Fixtures March 31st - Manchester City - Etihad Stadium - 3:30 Pm

Kick-Off

       Injuries                 Steve Gleiber



Get the Latest Post Go to the Bottom of Page It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:31 pm

All times are UTC


  


Reply to topic

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 106 guests

 
Post #509361  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:39 am 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Darren wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
Kirk Douglas one of the great actors. Probably one of the last of Hollywood’s golden generation. Loved his movies as a kid,

I am Spartacus

Google Kirk Douglas and Natalie Wood. Allegedly he raped her when she was a 16 year old. Proper assault too.


Read that, I have to say it seems a bit tenuous. Her sister said it was a big actor so everyone assumes it’s always been him. Really not enough to vilify him but if he did he’s a b****** nevertheless.

Everyone was far more rapey and noncey from the 50s to the 90s pretty much weren’t they ?

I watched the Netflix documentary “tell me who I am” the other night, it’s a Difficult watch but eye opening and at the end of it your left despairing for humanity


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509362  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:46 am 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Rich wrote:
Lallana is a free agent in the summer, he’s 31, fits the bill of the sort of creative, ball playing attacking midfielder we need. He has the high work rate and press from working with Klopp. If we need to push money in to other positions in the team he could be an ok short term free transfer


I’d blow our entire budget on a creative midfielder player. Maybe an Isco or similar.

We need somebody who can get the ball down and get the team playing even if it means sacrificing the purchase of a centre half


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509363  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:27 am 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:52 pm
Posts: 13487

TOP GUN wrote:
Rich wrote:
Lallana is a free agent in the summer, he’s 31, fits the bill of the sort of creative, ball playing attacking midfielder we need. He has the high work rate and press from working with Klopp. If we need to push money in to other positions in the team he could be an ok short term free transfer


I’d blow our entire budget on a creative midfielder player. Maybe an Isco or similar.

We need somebody who can get the ball down and get the team playing even if it means sacrificing the purchase of a centre half

I think so too. We have *%^@ all goals from midfield too. It wasn't that long ago we had players of the calibre of Cazorla, Ramsey, Rosicky etc. Players who would regularly chip in with goals. We have nothing like that and no one to help unlock teams.

_________________
There's a man who's been out sailing in a decade full of dreams


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509364  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:35 am 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:06 am
Posts: 16350

Bernard wrote:
kiwipete wrote:
:icon_scratch: :icon_scratch: NZ 25 Germany 0

Sounds like a rugby score. Wouldn’t be a football score.
And Peter has appointed himself ref and scorer. Var needs to check all of those.

_________________
Hamba kakuhle, Madiba


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509365  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:42 am 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:06 am
Posts: 16350

kiwipete wrote:
Darren wrote:
Google Kirk Douglas and Natalie Wood. Allegedly he raped her when she was a 16 year old. Proper assault too.


You'll also find Google spouting Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated Kennedy even though 61% of Americans think that is horsesh*t .

I've no idea whether that is true or false but plenty of young actresses were quite happy to use their bodies to make it in the movie business .
But it was an open secret that much of the casting-couch stuff was not voluntary. Top holywood dogs got away with it.

_________________
Hamba kakuhle, Madiba


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509366  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:46 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:04 am
Posts: 7361
Location: Townsville Australia

Decaf wrote:
Bernard wrote:
Sounds like a rugby score. Wouldn’t be a football score.
And Peter has appointed himself ref and scorer. Var needs to check all of those.

If it’s the same refs who do All Blacks games he has open slather

_________________
If this policy does not deliver then I would say we have to change it.
AW 150810


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509367  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:20 am 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Darren wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:

I’d blow our entire budget on a creative midfielder player. Maybe an Isco or similar.

We need somebody who can get the ball down and get the team playing even if it means sacrificing the purchase of a centre half

I think so too. We have *%^@ all goals from midfield too. It wasn't that long ago we had players of the calibre of Cazorla, Ramsey, Rosicky etc. Players who would regularly chip in with goals. We have nothing like that and no one to help unlock teams.


I’m not joking when I say this is the worst midfield I’ve ever seen in my Arsenal supporting life. Unable to form any pattern of play what so ever, retain or distribute the ball.

A fit Jack Wilshere or the ox look like gods compared to what we have currently.

