Well, we all knew we weren’t a match to Man City with their 33-goal scorer Haaland and the best midfielder on the planet in Kevin De Bruyne. But no one expected that we won’t show up for a fight. In the title race when a win was a 6 pointer, we lost and we lost badly. A 4-1 score is as bad as it gets, but the way we played it could have been worse.
So, where did it go wrong? As a starter, Arteta failed to adjust to the Pep’s tactics. Their first goal was a result of the free space De Bruyne was enjoying between our midfield and defence. In the first 30min, it happened couple of times when the pair of Haaland and De Bruyne were left with our CBs. I don’t think anyone can beat Haaland for the pace, it was a fight to be lost. We should have adapted, we should have dropped down and closed the space . We could have switched back to back 3 and fight on counters.
Second, we stuck to the playing XI which didn’t work against Liverpool, West Ham, and Southampton. Yes, Xhaka was back in place of Vieira but it doesn’t make any difference. Both are poor! If you say what options we had, I would like to point out that it’s our own doing. We haven’t been polishing the bench. We gave Vieira couple of matches in spite of his poor performance in his first, but we didn’t try an ESR. We haven’t tried a Partey + Jorginho midfield pairing. Saka looked knackered but we didn’t see Nelson allowing him some rest. Kiwior was brought into the fold against Liverpool, in last 20 min; I’m sure it wasn’t the perfect time to begin your premier league career.
Arteta’s stubbornness to play his favourites and not adapting to what’s in front, has cost us games. If you expect a player to deliver in 60 games a year, and if he don’t, you switch things up. Jesus might be great in compact spaces and running into 3 opposition players, but where’s the end result? If your CF do not have a goal in him, bring on Eddie. Revert to Trossard at the front who looks more clinical.
I don’t know, there has been a lot of things which we can see is wrong, but our manager sticks to the same old – same style, same player, same tactics.
Here’s the bitter truth. We didn’t lose the title because of this City game. We lost it against Pool (going 2-0 up), West Ham (going 2-0 up again), and Southampton (going 2-0 down at home in first 15min). I understand we are a young team, but young guns can fire too. It don’t matter if it’s your captain, if he is not having a good day, bring on your other no. #10, who saved your career at some point and was considered the next DeBruyne.
I’m not sure how much Arteta will learn from this but I’m sure of this – he is going to spend another 200m to bring some more enforcements, but with this stubbornness and Champions League + Premier League next season, we will have the same conundrum. Unless he buys another playing XI, which is not likely.
Here’s another one – if you think it’s a progress to finish 2nd this season, remember that Arteta was appointed as the head coach of Arsenal on 20th Dec, 2019. It’s been 3.5 years, with half a billion spent on a completely new playing XI bar our academy products. This season has been anomaly, Liverpool is having a bad one, Chelsea are sh*t, Spurs are spursy, and United is going through a rebuild under Tan Hag. If you think allowing 3 years for a manager, only to see him finish second after having a 9 point lead at some point, is considered a progress, then you have very low expectation.
With money coming in for New Castle, Chelsea appointing Poch probably, united getting stronger, Pool back in their form, what happens next? It would be tougher than this season. There will be 2 games a week and more Saliba-esque injuries. Who will we blame? Fixtures? Injuries? Bad weather? Because that’s what we have been doing apparently from like last 10 years.
We need an upgrade. We need an upgrade on Xhaka, whose average performance looks like a world class by his standards. We need a midfield, because you buy all the 50m defenders as you want, but it’s not gonna work if you don’t have functioning midfield. We need a better goal scorer if you don’t have confidence in Eddie. And we need an upgrade on the manager. Learning on the job is not a bad thing, but the pace is too slow for a club as big and as ambitious as Arsenal.
We need courage. We don’t need a captain who goes missing in big games, we have had enough of Ozil for years. We need the winning mentality, not the one we saw against West Ham of dropping performance after going 2-0 up. We need players who make fun of the opposition, on the pitch; who can bully the opposition, who are not satisfied with 2-0 lead at Anfield and want more.
Frankly, it has been a depressing month. We have thrown away the title and there’s no one else to blame. It was ours to lose, and we lost it. I’m angry, I’m frustrated and I’m sure you are, too. I hope the players feel the same, and motivates themselves to make the best of rest of the season.
It’s over for me, but we fight again tomorrow.
