IMO, we must play with a belief. We need to build on the come-back win at WH. No doubt it was WH while they are also in low confidence mode. But, more important is to keep re-building our belief. And it can only be done with a brave and steady display. No hiding with a defensive minded game. This will only erode the confidence and belief. Never mind who he picks. Most important is his set-up and team-talk to inspire confidence. If we lose, we want to lose fighting, not hiding. Losing and playing with a defeatist (defensive) mindset will be a huge double whammy.

I think sometimes the ostrich approach is the best option ... the more informed you become the more disillusioned you get .

You are asking too much of this side in its present state gooner7. Freddie, as much as I love him, is in way over his head and asking him to come up with tactics that can counter Pep is asking way too much of him.

We know what we need to do. We need to do the things you mentioned but I need to stay off Krispy Kreme donuts and lose half a stone before I hit the beach in Asia and neither I nor Arsenal will achieve our immediate goals.

You guys think you have problems. Now you can see why we have so many mass shooters. They are staying barely on the side of a legal line of promoting violence. Some would say they crossed it. But in this present environment if its a right winger saying it, the line is adjusted.

Not asking for the team to transform overnight into a title challenging team. But, simply transform itself into a more confident team which plays with a belief in themselves. Attack with vigour (which means stop passing sideways or back 80% of the time), and defend with grit (not turning away or to wait for someone else to do the defending). Do more off the ball running. Do more running into spaces to receive a pass. Help your teammate out, when he is crowded by too many defenders .... run to where he is, so he has an outlet. In short, be more driven, show more urgency and increase the energy of the team. I would drop Özil, Luiz and Xhaka. Unfortunately cannot drop Kola.

The problems are that first of all the squad doesn't have the collective belief to have enough pride, passion and professionalism. Secondly, they know Freddie is a caretaker manager. So its not likely they are going to play for him and some may not feel the need they have to impress him since he can be replaced at anytime.

We will probably try to play good initially and then after City's first goal we'll get down and they'll smell blood and a goal fest.

But you never know. I just hope we don't embarrass ourselves.

I simply said Id give Ljunberg until Xmas. Im not convinced either ways.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... hur-people

Good man Mesut.

Morning g7,

I'm not sure if it's a modern day thing but so many of our players turn their backs and actually make themselves smaller when a shot comes in.

I know it's a bit of a reflex thing but they have to be braver.

Very well said and he has every right to say this as would Bellerin have had if he'd made it.

Poops I forgot I'm a racist and should have said hang them all.

Listening to Christo on early morning radio I think they should send all the mouthy remainers out there too.

You need therapy, you need help.

Hi Soc,

We had so many brave, driven and gutsy CB in Adams, Keown, Bould, Sol and many more who I can't recall. And our left & right backs are real fighters too. Rice, Winterburn, Cole, Sansom and many more. Huge contrast to who we have nowadays.

Sok is a brave one, albeit clumsy as well. But at least brave.

Luiz, Xhaka are softies, pretending to be bigger players. It is their size which got them into the team. But their guts leaves a lot to be desired.

Chambers, Holding does not have the same kind of brave, driven & gutsy traits of past English CB. Sadly.

Were Liverpool as dominant as this in their '70s and '80s heydays?

for some God forsaken reason your little rant tickled me ...

I watched the first twenty minutes of the West Ham game ... Saints preserve us .... turgid , back and forth cross field b*&%%$$ such lack of ambition .

I'm watching Liverpool v Watford at the moment ...what a difference both sides full blown attack . Pool just had a nice goal disallowed by VAR for having a toe nail offside .

Oxlade Chamberlain coming on .... let's see if he has improved

There is an underlying issue that has gone on for the better part of a decade and that is we lack a collective fighting spirit. It was lacking in the last years of Wenger and it continued under Emery and it doesn't matter who we bring in. It's a club issue. The players from 10 years ago are totally different but the lack of a fighting spirit stayed the same. We have had a lack of good tactics as well but its not just that. You can bring in a good tactician and different players and I think unless that person can instill a fighting spirit, it won't matter and I think its pervasive and from the top down.

I'm going to blame Kroenke as well. I was watching some NFL football interviews and a player who has been through a few clubs was asked what was the best club he played for and it wasn't the one he won a championship with. He mentioned a club that he said was the best run club he's ever seen and it was a pleasure to play for them. He knew from the top down, the owner and everyone below him were committed to winning and also were people you trusted. They would do their part and provide the tools for you to do your best and if you were found lacking because you didn't work hard enough you were gone because there was some more deserving player in your spot.

I heard every time Chelsea loses close to Christmas an angel gets its wings.

I loved that Leicester dropped a point. On 606 over the last couple of weeks Leicester fans having been getting well above themselves. Talking about all the wins they would get and their game against Liverpool would decide the title.

Yes, these 2 were very good for us. Kos, in his prime was fantastic.

According to this report (admittedly from The Mirror) Freddie is talking to the players about the toxic atmosphere at the stadium and how to deal with it before the City game. How about this - play and give 100% and never give up. Earn your wages and the fans might be a bit more forgiving. But as I have said elsewhere the club culture is not what it should be and I am starting to think Freddie is just continuing giving players excuses for failure.

Plus the article states managers are not interested in coming to us because of the lack of money in the transfer kitty.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... t-21100527

" I loved that Leicester dropped a point "

Holy cow ....what a miserable old fairy .

Why shouldn't Leicester fans get a little excited ; an 'unfashionable' club punching well above their weight , playing an entertaining attractive brand of football . 2nd in the table the only team attempting to derail the Klopp juggernaut .

I was just thinking how nice it is to have Leicester , Sheffield Utd and Wolves in the top half of the table doing well instead of it being dominated as per usual by the normal procession of financially doped heavyweights .

Your " love" will be off the scale when you realise by not winning the Foxes have actually dropped two points .

Teams get three points if they win , a point each if they draw and zero points for the team that loses ........ hope this helps .

You wont be nodding off tonight knowing you were right

Taking the kids to the BBQ place for lunch before we arrive for the city game. Wanna guess which one they are more excited about today ?

Character building is a key part of child development. I’ll take an unlikely nil nil please Freddie and tell Kolasinac he’s not allowed to cross the halfway line.

I've never imagined City being anything other than leading the PL and the odd time every so often they are runner up. They have arguably the best manager in the world, limitless funds and a collection of a world XI. They may end up 3rd this season and that's a shock after last season. Yes, its hard to maintain that drive each season and each game but never foresaw this.

And never thought Liverpool would be this good as well. Imagine if they had kept Suarez?!

I don't expect City to stay this way for long. But till that time, its interesting see them struggling and 3rd

Another bar VAR decision imo.

Everton corner two players attack keeper imo at least one fouls him ball falls to Lindelof and goes in for a goal.

Craig Pawson gives a goal.

Much as I want Everton to win it's a disgrace.

C'mon Wolves, hold on. I'm here for you as a lucky charm.

...oh and Everton. C'mon you Toffees.

But numerous good ones too like Bournemouth's goal yesterday.

Not the point though as they should all be good ones otherwise scrap it or scrap the incompetent refs.

And I was one of the first supporters calling for it from the start.....

Will Lacazette be happy?

Possibly another of my controversial points but shouldn't Aubameyang commit himself to the team or *%^@ off? Lacazette should be getting regular starts if he is thinking of going or we'll lose him as well.

Never mind whether players like it or not, we should be selecting the most effective XI. Personally I don't think playing both Aubameyang and Lacazette really works, and of the two Aubameyang is the best bet through the middle.

Well that didn’t take long

Off to a great start, then

Don’t expect to win this but I expect a better start.
Our defence just looks terrible

Kolasinac ducked.

Did Kola duck on that one?

11 out of 17 games we’ve conceded the first goal so far this season

Sure did.

And that after a game where we conceded deflected goals due to players turning their backs.

Knife. Butter. 0-2.

0-2