The problem we have though is we are trying to still play a passing possession based game when we don’t have the players. We’d be better off trying to hit Lacazette direct. Lacazette has gone from playing on the shoulder of his centre back to dropping so deep he’s literally a false 9 midfield player. This is because he knows our players don’t have the distribution so he drops back to get involved.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509368  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 11:15 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
I’m not joking when I say this is the worst midfield I’ve ever seen in my Arsenal supporting life. Unable to form any pattern of play what so ever, retain or distribute the ball.

How many years have you been a fan Top Gun? Because Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow get my vote. I think our current midfield is miles better than those four, all of whom I see as candidates for my worst ever Arsenal team (Jensen doesn’t get in my worst ever team, but he is a candidate). I see the other three as stronger candidates and probably would be in the side.

The only other issue worth mentioning is Morrow’s position in the team. He played in midfield and at left back, equally bad in both. But apart from him I am struggling to think of another terrible left back. So I would probably have Morrow at left back, rather in midfield. However, for the purpose of naming my worst ever midfield from those who would have played together as midfielders, as Morrow did I’m naming him as one of my selections for the worst midfield.

In my view none of our contemporary midfielders get in my worst ever team.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509369  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:20 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
I’m not joking when I say this is the worst midfield I’ve ever seen in my Arsenal supporting life. Unable to form any pattern of play what so ever, retain or distribute the ball.

How many years have you been a fan Top Gun? Because Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow get my vote. I think our current midfield is miles better than those four, all of whom I see as candidates for my worst ever Arsenal team (Jensen doesn’t get in my worst ever team, but he is a candidate). I see the other three as stronger candidates and probably would be in the side.

The only other issue worth mentioning is Morrow’s position in the team. He played in midfield and at left back, equally bad in both. But apart from him I am struggling to think of another terrible left back. So I would probably have Morrow at left back, rather in midfield. However, for the purpose of naming my worst ever midfield from those who would have played together as midfielders, as Morrow did I’m naming him as one of my selections for the worst midfield.

In my view none of our contemporary midfielders get in my worst ever team.

I was around for hiller and Selley but they played more intermittently.

I’d definitely take the 1991 hillier over Xhaka by the way.

I’ve never witnessed a midfield or team like our current one who simply struggle to get the football up into the final third like we do. You can compare individual players but it’s more the output they are delivering if you get what I’m saying.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509370  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:41 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:33 pm
Posts: 1374

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
I’m not joking when I say this is the worst midfield I’ve ever seen in my Arsenal supporting life. Unable to form any pattern of play what so ever, retain or distribute the ball.

How many years have you been a fan Top Gun? Because Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow get my vote. I think our current midfield is miles better than those four, all of whom I see as candidates for my worst ever Arsenal team (Jensen doesn’t get in my worst ever team, but he is a candidate). I see the other three as stronger candidates and probably would be in the side.

The only other issue worth mentioning is Morrow’s position in the team. He played in midfield and at left back, equally bad in both. But apart from him I am struggling to think of another terrible left back. So I would probably have Morrow at left back, rather in midfield. However, for the purpose of naming my worst ever midfield from those who would have played together as midfielders, as Morrow did I’m naming him as one of my selections for the worst midfield.

In my view none of our contemporary midfielders get in my worst ever team.

This was the period when GG froze out Davis and Limpar. Incredible when you look at the above names. Put Davis and Limpar together with Jensen and the young Romford Pele and we'd have had a decent midfield.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509371  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:03 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
I was around for hiller and Selley but they played more intermittently.

I’d definitely take the 1991 hillier over Xhaka by the way.

I’ve never witnessed a midfield or team like our current one who simply struggle to get the football up into the final third like we do. You can compare individual players but it’s more the output they are delivering if you get what I’m saying.

I can’t agree with you over Hillier and Xhaka. For me Xhaka is comfortably better. I understand what you mean by the output of our current midfield. But we currently have a collection of central midfielders comprising, in alphabetical order, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles (though I accept he has mainly played at right back), Özil, Torreira, Willock and Xhaka.

As a group they include creativity, ball winning, work rate, passing ability and energy. If a more than decent, balanced midfield cannot be created out of that mob, then perhaps Arteta isn’t doing quite as good a job as many (including me) appear to think?


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509372  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:09 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

tomc wrote:
Bernard wrote:
How many years have you been a fan Top Gun? Because Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow get my vote. I think our current midfield is miles better than those four, all of whom I see as candidates for my worst ever Arsenal team (Jensen doesn’t get in my worst ever team, but he is a candidate). I see the other three as stronger candidates and probably would be in the side.

