoring more goals.

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Wenger is obsessed with midfield playmakers, wouldn't do him any harm to try and create some balance in the squad, not everyone has to be able to attack, some people can sit and protect the defence as well.

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Originally Posted by selassie

Either way, Wenger has wasted yet more money trying to fit circles into squares, he can't help but try and reinvent the wheel, everybody says Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker, Wenger says he's not and tries converting him into a mobile box to box Midfielder. It's all a load of shite, Wenger should have just tried to upgrade on Santi in the summer, we needed a technical midfielder who is mobile, yeah maybe Jack in the future...not now as he's constantly crocked at ARSENAL.

Wenger found a solution, Santi and Coq, upgrade on them, don't try and reinvent the wheel.

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he did upgrade on Santi. Xhaka is that, the problem is Wenger's an old fool.

Santi and Coq were never going to win us a title. Coquelin is too limited.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

I've seen a few articles about this online and I agree that we're probably not getting the best out of him. The regista/deep laying playmaker is nothing new. I just think Xhaka isn't a very good one. Play Pirlo, Xavi, or Xabi Alonso in this role and they wouldn't look this average. Also, it's not as if we've never seen how a deep laying playmaker can operate in this system. Cazorla's new role as CM is what we should have been looking for. Cesc is a deep laying playmaker but was coached badly here at Arsenal and played in a number 10 position because of Wenger's obsession with goals. Same goes for Rosicky who should have been playing there as soon as we signed him.

We've got a long running history of Wenger playing talented guys out of position but for guys like Cesc, Rosicky and Cazorla, despite how they were told to play, they never looked average. That's the problem I have with Xhaka and he's going to have to improve his game. Difficult under current circumstances but I don't expect to see the heavy touches and ball getting poached from under his feet when pressured.

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his data shows he is one of the best, and even in his play this season he has been one of the best in England.

And yes, Pirlo, Xabi, and Xavi would not look good in this system. None of those guys have good mobility either, and the main issue with Xhaka is he is defending in too much space. We also do not provide him outlets.

You stay underrating the systemic problems of this team. Its weird too because you want Wenger out.

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Originally Posted by mastermind84

he did upgrade on Santi. Xhaka is that, the problem is Wenger's an old fool.

Santi and Coq were never going to win us a title. Coquelin is too limited.





his data shows he is one of the best, and even in his play this season he has been one of the best in England.

And yes, Pirlo, Xabi, and Xavi would not look good in this system. None of those guys have good mobility either, and the main issue with Xhaka is he is defending in too much space. We also do not provide him outlets.

You stay underrating the systemic problems of this team. Its weird too because you want Wenger out.

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No way is an upgrade on Santi. He's super one footed for starters and gets caught in possession too easily. If Santi and Coquelin aren't going to win us the title we have zero chance with Xhaka and Coquelin or any other combination that doesn't involve Santi for that matter.

You're very about Pirlo, Xavi and Alonso as well. There intelligence makes up for their lack of mobility and when I say mobility, I more also include movement in tight spaces. I can't see them getting caught in possession the way Xhaka does. The data was misleading and belive we bought the guy and paid that much based on stats. Hence why Wenger can come out with such statements as a box to box player. I believe he had no clue on who he was signing so he might not be all at fault for this signing. You're doing way too much to defend slackness. Regardless of what system is being played, there should be a standard. As said, years of players like Cesc and Rosicky not being utilised properly under Wenger never lead me to question their ability as players. Certainly not their awareness, first touch or play making ability.

The best players don't get caught in posession very often (just watch how they always manage to get the ball away(, when a player gets caught in possesion a lot it suggests they lack a footballing brain IMO.

Xhaka has done nothing to prove he is or has the potential to be top class IMO, I was sceptical about this signing, I'm even more sceptical now.

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Originally Posted by mastermind84

he did upgrade on Santi. Xhaka is that, the problem is Wenger's an old fool.

Santi and Coq were never going to win us a title. Coquelin is too limited.





his data shows he is one of the best, and even in his play this season he has been one of the best in England.

And yes, Pirlo, Xabi, and Xavi would not look good in this system. None of those guys have good mobility either, and the main issue with Xhaka is he is defending in too much space. We also do not provide him outlets.

You stay underrating the systemic problems of this team. Its weird too because you want Wenger out.

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Xhaka isn't an upgrade on Santi, they are different players and besides Xhaka doesn't even get around the pitch to control central midfield like Santi has done over the past few years. Xhaka is a specialist player...his specific role is deep lying playmaker, we don't need him.

I agree that we won't win the league with Santi and Coq as our midfield pairing but they are our best ones, they need to be upgraded upon. An upgrade on Coq IMO was Kante, he was available in the Summer and we weren't interested. Coq's role within the team is to break up play, cover ground and distribute the ball, that's all we really need him for, his only real limitation is his passing.

I don't care about Pirlo, Xabi and Xavi, it's not what we need and never have done...we need mobile CM's that cover ground, break up play and can pass a ball. Xhaka is a Wenger vanity signing, he's a luxury player, yes Xhaka is highly technically...but he is not mobile and can't tackle, without Coq we have nobody in Central Midfield that can tackle...it's ludicrous.

I do want Wenger out and have done so for about 4 seasons now!

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Justified, I think.

What that guy wrote is on another level to anything potentially offensive said on here.

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News article link? Or can someone post what he said. I am curious now. :(

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Originally Posted by fakeyank

News article link? Or can someone post what he said. I am curious now. :(

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Yep so am I as it happens

Can find literally nothing about it with Google, even though I've tried about a dozen search variations

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

You're very about Pirlo, Xavi and Alonso as well. There intelligence makes up for their lack of mobility and when I say mobility,

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in their systems they never have to defend in as much space as Xhaka does. Their managers protect them. Our manage does not. They stay deep and play the #6 position, Wenger wants Xhaka to be a #6 and a #8 (box to box).

