Good Bye RVP!

[BOBN]

Actually I remember a thread ages ago where I was saying Song was a limited player going forward and you and JF (I think) were saying he is very good at it. Right now, I fully concede that point - Song needs to go forward because he's actually pretty damn good as a creative player. I think what we have now is solid - arteta, Ramsey and song seem to be attacking and defending equally.

yep, ramsey seems so and arteta and wilshere definitely are more rounded players and we will be better for it. we already seem much more solid now players have settled.

if we can add a stellar, specialist number 10 type player such as a gotze, erikksen, ozil type we will be flying (rather than shunting a CM forward who wasnt a natural in that role like we did with cesc simply because he couldnt cut it anywhere else)

we need to buy that player in january to convince RVP to sign. nothing else will do imo.

[Power n Glory]

so who sat back when united flew out the traps earlier this season with anderson and cleverly in the middle? there was no designated player, it was just two midfielders willing and able to do their fair share. if cesc was unable to do that then that tells you all you need to know.

"don't kid yourselves, it's a very simple game football" - Roy Keane

Wing play. They had Nani and Young bombing down the wings creating chances. They focus on attacking down the wings. We don't. Or didn't shall I say. The team had no balance, especially when we're not playing with natural wingers. Eboue and Walcott are typical examples. We had games where Diaby and Eboue were playing on the flanks or Hleb. These guys aren't direct tricky wingers that scare wingbacks into backing off. Man U had that with Ronaldo and they've gone back to that with Nani and Young. Clevery and Anderson aren't the playmakers. You keep talking about things being simple but it's not, otherwise we wouldn't have these problems.

[Power n Glory]

Actually I remember a thread ages ago where I was saying Song was a limited player going forward and you and JF (I think) were saying he is very good at it. Right now, I fully concede that point - Song needs to go forward because he's actually pretty damn good as a creative player. I think what we have now is solid - arteta, Ramsey and song seem to be attacking and defending equally.

I don't know about arshavin really...I just think it's more to do with him rather than management...just doesn't have the hunger. Irony, IMO.

Yes, Song is underrated on here. His technique, ball retention skills and passing have been overlooked for a while. I don't have a problem with Song going forwards from time to time and I've always thought Wenger has given him the freedom to do that, but I often see Ramsey and Arteta struggling to get the ball forwards when they receive the ball from a deep position. Ramsey does reckless stuff when back there, like blind passes or passing along the ground across field and I’ve seen Arteta get caught in possession a few times or make wayward passes. Song rarely gets caught out like that and he’s the better of the two at collecting the ball from the defence and moving it forwards. He has the passing range and composure to do that. That’s why I don’t want him too far forwards when we’ve got players further back struggling to get a hold of the game.

The one thing I can’t stand is when we have two sideways passing players struggling get the ball forwards to our most creative players and it results in them having to drop deep and out of position just to get a foothold in the game. Games where we had Diaby and Denilson playing with Cesc ahead could be a complete nightmare. Coupled with the fact that we had wingers that couldn’t attack the flanks and kept drifting all over the place…..it was headache.

We don’t teach positional discipline at Arsenal. Pep is going to have to drill that into Cesc because he wasn’t this mobile when he first arrived from Spain. Too much freedom causes confusion and that’s the problem we’ve had over the years. We’ve had too many players that didn’t have strict refined duties. Too many playmakers in the team trying to a find a role. This is why I like Walcott and Gervinho. Simple players. Walcott isn’t a natural winger, but he hugs the wing and looks to beat his man and exploit space. He’s not floating into the centre trying to play one twos every minute or looking to receive the ball so he can play a killer pass. Same for Gervinho. When he’s on the ball out wide, his first instinct is to take on his man and dribble. None of that simple pass, one two give and go nonsense, Rosicky, Hleb and Nasri kept on doing. We passed ourselves into circles. Now we’re looking more refined. RVP is getting there as well. He’s in and around the box more and making smart runs instead of looking for ball to feet situations.

[Tipsychubbs]

I agree that there is too much freedom and not enough positional discipline in this team, and its been a problem for years.

Flexibility and versatility in position switching is good from time to time, but its overdone in this team and seems to result in the midfield running around like headless chickens at times.

