Match Reaction vs Bayern Munich (home).

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Still dont think they are leagues above us. May be a touch better with Aguero in it, but no way close to being considered way better than us.

Unless Aguero is in his beast mode form (about a couple of months a year), there's nowt much in it between our respective first elevens tbh.

Where they may have an advantage over us is that they have a deeper squad, thanks to them being able to keep 140 k a week players on the bench, something with our financial situation compared to theirs, we can't do. *cough Sagna cough*

I also don't think Pellegrini's as good a manager as Wenger though and additionally, like us in the past, their mentality isn't as strong and resolute as could be and can be prone to collapse when things go wrong ..... it's probably more of an issue for them considering that a lot of their team are just mercenaries.

[dostoy]

Fantastic result, I did'nt think it would happen.

We must be solid defensively far more often now in every match we play.

Hope Ramsey is ok and not out too long.

Well done Arsenal, keep it up.

[LDG]

I also don't think Pellegrini's as good a manager as Wenger though and additionally, like us in the past, their mentality isn't as strong and resolute as could be and can be prone to collapse when things go wrong ..... it's probably more of an issue for them considering that a lot of their team are just mercenaries.

See this is where we should be drumming it into our players every week. Convince them that it's not us that will collapse when things get tough, and that it's the other teams.

Confidence is not only about being cocksure when you win. It's also about believing you will pull yourself through when you're 1-0 down and everything is going against you. And if you do lose, that it's not through lack of effort or approach, but it was just not your day / the ref was a cunt etc.

It's all in the mentality (work), preparation (tactics) and on the pitch (quality/desire). The quality of the players isn't in doubt, and hasn't been on numerous occasions in the past (spending or not).

The one thing which may tip the balance is if we're running on empty at Christmas, with injuries, and Wenget decides not to strengthen.

It's in our hands (in the most part), fucking do it!

[Kano]

Our under-19's also beat Bayern a few hours before at Borehamwood, 2-0. Iwobi scored a screamer apparently.

They are in a similar Euro competition and play the same games as the first team, so will be travelling out with them to play Bayern and co too.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...andries-jonker

[fakeyank]

See this is where we should be drumming it into our players every week. Convince them that it's not us that will collapse when things get tough, and that it's the other teams.

Confidence is not only about being cocksure when you win. It's also about believing you will pull yourself through when you're 1-0 down and everything is going against you. And if you do lose, that it's not through lack of effort or approach, but it was just not your day / the ref was a cunt etc.

It's all in the mentality (work), preparation (tactics) and on the pitch (quality/desire). The quality of the players isn't in doubt, and hasn't been on numerous occasions in the past (spending or not).

The one thing which may tip the balance is if we're running on empty at Christmas, with injuries, and Wenget decides not to strengthen.

It's in our hands (in the most part), fucking do it!

[Kano]

See this is where we should be drumming it into our players every week. Convince them that it's not us that will collapse when things get tough, and that it's the other teams.

Confidence is not only about being cocksure when you win. It's also about believing you will pull yourself through when you're 1-0 down and everything is going against you. And if you do lose, that it's not through lack of effort or approach, but it was just not your day / the ref was a cunt etc.

It's all in the mentality (work), preparation (tactics) and on the pitch (quality/desire). The quality of the players isn't in doubt, and hasn't been on numerous occasions in the past (spending or not).

The one thing which may tip the balance is if we're running on empty at Christmas, with injuries, and Wenget decides not to strengthen.

It's in our hands (in the most part), fucking do it!

This is where the character of the team comes to the fore. Ballack was briefly talking about th Chelsea situation before the game, saying that they used to have 6/7 international captains in the dressing room, guys who could deal with the loudmouth cunt that is Mourinho, whereas now, they don't seem to have that backbone to fight back.

Those are the guys that will get you through the shit when it hits the fan. The literal and figurative giants we used to have in our team, scrapping out games when things aren't quite clicking together. They are the guys that inspire others around them and can keep confidence from hitting rock bottom. It's not something you can coach or instil, either you have it or you don't and it evolves organically. That's where buying in the right players comes into it and not just based on pure technical ability. Whether those personalities exist enough within this squad remains to be seen. Sometimes it isn't immediately apparent and this season will make or break this group of players I think.