Hi Ambarish
Yeah you pretty much nailed it.
I’m getting a really paranoid thought – my overall take on last night was City were toying with us like a cat with a mouse. The cat could kill the mouse at any time but its fun to play and it prolongs the game.
So did City hold back against us? Did Pep not want to crush us too badly because he knows having Arteta there will be 6 points plus progression in any Cup matches next season?
Ambarish-this is by far your most realistic and scathing take on the present state of affairs…if I didn’t know any better, I might accuse you of hacking my private online Arsenal daily journal LOL
take care
Ambarish
Thanks mate, for all that you do to provide this forum. You eloquently describe the utter dejection that we’re all feeling and the sense that it should have been our year with proper management and leadership.
My equilibrium has been restored somewhat by Cardiff winning up at Rotherham tonight and all but guaranteeing they’ll stay up. Junior and I are going to Turf Moor to see the final game of the season.
And Huddersfield at home on Sunday.
Numbness has set in as regards Arsenal. I’d be accused of all sorts elsewhere but Arteta has to go. All the money, time and patience that has been lavished on all of his trial and error bullshit strategies should lead to time being called on his tenure. But to do so would require the club to say he should have done better when in reality he’s probably seen as having done enough by reaching the CL.
I hope those cunts at RM, Barca or whichever other bunch of slags want him, didn’t watch last night’s drubbing. The Kroenkes are as thick as they come but they really ought to be asking if he’s providing value for money on their investment. Good leaders would pause and say their club needs new leadership to go that little bit further.
PS My bete noire club in the blue half of Liverpool are absolutely in the shit now. Good! Maybe I’ll get back to Goodison next year to see Cardiff put them in the drop zone of the championship!
Tony-ironically, in an article entitled “Man City ran rings around Arteta”, DeBruyne discussed how Pep made a tactical adjustment by starting with two 6’s, instead of 2 8’s, then he would exploit the space behind Xhaka when he took more advanced positions, which is exactly what I had hoped Arteta would do in my earlier post…this is why Xhaka is such a liability against top clubs, as his mere presence meant there was acres of space to exploit between our midfielders and defenders…I actually feel for both Partey and our CBs, as both DeBruyne and Haaland are a nightmare to contain in 1v.1 situations…of course, Holding didn’t help with his overly aggressive play in the middle of the park, but it’s clear he was only following his manager’s instructions…regardless, the very fact that Pep had no trepidation whatsoever with focusing solely on this particular tactical change simply reiterates just how insanely predictable MA is when it comes to his tactical approach; not to mention, it speaks volumes about his abysmal record when it comes to in-game adjustments…as expected, Pep was playing chess, while MA was playing checkers
there were acres
Morning all
Ambarish thanks for an excellent post that gets to the very core of all that’s wrong with our club: Arteta & KSE for wearing rose tinted specs. I echo what KP said in thanking you for your work here and the platform to help keep our collective sanity.
It’s being reported that Arteta wants to buy a 23yo striker, Lois Openda, from Lens with 17 goals, and yet will sell Bolagun even though Balogun has the ‘9’ qualities with his hold up play Eddie doesn’t have, has some PL experience, and 3rd leading scorer in France. Most club supporters would laugh at the click bait , but with Arteta…………………………!
Marc
Sorry to say it wasn’t paranoid delusions Arteta does that to everyone. Pep’s very happy with his disciple donating 6 points to City’s cause each season, and the odd cup next round. That would be considered ‘Greng Jai’ in Thai and expected as an elder.
Looking for reasons why we lost and the searing question was for me, did they forget to rub hands together before the KO, and has Xhaka finally got it that it’s not his dick he’s supposed to rub. No wonder he’s so slow. Still many on LG think he’s still out MVP with their Lord Arteta.
KP great news about Cardiff. Happy for you and junior, not just for the football, but as a dad with the wonderful experiences fatherhood brings. A song that resonated with me back around 1970 was this by Cat Stevens: Father & son, so for fathers and sons everywhere here’s a great song to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjfPASXnJEc
As always with all things Arteta we will dwell in footballing hell until someone relieves us of his wakerness. Barca and RM absolutely deserve Arteta. He’s tailor made cunty for them cnuts and a pussy extraordinaire weak mentality when decision making.