The only other issue worth mentioning is Morrow’s position in the team. He played in midfield and at left back, equally bad in both. But apart from him I am struggling to think of another terrible left back. So I would probably have Morrow at left back, rather in midfield. However, for the purpose of naming my worst ever midfield from those who would have played together as midfielders, as Morrow did I’m naming him as one of my selections for the worst midfield.

In my view none of our contemporary midfielders get in my worst ever team.

This was the period when GG froze out Davis and Limpar. Incredible when you look at the above names. Put Davis and Limpar together with Jensen and the young Romford Pele and we'd have had a decent midfield.

I wouldn’t argue with you point Tom. He froze out Williams too. But whatever the reason the four I mentioned became our midfield and in my view they were worse than the current mob, collectively and individually.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509373  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:12 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
I was around for hiller and Selley but they played more intermittently.

I’d definitely take the 1991 hillier over Xhaka by the way.

I’ve never witnessed a midfield or team like our current one who simply struggle to get the football up into the final third like we do. You can compare individual players but it’s more the output they are delivering if you get what I’m saying.

I can’t agree with you over Hillier and Xhaka. For me Xhaka is comfortably better. I understand what you mean by the output of our current midfield. But we currently have a collection of central midfielders comprising, in alphabetical order, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles (though I accept he has mainly played at right back), Özil, Torreira, Willock and Xhaka.

As a group they include creativity, ball winning, work rate, passing ability and energy. If a more than decent, balanced midfield cannot be created out of that mob, then perhaps Arteta isn’t doing quite as good a job as many (including me) appear to think?


You think they bring passing and creativity ? Really that’s nonsense Bernard

Whats the stat ? 4 assists and 1 goal for our 3 main midfielders this season? That’s appalling.

I just don’t think they are as good as you or many others think. Really I don’t.

Özil isn’t Özil anymore
Xhaka is still Xhaka that’s the problem
Ceballos is an odd one, a decent start but he seems something of a headless chicken
Guendouzi only plays well in cup games
Then you Have the hardworking Torreira and a couple of youngsters


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509374  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:15 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
Bernard wrote:
I can’t agree with you over Hillier and Xhaka. For me Xhaka is comfortably better. I understand what you mean by the output of our current midfield. But we currently have a collection of central midfielders comprising, in alphabetical order, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles (though I accept he has mainly played at right back), Özil, Torreira, Willock and Xhaka.

As a group they include creativity, ball winning, work rate, passing ability and energy. If a more than decent, balanced midfield cannot be created out of that mob, then perhaps Arteta isn’t doing quite as good a job as many (including me) appear to think?


You think they bring passing and creativity ? Really that’s nonsense Bernard

Whats the stat ? 4 assists and 1 goal for our 3 main midfielders this season? That’s appalling.

I just don’t think they are as good as you or many others think. Really I don’t.

Özil isn’t Özil anymore
Xhaka is still Xhaka that’s the problem
Ceballos is an odd one, a decent start but he seems something of a headless chicken
Guendouzi only plays well in cup games
Then you Have the hardworking Torreira and a couple of youngsters

Özil and Ceballos should bring passing and creativity. That is not nonsense. Xhaka can pass too.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509375  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:32 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:

You think they bring passing and creativity ? Really that’s nonsense Bernard

Whats the stat ? 4 assists and 1 goal for our 3 main midfielders this season? That’s appalling.

I just don’t think they are as good as you or many others think. Really I don’t.

Özil isn’t Özil anymore
Xhaka is still Xhaka that’s the problem
Ceballos is an odd one, a decent start but he seems something of a headless chicken
Guendouzi only plays well in cup games
Then you Have the hardworking Torreira and a couple of youngsters

Özil and Ceballos should bring passing and creativity. That is not nonsense. Xhaka can pass too.

1 goal and 4 assists. They can’t

Games are won and lost in midfield.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509376  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:50 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:33 pm
Posts: 1374

Bernard wrote:
tomc wrote:
This was the period when GG froze out Davis and Limpar. Incredible when you look at the above names. Put Davis and Limpar together with Jensen and the young Romford Pele and we'd have had a decent midfield.

I wouldn’t argue with you point Tom. He froze out Williams too. But whatever the reason the four I mentioned became our midfield and in my view they were worse than the current mob, collectively and individually.