[Fist of Lehmann]

"don't kid yourselves, it's a very simple game football" - Roy Keane

That may or may not be true.

But how much weight does the tactical philosophising of Roy Keane carry?

Ipswich Town might argue - not much.

[Power n Glory]

We'll have to agree to disagree there, mate. I didn't say Cesc played crap. Neither did I say that he didn't try. He is one of the world's best MF's and he was always going to offer more than many of our mediocre players. He is also pretty professional. But for me it was blatantly obvious from more or less the get go last season that his heart wasn't in it. He was way below what he was capable of and it didn't take a rocket scientist even at the time - let alone with hindsight - to figure out why. I think that his lack of commitment to the club was part of the reason why we imploded and I think that ultimately he stabbed us in the back.

A bit harsh to put that whole season on Cesc’s back. The team imploded because of that Carling Cup final and serious defensive errors that goes from the front to back. He had an injury hit season. Talk of him not being fully committed started the season before that as well. The season where he played on with a broken leg against Barca and scored 19 goals. When you have a stop and start sort of season, it’s always hard to judge whether a player is performing at his best. It happens with all the players but because Cesc was linked with a move away from the club, we tend to think he’s distracted. Wenger always pays attention to the psychological side of football and knows injuries can effect the way a player plays the game. I sure he said Cesc was worried about getting injured again. It was the same for Walcott with his shoulders always popping out. It makes no sense for Cesc not to try his best when we had a chance of ending the trophy draught. He’s been at the club way too long. It’s the same for Walcott, RVP and Song. They still have outstanding contract issues, but nobody questions their commitment because we’re winning and they haven’t been heavily linked with a move away from the club.

[BOBN]

That may or may not be true.

But how much weight does the tactical philosophising of Roy Keane carry?

Ipswich Town might argue - not much.

“Football is a simple game made complicated by people who should know better.” - Bill Shankly

Happy?

[Fist of Lehmann]

“Football is a simple game made complicated by people who should know better.” - Bill Shankly

Happy?

Very happy.

Also, Roy Keane is a cunt.

[Cripps_orig]

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has hinted that he might remain a Gunner, amid speculation concerning where his future may lie.

The 28-year-old has 18 months left on his existing contract and is yet to come to an agreement over an extension to his stay at the Emirates Stadium, with some reports pointing towards interest from Barcelona and Manchester City.

Now the Dutchman has claimed that his family has settled down well in London, with the former Feyenoord man having been at the club since 2004.

"We love the life in London and I enjoy watching my kids grow up here," Van Persie told reporters. "They grow up like the English kids with good manners and values of England.

"The place where we live, just outside the city, is fantastic. We have everything we want.

"The English people are so incredibly polite where I live. People are nice here. That makes life a real pleasure.

"My children have become more English than Dutch. They have taken up the culture and values of England.

"It makes me melt at times when I see how well my children are doing here. When Shaqueel has half-term with school, he does not want to go back to the Netherlands any more."

Van Persie had a stellar 2011. He scored 35 Premier League goals during the course of the calendar year, beating Thierry Henry's Arsenal record but falling one goal short of equalling the Premier League record held by Alan Shearer.

His final goal of 2011 was against Queens Park Rangers on New Year's Eve. As the only goal of the match it ensured the Gunners took the three points and moved into the top four of the Premier League for the first time this season.

The Arsenal captain attributed his outstanding performances during the year to his desire to repay the fans for their support.

"It is the biggest compliment I could wish for," Van Persie added. "Arsenal fans are real lovers of the game.

"They don't miss anything in the stadium and are there for the team and the individual players.

"I have to admit I love banners like 'We don't need Batman, we've got Robin' and stuff like that.

"I also love it when I run on to the pitch and I hear the entire crowd roar. What bigger compliment could I wish for as a player?

"At Arsenal, the fans so want me to do well. And that gives me a kick. That's what I do it for. As a thank you, I want to give them so much in return on the pitch."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...g-with-arsenal

Not necessarily a good thing

[Coney]

“Football is a simple game made complicated by people who should know better.” - Bill Shankly

Shanks.