Who Will Win The League - 2

[Power n Glory]

Wenger doesn't know what he's doing. Stumbled upon the Cazorla Coquelin duo through injury and having no other options. Coquelin had to be recalled remember and I don't understand why someone that can play DM as well as wingback was loaned out. The pairing made a huge difference to how our season ended and why we've been able to challenge this year. I don't get how he can see these players in training and not know where they should be best played for this team.

If he had all players available to him we'd never see that duo paired in the middle. Example, when we took that 6-0 beating at Stamford Bridge, he had Oxlade Chamberlain starting as CM with Arteta. Cazorla as Attacking mid and Rosicky on the right wing! Rosicky is another player very influential as CM so why in the world has he got Ox and Rosicky in reverse roles? What's the reasoning? That's two very good ball players that can dictate the game from deep available but he chose to play Ox as CM for a massive game. Why?

When we lost 3-0 to Everton, he starts with Arteta and Flamini as the duo, Rosicky as attacking mid and Cazorla playing on the right wing. We've had plenty of games where Flamini and Arteta duo failed and if both fit an available, I doubt we'd see the end of that disastrous duo. He really doesn't know what he's doing. We're seeing the same mistakes this season. We bought Kallstrom that season as well. Similar to us buying Moh. A pointless signing.

[Niall_Quinn]

Kallstrom, Sanogo and Elmo are all indicative of this happy families culture. Don't buy competitive threats, buy second rate cover that won't upset anyone and will be delighted to warm the bench because it's London, it's Arsenal. No headaches for anyone. No value to the team but at least everyone is smiling. In the end these guys all play anyway because we are always on the cusp of the next injury crisis. Flamini only turned up for a bit of keep fit. He must be laughing his bollocks off at how things have worked out for him. But, you know, he keeps Ozil happy so it's worth it.

As for Ox the central midfielder, well Wenger is so clever that he sees and knows stuff no ordinary fan will ever see. You really need to have made 20,000 substitutions to appreciate what the ball losing, can't pass Ox can do for us in the middle.

[Letters]

City was the last time we played well too.

We've struggled in every match since.

Wenger just doesn't know how to balance his team.....we're waiting for him to stumble upon a new fix....which will probably happen with a few games to go, and start us off to a flyer next season, before we lose players to injury and the whole mess starts over again.

But what has be particularly done difference since the City game?
A few days later we went to Southampton and got battered, it can't have been that different a side.
I don't buy it's pressure - there was pressure on the City game, there's pressure on every game really to different degrees.
Right now we are looking like a very mediocre side, bereft of ideas. But this is pretty much the same group of players who bear City comfortably and looked like title contenders.

[selassie]

But what has be particularly done difference since the City game?
A few days later we went to Southampton and got battered, it can't have been that different a side.
I don't buy it's pressure - there was pressure on the City game, there's pressure on every game really to different degrees.
Right now we are looking like a very mediocre side, bereft of ideas. But this is pretty much the same group of players who bear City comfortably and looked like title contenders.

Preparation?

It's clearly evident we go into games against the so called "inferior" opposition totally unprepared. We have no plan, no tactics and no desire.

It was evident on Sunday and was evident against Southampton when they mauled us. Other factors come into play but the way we are setup and tactically prepared has a huge bearing on certain games IMO.

We should be setup and prepared like we were for the Barca & Man City game for the rest of the season.

We are not good enough to turn up and win against opposition in PL.

[Power n Glory]

Kallstrom, Sanogo and Elmo are all indicative of this happy families culture. Don't buy competitive threats, buy second rate cover that won't upset anyone and will be delighted to warm the bench because it's London, it's Arsenal. No headaches for anyone. No value to the team but at least everyone is smiling. In the end these guys all play anyway because we are always on the cusp of the next injury crisis. Flamini only turned up for a bit of keep fit. He must be laughing his bollocks off at how things have worked out for him. But, you know, he keeps Ozil happy so it's worth it.

