Sunderland v Arsenal, Saturday 29th October, 12.30pm, SS1

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm just wondering why you're mentioning two up front when it didn't occur in this game, even when Giroud came on.

Because I've been mentioning it for two seasons.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

By the way what happened to Monreal? Injured or dropped? I missed the early coverage.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Game management is just one of those new Sky buzz-words doing the rounds. There's precisely zero reason to lay off now when we are currently in a goal difference race with the gypos. The reason it went 1-1 is because of the crapy mentality that sees us sit back when we get the advantage.

The reason it went 1-1 is because our finishing was dog poo, but of course in almost no situation should you be looking to see the game out at 1-0 with twenty five minutes left. I just don't think we were doing that.

Of course there are numerous instances I agree we shouldn't do it, but we have already lost three or four players in the last ten-eleven days to injury and when you have a three goal lead with ten minutes left no reason to rest some potentially weary legs.

I think trying to defend it out and sit deep for instance was ridiculous idea when we were 3-2 up at Anfield, but in this case at this point in the season you don't need to be worrying about winning the title on goal difference.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Because I've been mentioning it for two seasons.

I'm not sure we need advice on how to beat the pub teams.

[Niall_Quinn]

The reason it went 1-1 is because our finishing was dog poo, but of course in almost no situation should you be looking to see the game out at 1-0 with twenty five minutes left. I just don't think we were doing that.

Of course there are numerous instances I agree we shouldn't do it, but we have already lost three or four players in the last ten-eleven days to injury and when you have a three goal lead with ten minutes left no reason to rest some potentially weary legs.

I think trying to defend it out and sit deep for instance was ridiculous idea when we were 3-2 up at Anfield, but in this case at this point in the season you don't need to be worrying about winning the title on goal difference.

We're just not good at it and it's always a risk when we play that way. Why bother? And I don't mean we should be charging around the place diving in. I mean don't drop off, don't stop the press, do keep looking ahead for the pass, do keep making the runs. They know they aren't going to get any grief from the manager when they take their foot off the pedal. All that happens is he does his little bit handbrake routine on Sky.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm not sure we need advice on how to beat the pub teams.

Could have done with a bit to avoid those 2 points pissed away vs Boro.

[Niall_Quinn]

By the way what happened to Monreal? Injured or dropped? I missed the early coverage.

Don't know. What about Theo? Surely not injured again.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

We're just not good at it and it's always a risk when we play that way. Why bother? And I don't mean we should be charging around the place diving in. I mean don't drop off, don't stop the press, do keep looking ahead for the pass, do keep making the runs. They know they aren't going to get any grief from the manager when they take their foot off the pedal. All that happens is he does his little bit handbrake routine on Sky.

It's not a risk when you are playing Sunderland, it's November and you are 3 goals up

Basically at that point their morale was that of a dead child interfered with by a priest, who doesn't know sign to tell anyone what's happened to him.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Don't know. What about Theo? Surely not injured again.

Yep basically Walcott, Cazorla and Monreal all failed fitness tests to be avaliable for today

Long term who knows. Probably best we don't risk Walcott and Cazorla midweek (Monreal longer he's out for the better) and have them both in the team for Spurs.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's not a risk when you are playing Sunderland, it's November and you are 3 goals up

Basically at that point their morale was that of a dead child interfered with by a priest, who doesn't know sign to tell anyone what's happened to him.

I'm not talking about just this game. It's the mentality and the uniformity and predictability of it all. Don't stop playing when you have an advantage. Press it. And by the time we were 4-1 up we weren't playing Sunderland any more, we were playing the gypos.