And I wouldn't argue with yours either Bern! You can throw Jimmy Carter and McGoldrick in the mix too. They were getting games ahead of Limpar. I seem to remember being at Highbury and seeing us take on the then all conquering Man Utd with a midfield 4 of Carter, Selley, Morrow, McGoldrick. I think we got a draw out of it too, amazingly.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509377  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:55 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:33 pm
Posts: 1374

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
I was around for hiller and Selley but they played more intermittently.

I’d definitely take the 1991 hillier over Xhaka by the way.

I’ve never witnessed a midfield or team like our current one who simply struggle to get the football up into the final third like we do. You can compare individual players but it’s more the output they are delivering if you get what I’m saying.

I can’t agree with you over Hillier and Xhaka. For me Xhaka is comfortably better. I understand what you mean by the output of our current midfield. But we currently have a collection of central midfielders comprising, in alphabetical order, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles (though I accept he has mainly played at right back), Özil, Torreira, Willock and Xhaka.

As a group they include creativity, ball winning, work rate, passing ability and energy. If a more than decent, balanced midfield cannot be created out of that mob, then perhaps Arteta isn’t doing quite as good a job as many (including me) appear to think?

Surely we have to giver Arteta a bit longer than 6 weeks to judge what kind of job he's doing, good or bad?


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509378  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:30 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

George was hysterical with Anders Limpar.

I attended that game at the dell where Limpar set up all 4 goals with Wright getting 3 and Campbell getting one.

One was an exquisite chip for wright to volley home if i recall. A real beauty.

Next game. DROPPED :laughing7:

Limpar was one of the most under rated players in football I think. Outside of arsenal and Everton he never seemed to get many plaudits. He was superb


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509379  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:30 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
1 goal and 4 assists. They can’t

Games are won and lost in midfield.

Ceballos and Özil are creative midfielders. That is what they are. They should be doing more. The point that they’re not is, I suspect, mainly a negative reflection on them. But the central midfield looks on paper a well balanced outfit. That it’s not performing as it should is presumably a reflection on the players or coach.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509380  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:43 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

tomc wrote:
Surely we have to giver Arteta a bit longer than 6 weeks to judge what kind of job he's doing, good or bad?

I would agree with that, and have posted the same before. It is too early to make one’s mind up about him, one way or the other, positive or negative. But we have a decent group of midfielders, at least on paper. If they’re not performing, at this point I’m willing to lay the primary blame on the players. Yet there will come a point when it may be legitimate to ask questions of Arteta too? He picks them, he coaches them, he tells them how he wants them to play, or at least should do.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509381  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:57 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:58 am
Posts: 33880

Not sure if the press is making more than necessary of Mbappe touchline flare up about being substituted. I remember years ago an English player exchanging words about being substituted and the then manager said he hopes players don't want to be substituted. He took it in stride, didn't make more of it than it was. Players are hungry for minutes on the pitch. If it happens consistently then okay, but this incident by itself doesn't seem to be a big deal in the scope of things.


_________________
"Never relegated, Never Will Be" :)


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509382  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:59 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:33 pm
Posts: 1374

Bernard wrote:
tomc wrote:
Surely we have to giver Arteta a bit longer than 6 weeks to judge what kind of job he's doing, good or bad?

I would agree with that, and have posted the same before. It is too early to make one’s mind up about him, one way or the other, positive or negative. But we have a decent group of midfielders, at least on paper. If they’re not performing, at this point I’m willing to lay the primary blame on the players. Yet there will come a point when it may be legitimate to ask questions of Arteta too? He picks them, he coaches them, he tells them how he wants them to play, or at least should do.

Again can't argue with that. Hopefully Arteta is getting into them during this training camp in Dubai. Ceballos has got to be worth a run now he is fit again. He could provide the creative spark we need.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509383  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:58 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
1 goal and 4 assists. They can’t

Games are won and lost in midfield.

But the central midfield looks on paper a well balanced outfit.


It really isnt

You can pick any 2 from Xhaka, Torreira and Guendouzi and it doesn’t work. The speed of distribution and control and just isn’t there with any combination of those 3.

We’re 10th,

We we’ve only scored 32 goals in 25 games. So nevermind scoring 3 were struggling to score 2 in most games.