As for Ox the central midfielder, well Wenger is so clever that he sees and knows stuff no ordinary fan will ever see. You really need to have made 20,000 substitutions to appreciate what the ball losing, can't pass Ox can do for us in the middle.

It's totally nuts giving him a chance to play that role. There was nothing in his game to suggest he's a tidy passer and distributor. But on the other hand, certain players that should have played as AM or CM were never given a chance.

[Niall_Quinn]

But what has be particularly done difference since the City game?
A few days later we went to Southampton and got battered, it can't have been that different a side.
I don't buy it's pressure - there was pressure on the City game, there's pressure on every game really to different degrees.
Right now we are looking like a very mediocre side, bereft of ideas. But this is pretty much the same group of players who bear City comfortably and looked like title contenders.

There are so many things he's doing wrong and I think all of them have been discussed in detail. So many things.

Take a recent example. He starts Welbeck and Walcott against Utd. Then he deploys tactics that nullify both. I'm reaching the stage where I wonder is it deliberate. How can you have Walcott up top and then (try to, because we didn't manage it) play a tight and short game in front of the opposition back four? Tip, tap, tip, tap, sideways, backwards, sloooooooow.

61% possession

You have Walcott wandering into the centre (and giving the ball away) just to get a touch. Walcott is good at one thing. Stretching defences with his pace. So when you see him running backwards towards OUR fucking goal to take a short pass and then lay it off BACKWARDS because the defender has easily tracked him you know there's a fool in charge. That ball should go over the top of that defender every time, with Walcott breezing past using his pace. Otherwise don't have him on the pitch because he can't do anything else.

Welbeck saves the fool's arse with a last minute header against Leicester. The guy is pumped. Ready for action. Back after a long layoff. Get him in the middle, don't stick him on the wing. Welbeck is good in the air, he has good tight control, he's unpredictable. Himself and Theo wide is a potentially dangerous combo. Or if you want to play Welbeck wide then play Bif too, straight down the middle. Be ambitious. 4-3-3 against a shite Utd team, why not?

4-6-0 tip-tap-tip-tap-tip-tap-backwards-sideways-hoof-lose it-scramble-concede-tip-tap-tip-tap-sideways-backwards...

You have to account for the opposition. When you beat the gypos and then get slaughtered by Soton all it means is your repetitive, unimaginative Plan A can sometimes work but is sometimes desperately exposed. And then there's the fact Wenger has no respect for teams he considers to be beneath him. He's always been like this, criticising and blaming teams with a tenth of his resources for defending, as if it is a crime. Every compliment he pays to smaller teams is double edged. "They were very spirited in defence, 10 men behind the ball!"

[Kano]

But what has be particularly done difference since the City game?
A few days later we went to Southampton and got battered, it can't have been that different a side.
I don't buy it's pressure - there was pressure on the City game, there's pressure on every game really to different degrees.
Right now we are looking like a very mediocre side, bereft of ideas. But this is pretty much the same group of players who bear City comfortably and looked like title contenders.

Playing against City is enough to motivate the players. You really shouldn't have to say much to the players to have their heads in the right place to want to perform and bust a gut on the pitch.

We've looked mediorce since November but we've just had enough to keep ticking along in most instances but look at our form across the season and it hasn't be consistent enough to sustain a real challenge or look as good as either Leicester or Tottenham. They've both lost half the games and scored more for a reason.

Let's not forget that City have been terribly patchy this season too, so while it was a big game, we did not beat a top level City, or Man Utd for that matter. So yes the pressure has been there for these 'big' games and we've done well on occasion (also against Bayern at home) but the real contest is won against the mid-table/smaller teams. The players have to be prepared to be up for this games every week, that is where the real work of the manager is earned. Especially away from home now. The current ratio of away wins in the Prem is at the highest it has ever been and I think this applies to European leagues too.

[Power n Glory]

There are so many things he's doing wrong and I think all of them have been discussed in detail. So many things.

Take a recent example. He starts Welbeck and Walcott against Utd. Then he deploys tactics that nullify both. I'm reaching the stage where I wonder is it deliberate. How can you have Walcott up top and then (try to, because we didn't manage it) play a tight and short game in front of the opposition back four? Tip, tap, tip, tap, sideways, backwards, sloooooooow.

61% possession

You have Walcott wandering into the centre (and giving the ball away) just to get a touch. Walcott is good at one thing. Stretching defences with his pace. So when you see him running backwards towards OUR fucking goal to take a short pass and then lay it off BACKWARDS because the defender has easily tracked him you know there's a fool in charge. That ball should go over the top of that defender every time, with Walcott breezing past using his pace. Otherwise don't have him on the pitch because he can't do anything else.

Welbeck saves the fool's arse with a last minute header against Leicester. The guy is pumped. Ready for action. Back after a long layoff. Get him in the middle, don't stick him on the wing. Welbeck is good in the air, he has good tight control, he's unpredictable. Himself and Theo wide is a potentially dangerous combo. Or if you want to play Welbeck wide then play Bif too, straight down the middle. Be ambitious. 4-3-3 against a shite Utd team, why not?

4-6-0 tip-tap-tip-tap-tip-tap-backwards-sideways-hoof-lose it-scramble-concede-tip-tap-tip-tap-sideways-backwards...

You have to account for the opposition. When you beat the gypos and then get slaughtered by Soton all it means is your repetitive, unimaginative Plan A can sometimes work but is sometimes desperately exposed. And then there's the fact Wenger has no respect for teams he considers to be beneath him. He's always been like this, criticising and blaming teams with a tenth of his resources for defending, as if it is a crime. Every compliment he pays to smaller teams is double edged. "They were very spirited in defence, 10 men behind the ball!"

Against Utd, I still don't know who was officially playing as striker. I don't think the players know either.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959844/Live

Compare the heat maps and touches of Walcott and Welbeck you'll see it's all over the shop. I'd see Walcott central one minute then I'd see Danny there. It was some interchanging BS that had me confused and I wouldn't be surprised if the players were confused. It's gutless from Wenger because he has two wide players that play wide but both want to be striker and he's done some 'take it in turns' bullshit. It's bad coaching. Coming up with a silly compromise just like his wide striker/poacher fascination. Gives license to to play closer to the striker but neglect his duties as a winger. These players will end up like Podolski and Wiltord if they allow Wenger to fashion out such a role for their careers. Nobody will know how to use them if they ever leave Arsenal.

[Niall_Quinn]

Against Utd, I still don't know who was officially playing as striker. I don't think the players know either.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959844/Live

Compare the heat maps and touches of Walcott and Welbeck you'll see it's all over the shop. I'd see Walcott central one minute then I'd see Danny there. It was some interchanging BS that had me confused and I wouldn't be surprised if the players were confused. It's gutless from Wenger because he has two wide players that play wide but both want to be striker and he's done some 'take it in turns' bullshit. It's bad coaching. Coming up with a silly compromise just like his wide striker/poacher fascination. Gives license to to play closer to the striker but neglect his duties as a winger. These players will end up like Podolski and Wiltord if they allow Wenger to fashion out such a role for their careers. Nobody will know how to use them if they ever leave Arsenal.

Ramsey was striker.

[Globalgunner]

Under almost any other manager currently in the EPL, this team is good enough to win this league. The problem is Wenger is dedicated solely to this stagnant turgid method of play that cannot deliver the required results irrespective of the players. Give Wenger the WC winning teams of any vintage and they wouldnt win anything following his directions. They would only win it if they completely ignored his tip tap BS.

Realistically I believe we need to make the atmosphere at the stadium unbearable for his, this and next season. Hopefully he will get the message and leave. In essence we have to wait him out, if not hound him out.