The season is done. It matters not bar financially if we finish 2nd or 3rd. Like you numbness has fully set in; Arteta along with Wenger has that unique talent of pissing off and breaking the hopes of us Gooners. Our resilience should become a scientific model of mental and emotional endurance – there’s enough metrics……………….. sadly.
TRVL
I saw that KDB article but forgot to go back and read it. Say’s it all really.
When KDB took off being fed by AH in the 6th minute, I thought WTF. It took a while to realise how this had come about that KDB could just run though our soft and unchallenged center. Adams was right and I’ve said it all along you cut the supply to Haaland or foul him; it’s that simple and what City does with their rotational cynical fouling on opponents’ counters.
Ramsdale didn’t work out his angles, as KDB would have had a harder job shooting across Ramsdale with the tackle about to take place: therefore, KDB’s likelihood would be to shoot for the near post. Not planting his feet Ramsdale did his ‘Ramsdale shuffle’ only confusing himself, and the scene was set on 7 minutes that would determine the game’s outcome.
We can do nothing but wait for KSE, and Josh in particular to wake up and smell the coffee.
Until then, enabling supporters such as Bob N16 will just sweep all Arteta’s faults under the carpet, as it suits his Arsenal life’s agenda. The inconsiderate wanker was even prepared to catch Covid to go to games in Covid’s early days. Wonder how he would have felt if he contracted covid, and then he passed to a family member who then died along with millions.
Well it was The Arsenal, the most loyal of fans: Side Fence Boob – sorry Bob! would utter at the funeral. His wife’s a psychologist, so no doubt met Bob through work and his still her longest client.
Do you think Bob is a couch type with teddy bear or Unicorn to cuddle for Mrs BN16 soothing lilts after points lost games. Bob admits he has to prepare himself for bad results as a preconditioned agenda to soften the blow, as it were. Poor didems – probably another adult diaper wearer at games. Fence sitting BobN16 probably got this mental and emotional self conditioning from Mrs BN16, but then why pay £1000s for a season ticket holder if poor little Bob can’t handle the eventual outcomes.
Sid’s got Bob’s number, so it’s funny to read.
Forgot how it was like to be on LG. That was a typical response we’d have to write on LG. The truth hurts, so BobN16 is better off not reading it. He’s too lily livered to write here, and yet he would be welcomed as a brother all Gooners should be.
Want to come over the the dark side BobN16? Be warned, though, there are no fences in LIR only stood by decisions; right or wrong.
Finally, Pedro is slipping. He did a good job of keeping Champagne Charlie character going until I called him out and 5 minutes later CC tapped out for good.Now Pedro has brought CC back as Mikel Conetta. The name gave it away so very unimaginative and Pedro is not good enough at writing nuances to not be found out. Key words usage and agenda are Pedro’s nemesis.
Pedro can’t take aim at Arteta or fight others as Pedro, so Pedro has his characters as his pro Arteta voices.
Pedro the king of Arteta enablers.
KP & TRVL
What are your views on Wrexham & Ryan Reynolds? Seems like his interest is actually in its footballing future, which has to be good for the club and low level football in attracting others with millions to spare.
I’m for it if it helps lower clubs get into the pro leagues.
Anthony Hopkins is Welsh can’t you guilt trip him into backing Cardiff? He’s got a few bob, right?
When you read about East Africa’s needs with children dying of starvation from the worst drought since Live Aid, you have to look to King Charles and the £100s of millions being spent on the coronation for a royal family that has the country divided and little power – just another royal family trying to be relevant to their countries or god forbid they might have to work for a living.
The pomp is not necessary these days other than to sate upper class egos and keep the coffers full.
Let me see if I got this right.
The adulterous now King of England divorced his sons’ and heirs’ mother to be with the only girl he loved who was married to some other toff at the time.
At closer inspection the said sons and infamous brother better known as Randy Andy and court ordered paying millions for it or paid by now.
Of the sons: one by the looks of it, a fan of Tim, but dim so much he copies him all the time. This son will go on to be the Mr Bean of the family with his ill fated choices of slagging the Firm- his immediate family off in public. What has always been confusing is that this son looks nothing like his dad or brother. In fact I can’t recall seeing a senior royal with red hair. Can you?
Anyone have thoughts on this matter of no consequence?
