yes exactly, i qute enjoyed seeing us trying to score on the break v Brighton and we take a take that kind of pragmatic approach we used when winning the FAC we can get through this period.Originally Posted by Letters
There's no reason why we shouldn't do the same v Citeh either
I think with City that was a fait accompli regardless of who we had fit, the problem as I see it is that Odegaard would himself be the key cog in launching any kind of counter attack. However nil desperandum (apologies for the French and Latin it’s totally unacceptable) I think this is where Jorginho’s passing ability could be useful.
It was silly of us given Odegaard was kicked about by Brighton, not to send a sick note to the Norwegian national team but we are where we are.
Not sure, I'd have to watch back but at least one of them was a punt forward by Raya to either Havertz or Martinelli, not sure if Odegaard was involved in the other but we've plenty of players who can play a good ball forward
True, but playing that system is not just dependent on the goals you can score on the break but being able to get the ball out and play it forward even if that attack breaks down to relieve the pressure on your defenders.
For me this is feeling a bit like Karma for riding our luck with players - Saliba and Big Gabby; Saka, Odegard and Rice last season. Our squad looks exposed now for being too thin. We have failed to ensure we have adequate cover for Odegard - and even got rid of the 2 players with the profile to do so - ESR and Vieira. If past history is anything to go by, Odegard will bnow be out for weeks, and this could see our title challenge over by November. Bad times.
Not sure Arteta will trust Nwaneri to play the Odegard role while he is out - more likely he will drop Havertz into MF and play Jesus up front - if Jesus is now fit - is he?
There's an air of despondency around our club ATM.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
Not sure about Jesus - is he ever really fit thees days? we do seem to have a habit of picking up crocks
I actually have no aspirations for this season title-wise, as you say we've got away with it a bit over the last two season (Saliba injury in 2023-23 notwithstanding) and while I'm not as down on the transfer window as some, I do think one of ESR or Vieira had to stay, plus Arteta's refusal to rotate much spells doom with a squad as thin as this.
I'm trying to follow my own advice not to be obsessed by having to be perfect to better Citeh, but we have not clicked yet (and do not seem to have carried our form of last season into this one), and these key injuries (not to mention Rice's suspension for the NLD) are body blows for our thin squad. It's easy to start thinking that last season might be the high point for this team rather than something we are going to improve on...
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
There does seem to be amongst the fanbase but at the moment it seems to be largely based on what people think is going to happen rather than anything that has happened.
I’m not too worried about defensive cover as we have that coming out of our ears. But the totally unjust suspension of Rice, plus the injuries to Merino and Odegaard do bring my critique of buying too many defenders at the cost of neglecting other positions into sharp relief.
For the games against Spurs and City it’s about working out what’s more important, winning these games or not losing them and at this stage of the season I think it has to firmly be about the latter. I don’t think if we draw both games it would be fatal to our title aspirations, it would mean more that we remained unbeaten despite clear injury problems and managed to escape two of the hardest fixtures we will play this season. How long Odegaard will be out for is a matter for speculation at this stage, it’s fair to say he will miss the NLD and it would be foolish to risk him against Atalanta even if he was fit, beyond that who knows.
But really it’s going to have to be about safety first, get those two games done with and hopefully have as many players available as possible for the really tough week that’s happening in November (away at Newcastle, away at Inter and away at Chelsea back to back). Arguably our only really tough game on the road after Christmas is at Anfield, so if we keep ourselves by hook or by crook in contention possibly with an eye to January recruitment (dependent on financial circumstances, it’s hard to deny we spent a fuck load on players in the three windows between summer 2022 and summer 2023) we could be ok.
There’s no good time to have injury problems, but this is the worst fucking time. It doesn’t necessarily have to be fatal though
Well yes, that’s kind of obvious given we’ve only played three games and are unbeaten
The sense of despondency is that we are having to play extremely hard away fixtures back to back with key players missing. Frankly my attitude is if we draw both those games that would be an excellent showing (and if i’m honest given we are in September and not April, that would have been my view before we lost Merino, Rice and Odegaard)
It’s fair to say though, I’m not looking forward to these games. Not one bit
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote