Match Reaction vs Man Utd (home).

[IBK]

I heard an ex pro recently(ish) quite vociferously opine that he didn't care what his manager did on the touch line during a game.....I remember being particularly struck by the view as I was expecting him to say the opposite. I can't for the life of me remember who said it though...

I also note...and it is perhaps a pedantic obsevation, players often don't look their managers in the eye when they are talking if the game is in procession or they are about to come on, almost as if their manager is talking to themselves! Unless the manager is passing on specific 'tactical' instructions the player always seem to be somewhat in a 'zone'.


I cast my mind back to the familiar story of Wenger telling Pat Rice to shut up after he laid into the team at half time when we were down. They then sat in silence. Whatever you think about his actions on the touchline, he is definitely aware of the potential negative mental impact....

...and there's nothing to say that that ex pro was a universal example of how players respond, and I'm sure that many players do not 'zone out' when spoken to. In football, as in life, people are motivated and influenced in different ways. Its obvious that the likes of a Guardiola or a Mourinho (when at his best) - as well as countless other managers - influence their players' shape, and help them read the game and implement their tactics. To the extent that a manager is a coach - it seems obvious that tactical specialists can assist their teams during games.

As for Wenger - I'll meet you by referring you to those players who have spoken about Wenger 'losing it' in the dressing room while at Monaco. I don't doubt that maybe he now favours a different approach, and I mentioned above how I've heard that he stays on his backside because he doesn't want to pass on negative vibes. But what we are talking about is merely different management styles - and rarely is a single approach universally successful.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

...and there's nothing to say that that ex pro was a universal example of how players respond, and I'm sure that many players do not 'zone out' when spoken to. In football, as in life, people are motivated and influenced in different ways. Its obvious that the likes of a Guardiola or a Mourinho (when at his best) - as well as countless other managers - influence their players' shape, and help them read the game and implement their tactics. To the extent that a manager is a coach - it seems obvious that tactical specialists can assist their teams during games.

As for Wenger - I'll meet you by referring you to those players who have spoken about Wenger 'losing it' in the dressing room while at Monaco. I don't doubt that maybe he now favours a different approach, and I mentioned above how I've heard that he stays on his backside because he doesn't want to pass on negative vibes. But what we are talking about is merely different management styles - and rarely is a single approach universally successful.

I wasn't suggesting the example was universal or absolute....merely pointing out that in a scenario where I thought the player would respond to a manager pontificating on the touchline, he simply opined that it made no difference to him. That is to suggest, that, none of us really knows how rousing, positive or negative it is for any given player as the recipient.

I don't think there's much mileage in anyone generally getting overly critical about Wenger's lack of running around on the touchline, pointing, or cupping his hands and yelling in that stupid Owen Coyle way managers do that players often ignore anyway. Moreover, many often have a number 2 who do that kind of yelling. I personally like the idea that the duties are fluidly managed between Manager, assistant and captain and that so long that there is a balance emanating from the triumvirate, I'm not too concerned with who meters it out.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

There's not even a shadow of a doubt about it.

Well Theodore did say they had a special nice chat with cups of tea, crumpets and rich tea biscuits whilst they discussed how much they all wanted to win the game.

But in light of a little of what Letters sounds like he is saying.....the passing was so incisive and accurate that you can easily imagine a slight off day when one ball in a mazy 12 pass ping pong set play is slightly off or over hit, resulting in fewer goals and us relying on, or ruing the chance Ramsey gloriously missed.


Though it is worth mentioning that on days when it doesn't come off the effort can bridge the gap......as we have seen Sanchez be a perfect example of himself before his recent glut of goals.

[Niall_Quinn]

Well Theodore did say they had a special nice chat with cups of tea, crumpets and rich tea biscuits whilst they discussed how much they all wanted to win the game.

But in light of a little of what Letters sounds like he is saying.....the passing was so incisive and accurate that you can easily imagine a slight off day when one ball in a mazy 12 pass ping pong set play is slightly off or over hit, resulting in fewer goals and us relying on, or ruing the chance Ramsey gloriously missed.


Though it is worth mentioning that on days when it doesn't come off the effort can bridge the gap......as we have seen Sanchez be a perfect example of himself before his recent glut of goals.