The other son is the country’s darling, as is his wife who I can imagine will make a good king if his dad doesn’t kill off the last of the royalists’ support. This is the fellow who should be made king because thus far his life is one that can be put under the microscope and most likely to be found blemish free.
Shouldn’t one ask Charles that, if his familial decisions are to go by, what does he actually bring to the table as king? Respect and dignity were lost with Diana who would still be alive today if she hadn’t been divorced. Yup, that old chestnut.
Surely, if you can’t look after the most important family in Briton, how do you plan on ruling over the British realm?
I can imagine Red and his lackey hack Scoobie jumping up and down screaming ‘we have to use this, it’s solid gold’.
and I say to myself What a wonderful World…..oh yearrrrr…………
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-T6aaRV9HY
If you’re like me who has come to the conclusion the world is seriously fucked up when the world is looking at the coronation officiated by a church started by Henry VIII, so he could get a divorce.
Oh the irony!
Meanwhile East africans are dying where people are queuing up to notify and register the deaths of their children.
Then there’s the Ukraine.
There is one other thing
Tim, nice but dim*
Hi Tony
The Wrexham thing is all good as far as I’m concerned. The two American lads are genuinely invested (financially, but more importantly emotionally) in the club and the area. They’re modest, sympathetic and best of all, they’ve listened to fans. The place us buzzing thanks to them and I hope they thrive after promotion. I’d like to think other people with similar outlooks might support teams of similar stature, rather than the kind of wankers (Kroenke, Boehly, Glazers) and oil kleptocracies that are either bleeding football or using the PR to gloss over terrible human rights records and inequalities at home. Cardiff are owned by a ball bag who hails from Malaysia that fits both of the above categories so it’s especially difficult. Still, I think it’s 90 plus percent likely they’ll stay up now so we’re already planning away days next season to some of the more exotic corners of ingerland such as Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Blackburn. Oh and possibly Southampton, Leicester and Everton! The Bluebirds were fucking terrific last night – they’ve shown that type of togetherness far too rarely this season.
For my sanity and wellbeing, it’s come at just the right time given Arteta’s utter capitulation at City. And if those cheating cunts get their comeuppance from the PL, we’ll watch the Bluebirds snatch 3 points at Eastlands as well after they’re relegated!
big proponent of the whole Wrexham gig for many of the same reasons as KP has stated above…I will say that they’ve been helped immeasurably by their famous statures, as they’ve been able to lure a few players who could easily play in higher divisions or who wouldn’t come out of “retirement” under different circumstances; not to mention, the obvious promotional benefits of having these two social media darlings on board…Reynolds has likewise been part of an ownership bid to buy an NHL team out of Ottawa, Canada…I’m a huge fan of both individuals, as I’ve always appreciated Reynold’s comedic timing, even though his projects haven’t always best reflected his talents, and, as for Rob, his It’s Aways Sunny in Philadelphia is one of my all-time favourite series…hopefully others will try to replicate their venture, but I fear that, as is usually the case, it will lose it’s lustre when too many greedy fuckwads throw their proverbial hats into the ring for all the wrong reasons
in regards to the Tampon KIng, I have no comment, as I find him to be a farcical character of little to no real import…tbh I have all sorts of comments, but as someone who has studied the monarch at great length and depth I find it insanely ridiculous that they still matter beyond that of being a periphery target of tabloid ridicule…as soon as the Queen had passed they should have shuttered the doors and cut them off entirely…sorry if that sounds a tad harsh, but to be frank this was a severely toned down verison of my original post
KP – Really happy for you and junior. I respect what’s going on with Wrexham and it sounds more than just a whim. Robert Plant is a football attendee when in the UK in and around Kidderminster.
Would be good to see real football fans owning clubs what a novelty that would be. 🙂
TRVL – I’ll follow Wrexham’s story with good interest. Probably make a good movie in 10 years time if they continue to rise.
From my music days I made some good friends with various facets from Fleet St. Like you I was toning things down and obviously knowing your ex history professorial knowledge was betting you’d have fascinating facts or views. I liked the queen, but that’s where my monarchy affection died with the queen.
The royal family soap opera is in full force.
Morning all
A quick scan through the online sports news only really brought one story to my attention. It was the usual story that we have to sell to raise funds to buy. Hardly the season ticket renewal bumper bonus ST holders were looking for, so there must be more wonderous news to come. It’s all academic as there is a long ST queue for the Arteta less enchanted who have had enough to not want to pay for 5 more years of the un-generational one.
