Have we learnt anything from the ManYoo game?

[Letters]

I don't think so.

There was the predictable hand-wringing and wailing in the match thread as there always is even though before the game we were pretty much unanimous in thinking this was a nailed on certainty for a defeat.

Having been on this board some time I guess I shouldn't be surprised by such reactions but I think we all accept (although are not happy that) we're not serious competitors to the top 3 any more.

So...did we learn anything new from the game and result?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

We have not learnt anything we don't already know. The result was good and bad i thought, Bad in the sense that its always bad to loose to them. Good in away, that it was not a humilation like last time.

The scoreline flattered us, but it is what it is. Whether it could have been 5-1, 6-1 etc, its irrelevant.

[Özim]

Some people have re-learnt that we can't defend (they'd forgotten for about 3 games).

I learnt that some people will never learn.

[hobson's choice]

Good in away, that it was not a humilation like last time.

This was more humiliating, it was like watching a an older brother play his little brother, just taking it easy, and not even playing hard. But the little brother just can't do anything.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

This was more humiliating, it was like watching a an older brother play his little brother, just taking it easy, and not even playing hard. But the little brother just can't do anything.

I meant in terms of score line.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

On reflection...
I also learnt
1) Steve Bould is going to have no say while Wenger is still in charge - particularly on the how the back four lines up - does anyone think for a second he'd put Santos in there? Nope Bouldy knows what a defender should look like - should have played the kid Mead that looked like he had some heart in our comeback against Reading.
2) Wenger needs to call it a day at the end of this season - not that I am not grateful but I think he needs to just call it.
3) Podolski is being nullified to cover a suspect left back
4) In recent games Oxlade Chamberlain has been very subdued - no rampaging runs at defenders - just poor attempted crosses to no one - has it been coached out of him already...very disappointing start to the season after so much promise.
5) Some players are squad players and good substitutes to bring on...Ramsey is in this category at the moment.
6) Wenger know's he has lost Walcott and with him goes our biggest goal threat
7) Alex Ferguson's post match talk was only focused on how much more they should have beaten us by....how we have fallen since moving from Highbury
8) We should have found a way to expand highbury - since our move we have won nothing and lost every decent player in order to finance it and balance books
9) As much as I dislike the worm Dein and the fact he sold out to a billionaire rapist - he did a job while he was with us and at least earnt some of his pay packet - Gazidis has done nothing
10) Kroneke does not give two hoots about our club. PHW is the reason so many of our best players leave - he refuses to pay them the big money and keep them. Silly man.

Our club is a business these days - football is secondary

[Injury Time]

The purple kit really does look gash with red socks.
Other than that nothing new, 2 real chances in 96mins....Giroud

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Interesting story that it was Van Persie's idea to swap his shirt at half-time and not Santos purely asking for it...and VPersie did so knowing it was in full view of the supporters. I thought at the time it was a statement to the fans, 'I've joined a bigger club that wins and thanks but f u...' to me he knew what he was doing when he did that...and santos fell for it because he doesn't seem that bright. They were 5meters from the entrance to the tunnel - no need to do it in view of the fans. Santos' apology in the papers today means absolutely nothing to me, and I wouldn't be sorry not to see him in our shirt again.

I have a sneaky suspiscion Walcott is going to end up at Man Utd.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

I don't think so.

There was the predictable hand-wringing and wailing in the match thread as there always is even though before the game we were pretty much unanimous in thinking this was a nailed on certainty for a defeat.


Having been on this board some time I guess I shouldn't be surprised by such reactions but I think we all accept (although are not happy that) we're not serious competitors to the top 3 any more.

So...did we learn anything new from the game and result?

I learnt a few things, though maybe it's not all 'new'.
1) Santos is possibly the worst left back we've ever had
2) Santos asking for Van Persie's shirt pretty much showed how our team think.
3) Wenger hugging Van Persie at half time - showed he's only interested in personal achievements...ie, look at what a great manager I am at making a world class player and then selling him.
4) Vermaelen and Koscielny have both decided to turn into jelly at the same time
5) Mertesacker is a beast for us which I never expected to be fair -even though I always rated him, wasn't sure he'd cope with he prem pace, but has proved me wrong so far- best reader of the game
6) There was no point in buying a CF like Giroud if no one gives him anything to go on
7) There is no point in going back to tippy tappy football ala Fabregas - going no where fast - it's just so boring now
8) I preferred watching Swansea yesterday - thought their brand of football is 100x better than ours right now.
9) Unless something drastic happens soon - I think Wenger needs to consider his future...particularly if we fail to hold on to Walcott
10) Gazidis needs to get a new job - maybe in property - oh wait, that's what he spends his time doing anyways...sells highbury square flats.
11) I am less angry at Van Persie after yesterday - not because he didn't celebrate, but when Santos asked for his shirt - it really did show the direction of our club - and he was spot on.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I learnt a few things, though maybe it's not all 'new'.
1) Santos is possibly the worst left back we've ever had
2) Santos asking for Van Persie's shirt pretty much showed how our team think.
3) Wenger hugging Van Persie at half time - showed he's only interested in personal achievements...ie, look at what a great manager I am at making a world class player and then selling him.
4) Vermaelen and Koscielny have both decided to turn into jelly at the same time
5) Mertesacker is a beast for us which I never expected to be fair -even though I always rated him, wasn't sure he'd cope with he prem pace, but has proved me wrong so far- best reader of the game
6) There was no point in buying a CF like Giroud if no one gives him anything to go on
7) There is no point in going back to tippy tappy football ala Fabregas - going no where fast - it's just so boring now
8) I preferred watching Swansea yesterday - thought their brand of football is 100x better than ours right now.
9) Unless something drastic happens soon - I think Wenger needs to consider his future...particularly if we fail to hold on to Walcott
10) Gazidis needs to get a new job - maybe in property - oh wait, that's what he spends his time doing anyways...sells highbury square flats.
11) I am less angry at Van Persie after yesterday - not because he didn't celebrate, but when Santos asked for his shirt - it really did show the direction of our club - and he was spot on.

That Santo's think was weird he could of waited till after the game. Maybe he wanted to wipe his ass, at HT.