The score would have been 7-0 if it had been one of those days where everything comes off. Ramsey, Ozil's second effort, Giroud and Ox. We missed more than we scored. Fortunately for Utd. You can understand Utd fans going on about how they won the second half 0-0 or how they let us win or how they picked the wrong team, etc, etc. We'd probably have been the same if the score was reversed. But it's odd when an Arsenal fan concludes we won it because the gods were smiling down. Doubly odd when he's arguing against other fans who make no secret of their desire to see Wenger depart and yet were rightfully generous with the praise for the manager's performance on Sunday. There's no need to make excuses for Wenger following that game. Yet the excuses are still coming.

[Letters]

But it's odd when an Arsenal fan concludes we won it because the gods were smiling down.

Ah. Just noticed that. Yep, that pretty much proves you haven't actually read or bothered to understand what I wrote.
Keep on building those straw men, it's so much easier to argue against that what I actually say, isn't it?

[Power n Glory]

Well Theodore did say they had a special nice chat with cups of tea, crumpets and rich tea biscuits whilst they discussed how much they all wanted to win the game.

But in light of a little of what Letters sounds like he is saying.....the passing was so incisive and accurate that you can easily imagine a slight off day when one ball in a mazy 12 pass ping pong set play is slightly off or over hit, resulting in fewer goals and us relying on, or ruing the chance Ramsey gloriously missed.


Though it is worth mentioning that on days when it doesn't come off the effort can bridge the gap......as we have seen Sanchez be a perfect example of himself before his recent glut of goals.

Yes, Theo did say that and I’ll come back to that point. But is it as simple as saying that things just went our way on the day? I can understand the point being made about not doing anything radical with our tactics, selection and so forth, but we have a history of losing these big games in the league or not showing up. So what was so different about that game and why did it all click? If we conclude the manager didn’t do anything special at all and the incentive came from the players and that spirit came from the players rallying before the game, again that doesn’t bode well for the manager. It goes back to that argument about being too passive when the team need a jump start. Where is the leadership coming from in these crunch games if it’s not coming from the manager? If we’re preparing for every single game in the exact same way, it shows why have often lost these crunch games and why we these sort of results against the big teams happen once in a blue moon.

[Power n Glory]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...redits-6592096

"I think, sometimes, you see this generation of players, they’re actually scared to go up to coaches and ask something.

“Going back to the question about when it clicked about going up front, that was one of the things Arsene wanted me to do – to be more aggressive on the pitch.

"And maybe he’s sensed that I’ve had more aggression.

“I actually said, ‘Do you want me to get stuck into people?’ That was my reaction. He said, ‘No, I’m not saying that’. He wanted me to be more aggressive, in terms of running at players, closing them down, tracking back, being there and in their faces.

This one is interesting. It’s funny hearing players are scared to ask other players and the manager for advice on how to improve their game. That one is odd. How can they develop if they don’t have that one on one?

Also, we have Theo specifically talking about being more aggressive and we definitely saw that on Sunday. Was there a meeting before the game with Wenger? I don’t know. But it looked as though Theo was more aggressive on Sunday and it didn’t go unnoticed by the fans.

[Letters]

Where is the leadership coming from in these crunch games if it’s not coming from the manager?

Historically I'd say it's come from the players, especially in the era when we had captains like Adams and Vieira. It's something we've been sadly lacking of late.
I don't think Wenger's ever been a great motivator or tactician, his biggest successes have come through good players and strong captains.

[alexander]

I don't think Wenger's ever been a great motivator or tactician, his biggest successes have come through good players and strong captains.

Weirdly he dont put much stock in a captain, he said in the past about everyone being `leaders on the pitch`. IMO the wrong way to things, I dont think you can underestimate what a player like PV4 or a Roy Keane can briing on the field. Its fine being a world class player, but in life there are always some that will do the bare minimum, and others that will kick on. Sometimes you need a player with real passion to win and drag a team on. I wouldnt say we have many players like that, personally I think Alexis would be that guy. Not only is his passion visible, but he has the minerals to back it up, he is a winner, he could win a game on his own.