The first part of the news made me happy because Edu is happy to listen for offers for… wait for it……. Xhaka! Music to my ears, but the last offer was about £8m payment in 4 or was it 6 stages. Then Arteta decided to keep him and make him first name on the first eleven team sheet each week. Thing is we have to sell to a PL rival and not Hertha Berlin or similar. Without an on-field minder Xhaka will be a constant star in Funniest Footballers in the PL. I think Wrexham should offer £1m and let Xhaka’s star quality ring out in KP’s part fo the world. 🙂
Ok, fun, over little that it was, KT and possibly Bolagun are the not so funny additions to the sales list. Bolagun is a head scratcher as Saliba was and looks to be following the same story. Arteta wants shiny new toys that don’t ask for more game time and fawn at Arteta’s feet.
The reality is we want to sell the fastest defender in the PL albeit an often crocked one, but one who is currently our best left back who doesn’t invert very well to defend Xhaka’s vacated space. Zinchenko is a far better inverter, but a poor defender. Now, I’m not sure if this has dawned on Arteta and his rather less than smart back room boys that, replacing Xhaka with an 8 with the requisite skill sets who pivots with Partey or Rice or a Caicedo type really well, KT will only have to defend and support Martinelli; his two strengths. KT also packs a ‘Winterburn’ punch in his left foot for belters outside the box.
I mentioned yesterday that Bolagun’s likely shiny new toy replacement is a French 23yo with 17 goals to his tally for this season where Bolagun has 18. This striker situation is no different to Willian’s days. I was never that impressed with Jesus at City – a bit part rotational player used by Pep. Obviously, he’ll score goals but not in such great number that makes Jesus a nailed on starting 9 for us.
Jesus is a Lacazette upgrade; Trossard is better in my view. Bolagun would be ripe now to coach to Arteta’s style of 9 and false 9. Bolagun and Trossard or Mitoma & Eddie and any mix of the four would be very lively centrally up top.
It’s midfield that needs the real attention with rebuilding. People say Rice won’t want to play 2nd fiddle to Partey, but Partey needs to fight for his starting place, too.
We know who should be on our midfield list of targets, but it’s pointless doing a MF round up when Edu and Arteta are signing the likes of Lakonka, Vieira and Tavares for now! None are anywhere close to what we need now or for next season. All need more loans.
When you look at how large & tight the relegation battle is each season; it’s almost just in two sections now. Safe and relegation battle with Europe places up for grabs in the safe group. It’s also what makes the PL the toughest and most revered league to play and be successful in. In that, it’s interesting to see Messi never graced our league.
I have no idea for next season other than Arteta shouldn’t be the manager. Bottling top 4 last season was bad enough, but to blow the title as well this season and sacrifice every competition for the league should be enough for his marching orders.
Eddie Howe, Ten Hag and De Zerbi are all better managers than Arteta where given time, and the right club, De Zerbi could be the best of the 3. Although I’ve liked what Ten Hag stands for as a manager and rightly De Zerbi needs more assessing.
Have a good weekend all.
Tony
I fully expect to see Tierney, ESR, Balogan and maybe even Partey move on this summer.
The fan boys favourite songs are going to be fucked.
Here we gooooo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe oh bollocks
We’ve got super Mick Arteta he knows exactly what we need, Tierney at the back – what we sold him to Newcastle?
Neither are quite a catchy.
Rice will be bought in as a replacement for Partey not Xhaka.
Marc
They are players not in favour that’s for sure. Emery has reportedly stated he wants to reunite with Gweundouzi earlier in the week and now ESR, I wouldn’t be surprised if Balogun was added to that list. The only person who isn’t concerned with Xhaka’s stats this season is Arteta; selling Xhaka aint going to be easy.
So, with no suiters Xhaka will be with us in some capacity as Arteta’s BFF.
Still, it could be worse Arteta could have splashed £70m on Vlahovic and now be trying to give him away. Same would have happened if we’d have bought Houssem Aouar instead of Partey.
The Chav’s rejects will interest Arteta with Mount being the first.
For me? Rice, Caicedo and Mitoma would head my wish list. Those 3 and a good 23/24yo RB.