Our midfield is at the heart of the failure yet people are harping on about the defence all the time.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509384  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:07 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:58 am
Posts: 33880

I see Brentford is 5th in the Championship and hoping they get promoted. I was introduced to them on this forum by Hodd so I have a soft spot for them.
Only 6 points from the top.

_________________
"Never relegated, Never Will Be" :)


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509385  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 5:15 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:53 pm
Posts: 3412
Location: Over here

Bernard wrote:
tomc wrote:
Surely we have to giver Arteta a bit longer than 6 weeks to judge what kind of job he's doing, good or bad?

I would agree with that, and have posted the same before. It is too early to make one’s mind up about him, one way or the other, positive or negative. But we have a decent group of midfielders, at least on paper. If they’re not performing, at this point I’m willing to lay the primary blame on the players. Yet there will come a point when it may be legitimate to ask questions of Arteta too? He picks them, he coaches them, he tells them how he wants them to play, or at least should do.


Talk to Xhaka all you want won’t make a blind bit of difference, too slow, doesn’t read the game, can’t smell danger.... above all else he’s just a wee bit dim. Guendouzi is young and comes from the french lower division, prepared to give him a pass for now. Özil has all but retired. Torreira is too lightweight.

_________________
"You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is."


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509386  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 5:30 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 8:30 pm
Posts: 8103

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
I’m not joking when I say this is the worst midfield I’ve ever seen in my Arsenal supporting life. Unable to form any pattern of play what so ever, retain or distribute the ball.

How many years have you been a fan Top Gun? Because Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow get my vote. I think our current midfield is miles better than those four, all of whom I see as candidates for my worst ever Arsenal team (Jensen doesn’t get in my worst ever team, but he is a candidate). I see the other three as stronger candidates and probably would be in the side.

The only other issue worth mentioning is Morrow’s position in the team. He played in midfield and at left back, equally bad in both. But apart from him I am struggling to think of another terrible left back. So I would probably have Morrow at left back, rather in midfield. However, for the purpose of naming my worst ever midfield from those who would have played together as midfielders, as Morrow did I’m naming him as one of my selections for the worst midfield.

In my view none of our contemporary midfielders get in my worst ever team.

I agree with that. George went a bit mad after Benfica hammered us which culminated a few years later with that atrocious midfield. I'm no fan of Xhaka but he's far better than any of that 4.

_________________
"I just kept going pretty lively. Them killers wasn't too healthy company."


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509387  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 5:37 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 8:30 pm
Posts: 8103

TOP GUN wrote:
Bernard wrote:
But the central midfield looks on paper a well balanced outfit.


It really isnt

You can pick any 2 from Xhaka, Torreira and Guendouzi and it doesn’t work. The speed of distribution and control and just isn’t there with any combination of those 3.

We’re 10th,

We we’ve only scored 32 goals in 25 games. So nevermind scoring 3 were struggling to score 2 in most games.

Our midfield is at the heart of the failure yet people are harping on about the defence all the time.

In fairness to Arteta, he has improved the defence. I think the midfield is the bigger issue also. As you say, Özil is finished and without Ramsey (who was consistently derided) we have no threat from midfield. Pépé needs to up his game. It is still early in his Arsenal career, and feck knows what Emery was doing with him, but he needs to start delivering.

_________________
"I just kept going pretty lively. Them killers wasn't too healthy company."


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509388  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 5:45 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

Parkerknoll Gooner wrote:
Bernard wrote:
I would agree with that, and have posted the same before. It is too early to make one’s mind up about him, one way or the other, positive or negative. But we have a decent group of midfielders, at least on paper. If they’re not performing, at this point I’m willing to lay the primary blame on the players. Yet there will come a point when it may be legitimate to ask questions of Arteta too? He picks them, he coaches them, he tells them how he wants them to play, or at least should do.


Talk to Xhaka all you want won’t make a blind bit of difference, too slow, doesn’t read the game, can’t smell danger.... above all else he’s just a wee bit dim. Guendouzi is young and comes from the french lower division, prepared to give him a pass for now. Özil has all but retired. Torreira is too lightweight.

I’m not saying he’s a world beater but Xhaka isn’t as bad as some make out. I agree Özil is just sitting out his contract for £350k a week, but with him and Ceballos we should have some creativity even with the former’s attitude. They and Xhaka mean we have passing ability in midfield.

