Post match v Southampton

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

As I said before, this is a game about integration and seeing who can fit into the first team. We're not a team that plays with wingers that stay wide and drastically altering our game for the B team just to get through to the next round.

If this were a CL game and we're stuck for answers against a stubborn team, I'd agree. But these cup games have always been used to see who on the fringes can make the step into the first team.

The point is it wouldn't just be for the B Team it would be using the B Team as an experimental specimen for a Plan B

You can lump as many kids you want into a side to test their readiness but it seems pointless unless you can set up in a way that can play to the strengths of the unit and find a way of integrating them into the first team

It's not like I've never said we should employ pace to get in behind the defence in first team games, I've constantly said it and to be fair sometimes we do but it never seems to happen often enough, we might try it once or twice and then end up trying to thread a pass through the eye of a needle in a congested centre.

[Power n Glory]

The point is it wouldn't just be for the B Team it would be using the B Team as an experimental specimen for a Plan B

You can lump as many kids you want into a side to test their readiness but it seems pointless unless you can set up in a way that can play to the strengths of the unit and find a way of integrating them into the first team

It's not like I've never said we should employ pace to get in behind the defence in first team games, I've constantly said it and to be fair sometimes we do but it never seems to happen often enough, we might try it once or twice and then end up trying to thread a pass through the eye of a needle in a congested centre.

What's the point of building a Plan B blueprint with the second stringers when it's needed for the first team?

Wenger is a poor coach but the loss reflects badly on the players also. That's the new bit of information to take away from the game. We already know Wenger won't adjust his tactics but it would have been good to at least hear about a good performance from one of the players.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

What's the point of building a Plan B blueprint with the second stringers when it's needed for the first team?

Wenger is a poor coach but the loss reflects badly on the players also. That's the new bit of information to take away from the game. We already know Wenger won't adjust his tactics but it would have been good to at least hear about a good performance from one of the players.

I never once said it doesn't reflect badly on the players, but ultimately as much as they do have to look at themselves you have to question why if you play two different sets of players you end up with the same fetid stool.

And why wouldn't you experiment with changing the system up in a league cup game as well as changing the personnel?. Like I say I'm not keen on playing first team lets twice in a week if it can be avoided and I believe it can be avoided if a manager can set up the B team to play in a way to beat a team like Southampton.
You are positing that the team sent out were incapable of beating Southampton, I'm saying not only could they have but even just some tactical tweaking and a basic game plan could have made all the difference.

[Goonermerree]

We've won two trophies in eleven years, who are we to say that this cup is meaningless, with bigger fish to fry. We don't even have a frying pan!

[Power n Glory]

I never once said it doesn't reflect badly on the players, but ultimately as much as they do have to look at themselves you have to question why if you play two different sets of players you end up with the same fetid stool.

And why wouldn't you experiment with changing the system up in a league cup game as well as changing the personnel?. Like I say I'm not keen on playing first team lets twice in a week if it can be avoided and I believe it can be avoided if a manager can set up the B team to play in a way to beat a team like Southampton.
You are positing that the team sent out were incapable of beating Southampton, I'm saying not only could they have but even just some tactical tweaking and a basic game plan could have made all the difference.

We already know that Wenger has his flaws. That's not new information. The surprise to me is the lack of quality and depth from the bench. As for systems and tactics, there is a reason why clubs try to have their reserve and youth teams training to the same philosophy and tactics.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

So yeah with the news today that Santi has to undergo an operation and will be out for at least three months and with Elneny hobbling off yesterday hello inevitable winter injury crisis.

And with Wilshere out on loan (with no recall option) we don't have anyone who can dictate the game from midfield. I fully expect our play to become even more turgid than it has been in November.

[Kano]

Elneny had the shits I think, not an ankle injury.

[Gooner23]

Bizarre decison to play him then.

Xhaka needs a run in the side now. With either Elneny or Coq alongside him.

I wasn't against a bit of rotation (Sanchez definitely needed a rest) but Wenger went too far. Ox should have started on the right and likes of Ozil and Theo could have been on the bench. The first round is for the youngsters, not a QF.

But I'm with others that say the players need to have a look at themselves. Plenty of experience out there still and they just didn't perform.

[Globalgunner]

Bizarre decison to play him then.

Xhaka needs a run in the side now. With either Elneny or Coq alongside him.

I wasn't against a bit of rotation (Sanchez definitely needed a rest) but Wenger went too far. Ox should have started on the right and likes of Ozil and Theo could have been on the bench. The first round is for the youngsters, not a QF.

But I'm with others that say the players need to have a look at themselves. Plenty of experience out there still and they just didn't perform.

Yes they did. They played to the style and methods that we are very used to. They played the same way the senior team plays. The only difference is that Sanchez was not playing to do what others cannot seem to do. Put the ball in the net. We are a team who even with Sanchez has averaged 3 shots (i guess) in each game. This is what we do. Players built and trained for meaningless possession. I can confidently predict that we will not win any game that Sanchez does not play in.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yes they did. They played to the style and methods that we are very used to. They played the same way the senior team plays. The only difference is that Sanchez was not playing to do what others cannot seem to do. Put the ball in the net. We are a team who even with Sanchez has averaged 3 shots (i guess) in each game. This is what we do. Players built and trained for meaningless possession. I can confidently predict that we will not win any game that Sanchez does not play in.

Hope that's not true because Clouseau has plans to bench him. Apparently a bloke who's injured so relaxes by going to the beach to do intensive workouts, a bloke who almost has his ankle broken but plays on and wins the Copa, a bloke who has a hamstring injury and pitches up the next week to score against Uruguay, a bloke who demands to play, runs his bollocks off every game and needs to be sedated to sit still for a minute - well he needs a winter break. According to the inspector.