The ESR situation beggars belief. The lad literally dug Arteta out of his early grave getting injured in the process, although admittedly ESR has had growing issues with his body, Arteta seems to have just used and abused ESR. No one wants another Diaby, but at least give ESR game time now to properly assess him.
Rice isn’t inspiring the Hammers to play well. Whereas Zaha is very lively back from injury. Eze, Olisse and Ayew all having good games for Palace. Good game with plenty of goals & more to come. Rice needs to get hold of the game by imposing himself more.
Brighton playing delightful football without their 3 best players being rested. 4:0 up against Wolves at home. 19 yo Julio César Enciso is ripping Wolves a new one in place of Mitoma. Tony Bloom really does have a magical algorithm.
just a few comments on this fine morning:
(1) if we sell Partey, pay through the nose for Rice and keep Xhaka, we will be a worse team than the day before these things happened…as the size of this investment will financially derail our ability to properly redress our real problems
(2) if we don’t win the title, which appears to be the case, things could get sticky regarding the re-upping of both Saka and Saliba, as they will have those with much more realisitc managerial plans trying to turn their respective heads
(3) I now realize why Vieira found it difficult to pursue a more balanced approach, as it appears as if Palace can’t do two things at once…either they’re an offensive force to be reckoned with and exposed at the back or they’re a rather uninspiring borefest with little to show for it, but decently stout at the back…unfortunately Vieira chose the latter, likely due to his naturally defence-first mindset…Roy has no magic formula, he simply rolled the “brakes off” dice and leaned into his best players
(4) De Zerbi is giving our little tactically-stunted manager a lesson on squad rotation, as they’re now cruising past Wolves with 6 already on the board and more likely to come…this is what happens when you have a plan and use the training grounds for it’s intended purposes…hopefully MA took a break from his mirror prep work and learned something from thissound thrashing, like encouraging our midfielders to make decisive passes ahead of our running players when countering, instead of destroying all momentum by passing to one’s back foot
(5) if we need to sell the likes of Balo, ESR and Tierney in order to offset our short-sighted transfer window decisions, it will be a travesty…mark my words, at some point these decisions, which haven’t done the trick, will come home to roost
Cheers
With Arteta we’re always a few players short, and will always be after TWs that will never quite fit our real needs as Arteta plays fantasy football using us.
Another interesting tactical football take with Pep & Haaland and why Arteta will never have Pep’s ability and just be the poor pretender that will probably take another season for Josh & daddy to realise.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12029393/How-Striking-Viking-Erling-Haaland-rose-deep-complete-Guardiolas-plan-against-Arsenal.html
Rob Draper the journalist was originally with the long defunct Today UK daily. He’s always been a non agenda sports journalist and why I check the DM for his efforts.
Watching Brighton last night with their key players missing and knocking 6 past Wolves as if there had been no changes at all, junior and I revealed in the pure football of the game played by Brighton. All fitted in seamlessly as if some kind of production conveyor belt and playing like they’d played together for years.
Tony Bloom could well build Brighton into a southern Newcastle size wise. Brighton known as London by the sea could produce a team to challenge in the CL if the current trajectory of Tony’s recruitment algorithm keeps momentum or better gathers pace. This and each summer Mr. Bloom has the ability through an untapped well of South American rough diamonds that Edu could only dream of. Already, the big clubs are queueing up outside the Amex to buy Tony’s semi polished and PL ready gems.
Case in point, we’d like to take Caicedo, (upgrade on Rice) Mitoma & Mac Alister this summer. The Bin Dippers can smell the chum in the water and are circling ready to throw money at Brighton, and quite honestly who wouldn’t?
Names like: Estupinan, Gilmour, Gross (Bergkamp esque goal yesterday), Undav & Enciso could very easily fit into any PL side today. That’s eight players who will almost certainly depart the Amex in the next couple of years when their replacements have arrived and are fully conversant with De Zerbi’s footballing identity the players seemingly enjoy playing at one and two touch simplicity and excellent movement with or without the ball.
Do we have such an identity? Not even close.
De Zerbi teams move the ball quickly with precision where often hitting 40+ yard Beckham style diagonals for Enciso or Mitoma to be one on one with a completely screwed defender.
By the sound of it Roberto is loved by his players and equally by the club. I can’t see a manager of his obvious considerable talent wanting to leave when he has a consistency of talent constantly arriving to be moved into the De Zerbi school of football production line.