We have a ball winner in Torreira even though I agree he does seem a bit lightweight. Guendouzi and Willock give us energy and work rate. Along with AMN there should be a balanced and decent midfield in there somewhere and to claim it’s worse than Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow is ridiculous (and I know it wasn’t you who said that).

On paper it is not as bad a midfield made up by simply poor players as some want to make out. They are underperforming. At present I primarily blame the players. But players are coachable, they can be organised, they can be advised, they are routinely capable of receiving explanations on what to do in games. Whatever their level of intelligence, and from hearing Xhaka speak I have no reason to see him as intellectually dim.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509389  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 6:01 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 9:51 pm
Posts: 3569

Gaz from Oz wrote:
Zed wrote:
I imagine many are aware of this.... :8surprise:
https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/06/arsenal- ... -12195811/

How about Wenger writes his book first. Probably just a load of rubbish this report. If I found out it was true and Arteta actually believed that the fans would welcome Wenger back then I would know he has no f...en clue at all and he would have to go.

If AW ever gets around to writing his book that is. Whether or not any Board suggestion was even made to Arteta, let alone from the Kroenke's has to be seen as just a suggestion. Just because Arteta played for Wenger certainly isn't an automatic indication it will happen obviously. Yet, it would be an interference move with what Arteta's strategies and team building he's trying to establish. My opinion. But, over at MU, Fergie's input to OGS most likely happens on occasion. Therefore Arteta may or may not have in passing suggested it. You'd have to be a fly on the wall to really know anyway.

_________________
Be careful who you call your friends. I'd rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509390  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:05 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Parkerknoll Gooner wrote:
Bernard wrote:
I would agree with that, and have posted the same before. It is too early to make one’s mind up about him, one way or the other, positive or negative. But we have a decent group of midfielders, at least on paper. If they’re not performing, at this point I’m willing to lay the primary blame on the players. Yet there will come a point when it may be legitimate to ask questions of Arteta too? He picks them, he coaches them, he tells them how he wants them to play, or at least should do.


Talk to Xhaka all you want won’t make a blind bit of difference, too slow, doesn’t read the game, can’t smell danger.... above all else he’s just a wee bit dim. Guendouzi is young and comes from the french lower division, prepared to give him a pass for now. Özil has all but retired. Torreira is too lightweight.


Spot on here

To say Xhaka is underperforming is a joke.

He’s underperformed for 3 different managers and in over 100 games eh. Comparing him to selley who only played about half that amount of games is nonsense.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509391  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:17 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
Parkerknoll Gooner wrote:

Talk to Xhaka all you want won’t make a blind bit of difference, too slow, doesn’t read the game, can’t smell danger.... above all else he’s just a wee bit dim. Guendouzi is young and comes from the french lower division, prepared to give him a pass for now. Özil has all but retired. Torreira is too lightweight.

I’m not saying he’s a world beater but Xhaka isn’t as bad as some make out. I agree Özil is just sitting out his contract for £350k a week, but with him and Ceballos we should have some creativity even with the former’s attitude. They and Xhaka mean we have passing ability in midfield.

We have a ball winner in Torreira even though I agree he does seem a bit lightweight. Guendouzi and Willock give us energy and work rate. Along with AMN there should be a balanced and decent midfield in there somewhere and to claim it’s worse than Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow is ridiculous (and I know it wasn’t you who said that).


The thing is though Bernard that wasn’t the midfield. They were bit part players. El Nenny has played more times for arsenal than Ian selley. We had Davis, merse and parlour around that time too look at the picture of the winning Copenhagen side. Your still talking about individuals rather output of the midfield.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509392  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:17 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
Spot on here

To say Xhaka is underperforming is a joke.

He’s underperformed for 3 different managers and in over 100 games eh. Comparing him to selley who only played about half that amount of games is nonsense.

Name me a manager who doesn’t rate him then? They all seem to love him, and Arteta shows no sign of thinking any differently. Do you reckon they know less about him than you? Look, I’m not a fan of Xhaka and won’t be bothered if he leaves. But he’s nowhere near as bad as you pretend.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509393  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:26 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
The thing is though Bernard that wasn’t the midfield. They were bit part players. El Nenny has played more times for arsenal than Ian selley. We had Davis, merse and parlour around that time too look at the picture of the winning Copenhagen side. Your still talking about individuals rather output of the midfield.

