We need better defensive coaching and they need to work on set piece situations (both offensively and defensively) more in training. Whether that will happen...well, I'm not confident but he has acknowledged it's a problem so we'll see.Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Who said we needed a radical change this summer? Others may have said that but I don't think we do. Better defensive organisation and some balls and we're pretty much there.
Wenger never fails to acknowledge where we go wrong but at the same time when he is faced with criticism of the issue in discussion, he normally comes out with sugar coated comments like these. Possibly because he has decided to put faith in the flops again or he cannot find/afford outside improvements, so I personally find these comments worrying but unsurprising. We geared up for a summer of change but I don't believe anything of that sort will happen, hopefully I'm wrong.
Oh please Wenger, not conceding goals from open play has'nt nothing to do with the defense. It's the fact that they keep possession better than any other team in the league. Lets get real whenever their opponents have any little spell of possession it's calamity back their, and Vermaelan being back makes no difference, he's just an average defender who has manager to fool people with his "desire" and hollywood tackles.
Totally agree, and if we lose Cesc and Nasri then there will be even more pressure on the defence. As we know, they won't be able to handle it, they never can. As for the current goons we have at the back, good players? He must be insane, apart from TV who is an average to above average defender based on 1 year's work (I think we give him more credit because his attitude is head and shoulders above most of the others) the rest are shite. They demonstrated how shite they are when the chips were down, they completely collapsed - particularly Djourou who ended the season playing like a schoolboy. If we go in with this lot again then the season ends for us when the first match kicks off. Sure, we'll have to go through the motions of 50 odd games but it's a certain bet there won't be anything to show for it. I struggle to think of a reason why Wenger is so against having a solid defence.
Für eure Sicherheit
This isn't a problem exclusive to last season. Wenger said we had a problem with set pieces a while back when we had Toure and Gallas playing. You don't think we've been practicing since then? That season he said he thought height was the problem and brought on TV, not exactly the tallest defender, but we still had defensive problems and were getting opened up. Last season with the new additions was no different.
Good coaching can sort this out but we've had many attempts to sort this and Wenger seems to think it's a concentration and psychological problem rather than technical because he thinks the players are good enough. He has to change his coaching methods or coaching staff but there is no evidence of that happening especially with his comments about being an offensive side. We've had years of practice and the problems still persists. Gallas, Toure and Senderos played alongside better players and actually had experience of winning cup finals and grinding out results to win titles but we couldn't get them working as a solid unit either.
Without an outside influence stepping in to look at the way we defend, I can't see much changing. When Adams and Keown were getting old and after we had done our first double under Wenger, we had defensive problems with set pieces and Wenger bought rubbish like Stepanovs. When we bought Campbell, we won the title in his first season and we looked solid on defence again. Wenger should buy and English defender because we've never been successful under him without one.
Last edited by Power n Glory; 15-07-2011 at 06:16 AM.
Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager and WUMming legend
He's gonna get lynched.
Ok so it's another pat on the back for Wenger from you for coming out with some hollow words then.
Fair enough, IMO actions speak louder than work, we need new defenders and a decent coach...this defence lacks the necessary quality and leadership.
You say I give Wenger a hard time, but you do the opposite constantly finding reasons to excuse his actions and inability to address problem issues. At the end of last season you had no choice but to admit he'd blown it, because let's face it saying anything would have looked ridiculous.
interesting info
http://www.soccerblog.com/2011/06/he...ssarily-re.htmKolo Toure is a good example. In his last season (2008-09) at Arsenal, the side conceded just 12 set piece goals as Toure cleared the ball 129 times, more than any player in the present squad. With Sol Campbell as partner in 2006, the Gunners only gave up 9. Campbell was already 30 years old and Toure five years less. This segues us to crucial aspect of set piece defending - it is a collective effort where each trusts the other to stick to their assignment. In the NFL defensive breakdowns are aptly called "blown coverage". Much of Arsenal's woes can be pointed to someone who forgot to do their job.
The best in the business Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have played five seasons together with the former close to 30 and his partner two years older. After this time spent together they epitomize discipline and focus.
Sticking Thomas Vermaelen with a raw 6' 6" centre back is not going to solve matters. Going to the French Ligue for a cut rate bargain is not going to solve the problem of experience and the learning curve. What you need is someone who gives you all these qualities in one package and proven themselves at the highest level. That someone should be a Brede Hangeland type with stats like 424 headed clearances topping the league. Fulham conceded just 10 set piece goals, the fewest in the league. That 13 goal difference could have been the difference between 4th place and the title. Therein lies the solution.
yet he did say in 2008
I believe that we have more a size problem than quality in our defending problem,' 'Wenger said. 'Our centre backs are not very tall. I don't know what we can do. It's not only centre backs who defend. As a team we are a bit short.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1S9yLM5Cr
Last edited by Kano; 15-07-2011 at 08:16 AM.
No. He's just said what's obvious. He doesn't deserve huge credit for that, but he doesn't deserve criticism either.
I agree with what he said, seems like you do too.
Nope. Again, I've quite clearly said he should have been sacked for last season's collapse. But I'm not going to keep having digs at him when I agree with that he says.You say I give Wenger a hard time, but you do the opposite constantly finding reasons to excuse his actions and inability to address problem issues
If you think coaching can sort out the problem (as do I) then you surely think the players are good enough too (as do I).
Whether he'll do anything about it this time....*sigh*, well I'm not holding my breath.
But I'm not going to take another opportunity to have a pop at him when I basically agree with what he says, that's just silly.
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