Last night Brighton schooled Wolves in a footballing lesson they won’t forget. They will be tough to beat at the Emirates and could be the one team that takes points off city at the Amex.
There’s a lot more to come from the seagulls.
Unlike us Brighton play with no fear and total confidence in their manager and his football.
I’m certainly not going to make a habit of paraphrasing Gary Nevile, as more often than not I find it quite difficult to take his troll-dependent form of punditry seriously, but when he ripped into the glaring lack of “leadership” during our recent slide, I couldn’t agree more…now he points the finger of blame directly at 4 players, Ode, Zinchenko, Xhaka and Partey, whereas I would say it’s a bit more nuanced than that, even though he’s not far off
Ode-he seems like a diligent and well-intentioned individual, but a leader of men he’s not…in fact for much of his early tenure he didn’t even address the troops before kick-off, as that was handled by our “real ” captain, Xhaka, whereas this year Zinchenko has assumed those duties on a fairly regular basis…he’s the kind of non-confrontational, lead by example captain that a more monopolistic manager would likely opt for, so to expect that he would have the wherewithal to rally the troops seems incredibly unrealistic…not to mention, he’s had his own difficulties when it comes to putting his stamp on games of great import, which certainly doesn’t help matters
Zinchenko-since his arrival in the summer he’s found it difficult at times to walk the fine line between being a positive emotional presence and a frazzled headless chicken, the latter of which was on display for all to see against City…no one can question his love of the game or his commitment to whatever badge is sewn on his chest, but sometimes his emotionality gets the best of him…now that wouldn’t be the end of the world if we had the kind of manager who could read the room and make the necessary adjustments/substitutions when it was clear that his manic behaviour was in full-blown destructive mode, but that rarely happens when it comes to MA’s “favourites”…he just might be a future armband candidate but not until he reigns in some of his frantic tendencies, as they’re rather counterintuitive, especially on a team with our particular age profile
Xhaka-regardless of the fact that he’s found a way to curtail his seemingly endless bouts of stupidity, they seem to rear their ugly heads whenever the stakes are raised…I would suggest that against the better clubs he finds it incredibly difficult to carve out a definitive role so he simply reverts back to his old ways, which is such a selfish way for a veteran to conduct himself…no wonder he got embroiled in a yellow card related betting controversy, as some of his actions are so asinine they could appear sketchy to the average observer, especially if they weren’t familiar with his frequent nonsensical antics…in my opinion, if he’s your leadership answer, your asking the wrong questions
Partey-I feel the most empathy for this individual, as he’s been hung out to dry on several occasions due to the tactical naivety of our manager…he’s certainly not the outspoken leader type, but as a veteran it’s not unreasonable for him to contribute in some leadership capacity from time to time, so I don’t take umbrage with Neville for including him in his critique…I just think that to expect Partey to lead by example in those matches where he’s been required to be the sole DM against teams who want to dominate the center of the park is asking way too much from him…so I would say that instead of pointing blame in Partey’s direction it would make far more sense to question the choices our manager has made when it comes to all things leadership related…this is most glaringly evident whenever Jorginho comes onto the pitch, as everyone seems to acquiesce to him, even though he’s only been here for a cup of coffee
Cheers
Ambarish
Handing NT his arse on a plate was eloquently put and worthy of our LIR leader. Nicely, done. 🙂
TRVL
Nicely put.
Arteta has to give his captain something to lead, though, something that has winning legs to the end of the season for a captain to rally his team to a trophy. I think Rice being Arteta’s top target will take the captaincy for next season.
We have tired legs from mentally weak frazzled players. Rice looked overplayed yesterday and far from his usual self as well.
The confidence has to come from Arteta playing his brand of football and adapting it to all we play against. Arteta has big flaws that the players register either consciously or sub consciously that is transmitted to their play or lack of it in city’s case and the 3 preceding games.
I don’t see Fulham upsetting City’s status quo winning status where they will take 3 points and add to their GD.
Manure v Villa and Pool v Spuds should prove entertaining.
Haha, I have not forgotten his words for LiR and the readers a month back. I know I will give up eventually because that’s not my thing but was worth it this time.