Selley played 60 games. Can I also remind you were saying our current midfield was the worst you’ve seen. There have been worse overall midfields like Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow. Elneny played some more games than Selley but I wouldn’t put him in the collective of the worst midfield. I think Elneny was significantly better than Selley anyway.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509394  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:40 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
The thing is though Bernard that wasn’t the midfield. They were bit part players. El Nenny has played more times for arsenal than Ian selley. We had Davis, merse and parlour around that time too look at the picture of the winning Copenhagen side. Your still talking about individuals rather output of the midfield.

Selley played 60 games. Can I also remind you were saying our current midfield was the worst you’ve seen. There have been worse overall midfields like Hillier, Selley, Jensen and Morrow. Elneny played some more games than Selley but I wouldn’t put him in the collective of the worst midfield. I think Elneny was significantly better than Selley anyway.

Our current midfield is the worst in my arsenal supporting lifetime

What you are saying is that our midfield at that time which contained Paul Davis, a young parlour and Merson and only a few months later Stefan Schwarz is worse than our current one which clearly isn’t the case.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509395  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:42 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
Spot on here

To say Xhaka is underperforming is a joke.

He’s underperformed for 3 different managers and in over 100 games eh. Comparing him to selley who only played about half that amount of games is nonsense.

Name me a manager who doesn’t rate him then? [quote]

I don’t believe they rate him they are stuck with him and make due and put up a facade*





*Also applies to Mustafi and Özil


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509396  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:51 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
Our current midfield is the worst in my arsenal supporting lifetime

What you are saying is that our midfield at that time which contained Paul Davis, a young parlour and Merson and only a few months later Stefan Schwarz is worse than our current one which clearly isn’t the case.

Hillier played 143 games, Selley played 60, Jensen played 138 games and Morrow played 85 games. Sadly, enough in the same midfield to see them as our worst midfield. Our present one simply doesn’t compare.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509397  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:55 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
I don’t believe they rate him they are stuck with him and make due and put up a facade*

*Also applies to Mustafi and Özil

Okay, so you don’t think any of Xhaka’s managers rate him despite some buying him, regularly picking him, and even at least two making him captain. Yeah right.


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509398  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:56 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
Our current midfield is the worst in my arsenal supporting lifetime

What you are saying is that our midfield at that time which contained Paul Davis, a young parlour and Merson and only a few months later Stefan Schwarz is worse than our current one which clearly isn’t the case.

Hillier played 143 games, Selley played 60, Jensen played 138 games and Morrow played 85 games. Sadly, enough in the same midfield to see them as our worst midfield. Our present one simply doesn’t compare.


But they didn’t always play together. That’s the point. How many games did we play that 4 together. I bet it was less than 4 matches.

I said it’s the output of the midfield your picking individuals. We also had merse, Davis and parlour and that year we also played Campbell wide right


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509399  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:03 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Posts: 18363

Bernard wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
I don’t believe they rate him they are stuck with him and make due and put up a facade*

*Also applies to Mustafi and Özil

Okay, so you don’t think any of Xhaka’s managers rate him despite some buying him, regularly picking him, and even at least two making him captain. Yeah right.


I reckon any decent offer would get accepted yes.

Oh and the captain thing is nonsense as the cleaner gets offered the captaincy these days.

He’s *%^@ and Arteta knows he’s *%^@

He’s come from city where they had De Bruyne and silva tearing teams apart. Believe me he knows Xhaka ain’t up to it. (Which he clearly *%^@*** isn’t ) :laughing7:


 Profile  
 
 
Post #509400  Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:13 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:27 pm
Posts: 11163

TOP GUN wrote:
Bernard wrote:
Hillier played 143 games, Selley played 60, Jensen played 138 games and Morrow played 85 games. Sadly, enough in the same midfield to see them as our worst midfield. Our present one simply doesn’t compare.

But they didn’t always play together. That’s the point. How many games did we play that 4 together. I bet it was less than 4 matches.

I bet it was a lot more than four. Feel free to do the research on your guesswork. If you do I’ll show the respect to check it.


 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
     [ 570734 posts ] 
Go to page Previous  1 ... 12732, 12733, 12734, 12735, 12736, 12737, 12738 ... 14269  Next

All times are UTC

Gooners Online - Click to see what Everyones Doing

Colour Key:  Visited Profile    Members Profile      Admin

Get Latest Post

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 106 guests


Search for:

Go to Top

Powered by php BB © 1993 - 2018