Its the system.

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Originally Posted by Özim

The best players don't get caught in posession very often (just watch how they always manage to get the ball away(, when a player gets caught in possesion a lot it suggests they lack a footballing brain IMO.

Xhaka has done nothing to prove he is or has the potential to be top class IMO, I was sceptical about this signing, I'm even more sceptical now.

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in our system, he has no outlets. He ha shown he can by pass the press through his passing but you cant do too much when there are no options.

All these other players you all are naming would struggle here too because of no help.

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Originally Posted by selassie

Xhaka isn't an upgrade on Santi, they are different players and besides Xhaka doesn't even get around the pitch to control central midfield like Santi has done over the past few years. Xhaka is a specialist player...his specific role is deep lying playmaker, we don't need him.

I agree that we won't win the league with Santi and Coq as our midfield pairing but they are our best ones, they need to be upgraded upon. An upgrade on Coq IMO was Kante, he was available in the Summer and we weren't interested. Coq's role within the team is to break up play, cover ground and distribute the ball, that's all we really need him for, his only real limitation is his passing.

I don't care about Pirlo, Xabi and Xavi, it's not what we need and never have done...we need mobile CM's that cover ground, break up play and can pass a ball. Xhaka is a Wenger vanity signing, he's a luxury player, yes Xhaka is highly technically...but he is not mobile and can't tackle, without Coq we have nobody in Central Midfield that can tackle...it's ludicrous.

I do want Wenger out and have done so for about 4 seasons now!

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I know they are different players. Xhaka is a DLP, a regista, while Santi plays further up the pitch.

We need that type of player because we have problems with the build up. That is true when Santi is healthy. Against the best midfields, we create eff all in possession. To have someone to play the ball vertical and spot runners from deep is vital. Santi isnt like that and will never be. Thats Xhaka

Like i said before, I feel most of you want Wenger out but at the same time speak as if his tactics make sense and we need to buy players to fit his tactics. It doesnt make sense.

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You stay underrating the systemic problems of this team. Its weird too because you want Wenger out.

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It doesn't work like that. Just because I want Wenger out doesn't mean accountability goes out the window. I've been saying the same thing to NQ on another thread. We have systematic problems; that's well known on here, but that doesn't mean every fault gets swept under Wenger's door. I don't care if the the decided to play Sanchez as wingback, regardless of how alien that position is to him, I don't expect to see his work rate drop, his first touch disappear, his dribbling skills going out the window and so on. He may be horrible at defending because he's playing in a terrible system, but the core of his abilities will still shine through regardless of where he plays. I'm not seeing that with Xhaka.

At the very least, we should be bossing the midfield, especially against a team like Preston. No excuses. Even if we can't make great use of his playmaking ability because he's not getting the ball where he likes it, his chance creation stat should suffer at best, not his first touch and passing accuracy of all things. I'd expect plenty of midfield dominance and possession without much bite like we're used to seeing. That's not the case these days. We can't even control a midfield and it's been this way since losing Cesc and Nasri. That Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta axis was the start of a disaster where we had serious problems just stringing together an attack.

In fact, didn't you say Xhaka would be an upgrade on Arteta? It's not as if he's being told to do something drastically different from Arteta. We weren't playing with Coquelin in the midfield so you can't put the blame on his limitations either. I'm just not seeing the point in this signing and it's down to Xhaka to sort his game out. I'm not for switching to a system that plays to his ability as playmaker when we bought Ozil for that role. You already know my thoughts on him and I find it crazy that after all the protests about him being the best number 10 in the world, the chances he creates..etc..I'm seeing blogs suggesting we turn him into a forward. Such tinkering ideas is why I created that Ozil thread in the first place. How many playmakers do we need in this team? Heck, I honestly think Alexis's goal and creative output trumps them all and we should be building off that if anything.

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We need that type of player because we have problems with the build up. That is true when Santi is healthy. Against the best midfields, we create eff all in possession. To have someone to play the ball vertical and spot runners from deep is vital. Santi isnt like that and will never be. Thats Xhaka

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https://youtu.be/5wbOs4Ukdwc

Nope, look at Xhaka's positioning from the kick off and how he almost loses the ball from a heavy touch. There is nothing in our game that stops him from dropping deep to play the ball. Santi does it all the time.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

There is nothing in our game that stops him from dropping deep to play the ball.

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yes there is, Wenger asks our midfields to play higher up because he wants to press hgher up to win the ball back.

Look at where Xhaka is standing after he almost lost the ball. He never retreats from there. Thats the double pivot.

Like I said before, you all want Wenger out yet don't want our tactics to change. Its strange.

The article I posted above shows that. Thats what the double pivot is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mastermind84

yes there is, Wenger asks our midfields to play higher up because he wants to press hgher up to win the ball back.

Look at where Xhaka is standing after he almost lost the ball. He never retreats from there. Thats the double pivot.

Like I said before, you all want Wenger out yet don't want our tactics to change. Its strange.

The article I posted above shows that. Thats what the double pivot is.

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Now you're being purposely evasive. Is the double pivot the reason why he takes a heavy touch? Would playing him deeper give him way more time and space for heavy touches? Was that the case in Germany? If so, we're talking about adapting our tactics to cover the flaws of limited player. I don't think Xhaka has shown or earned the right for the team to be built around him if he can't do the basics.

I'm not against Wenger changing tactics. As said, we should build around Alexis being a false 9, but not around someone that isn't that good offensively and has to be protected on defense. When Cesc was playing in the wrong 4-4-2 system, his defensive weaknesses were shown up but it was clear that he could make a pass and have the midfield ticking.

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