TRVL
I think any other manager in place of Arteta would have faced the same problem with Xhaka/Ode/Jorginho midfield. Supporters are angry because
1. He refused to fix it (Xhaka)
2. He fixed it badly (Jorginho)
3. He didn’t try the internal options (ESR for Ode, ESR for Xhaka).
Saliba became crucial now, who was not registered for half a season and then loaned out for the other half. If Mikel puts the blame on his injuries, he needs to justify about his mishandling. So does the Arteta fanboys.
Ambarish
Yep bang on.
Ambarish
With reference to “ best midfielder on the planet Kevin de Bruyne “. we have someone upcoming called Croydon de Bruyne who saved Arteta his job , 2 years back. Currently rusty with disuse and blunted by the Manager’s adverse reaction. Seen posters asking whom ESR has to kill to get a start , which tells a story.
Imagine Pep Original benching KdB for almost the whole season. If only….Arsenal would have won, which demonstrates the point trying to make.
Looking back at Saliba not signing and Saliba and agent going in a Googly trajectory, somehow feels Saliba is doing to MA what MA did to him for 3 years. Back problems are an enigma to orthopaedics too who have to go by what the patients tell so are a safe bet nah ?
What a way to end the weekend with Spurs being Spurs losing 3:0 in 15 minutes with more to come.
Happy days.
Liverpool are shit – they’re not even 5 nil up after 20 minutes.
Wankers.
I heard something by the commentators in the Fulham v. City fixture that would never have been uttered in our most recent guileless and gutless performance “that was harder than anticipated”
I’m assuming that NT refers to one of LG’s leading Arteta/Pedro Apologists, the grand fluffer himself, Nigel….if so, I would really like to hear what he had to say in regards to LiG…I spent considerable time, during my relatively brief tenure on LG, putting him firmly in his place…so much so that when he couldn’t take the heat anymore he ran to his blog daddy/alter ego, Pedro, who in turn conjured up a competely fake narrative so as to ouster my ass…classic twat disguised as an even bigger twat scenario
agree with your response to my earlier post Ambarish…the fact that MA’s had ample opportunities to properly redress these most obvious of concerns and yet he’s actually chosen to act in a completely contrarian fashion, speaks volumes about the abject fragility of his mental makeup…he likely feels that if he were to actually admit to any wrongdoings or miscalculations his whole managerial facade would crumble to pieces, which has led to a myraid of easily correctable self-inflicted wounds…just another reason why he reminds me of a poor man’s shadow puppet version of a latter days Wenger
Hoopah-how quickly some forget the gravity of the managerial situation when MA was “forced” to play ESR, who in turn provided some of the only positive second-half moments…considering MA’s MO when it comes to anyone who doesn’t kiss the ring, no questions asked, it makes me think that maybe ESR’s people did have a chat with the club over a potential move to Villa, as they knew full-well that MA didn’t really rate him…of course, this managerial dynamic has likely played a decisive role in regards to the whole Saliba re-up gig, Tierney’s head possibly being turned and why blue chip players with other options, whom we’ve targeted, don’t go all-in with their own clubs in order to get things over the line, which is why we ended up with a periphery and aging figure like Jorginho and the excommunicated Trossard
Cheers
maybe the Spurs players are railing against the club’s public pronouncment regarding the notion of them being required to reimburse the away fans in their previous blowout loss (lol)….that said, maybe MA should contemplate a similar notion in response to him being totally ill-prepared to face a manager whom he should know more than any other currently plying their trades in the PL
just as a follow-up to ny previous “mindset” concerns about our manager, it’s always seemed telling to me that as a player MA was known as a level-headed, mild mannered, never a hair out of place individual, yet as a manager only the latter refrain rings true…in most cases, what you’ve witnessed on the pitch tends to align with what’s on offer from the touchline, within reason of course, yet in this particular case the exact opposite applies…when these anomolies occur it tends to be due to one of two things, either it’s overcompensation on the part of someone who worries greatly about being exposed as a fraud or they’re simply attempting to mimic someone of whom they admire most, almost like some sort of karaoke wannabe star who never amount to anything as they’re too preoccupied with perfecting their imitative qualities…it’s likely why some of our former stalwarts, like Vieira and Henry, haven’t figured the sideline gig out quite yet, as they’re likely not comfortable enough in their chosen managerial skin, as it’s not a true reflection of their best selves
what a crazy and entertaining Pool/Spurs affair…so much for Richarlison’s supposed heroics…maybe the scoring isn’t done yet?!?
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