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The 2020-2021 Football Thread
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Agreed.
You need to convert your chances, otherwise Manchester United will snatch an unlikely and improbable victory against the run of play in the 99th minute, as they did so often under Sir Alex.
I must say that I really like Marcus Rashford, the human being, the impressive, decent and dignified campaigner, and admire him as a footballer, but would prefer not to have to face him on the football pitch.
As I have already said, against Manchester United - who have previous in going behind initially, yet emerging victorious at the end of the game - you have to convert your chances.
West Ham have been very good, but positively prodigal when wasting - or spurning - chances that should have led to goals on the score sheet .
Indeed. Had Antonio been fit I’m sure we would have scored more in the first half.
That tired old cliché - that this has been "a game of two halves" - has rarely been more apt.
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I wonder which Man U would show up today, fortunately, the good one did, I'm pleased with the results. AFB, your team played well.
???? In the second half. The first half you were pretty poor. Truth is we are having a great season compared to last. Makes a nice change looking at the top half of the table!
No, both Manchester Uniteds showed up today, in turn; firstly, the awful one, the team that couldn't play for toffee, followed, invariably, by the specialists in overturning their opponent's lead and securing victory.
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West Brom are in trouble. Losing to Palace by such a high margin.
Looking forward to the North London derby.
Looking forward to the North London derby.
Two nil down, and (unlike yesterday, because Manchester United do resurrections extremely well these days) I see no way back.
Sigh.
And, ever since our formerly excellent striker signed his amply rewarded remunerative new contract, his creativity on field seems to have somehow dried up.
Plus, we do have a lot of dead wood that needs to be cleared out. Expensive deadwood.
And - yes, I have already offered this observation - but I am very sorry that we sold Martínez; we should have kept him, as I regard him as better than Leno (who is also good); our best period last season occurred when he played between the sticks, when Leno was out injured.
I think there are a lot of issues at Arsenal. The aforementioned striker needs to play up front and get the service to score goals.
I think a good cup run and mid table finish is about as good as it will get for you.
Agreed.
And, here I am about to give voice to a heretical observation - but, personally, I would prefer if we were not playing in, or distracted by, the glitter and fake glory of the Europa Cup, - and I think that our performances there flatter to deceive, and make us look better than we otherwise are.
I think some cup runs have papered over the cracks for too many years at Arsenal. I’m not convinced your current manager is improving things. His record is no better than the last guy. But the trouble is (not unlike my club), you are not able to attract the best players in Europe. Your a top 6-10 club and the best players want to play for clubs capable of winning the league or the CL. You can’t compete on that level.
So the players you attract are either not good enough or have done other flaws.
I am just not even sure what to say. Albeit, posting on a forum, the point is to share your thoughts.
Alas, we are playing awfully (Arsenal). Even more so, with Tottenham playing as well as they have been, I felt being a Derby, the players "would have been up for it".
Well, Mourinho strikes again...
Alas, we are playing awfully (Arsenal). Even more so, with Tottenham playing as well as they have been, I felt being a Derby, the players "would have been up for it".
Well, Mourinho strikes again...
We have had some excellent players, but - and this astounds me for it has been an obvious issue for at least half a decade - our defence needs serious attention, our midfield needs creativity, and the team needs to want to play as though the outcome mattered.
Re Arteta, he inherited a lot of problems, and - unfortunately - was untested as a manager, prior to his recruitment - so I am prepared to cut him some slack; moreover, while money has been an issue, it will take at least another two transfer windows to get to where he needs to be re constructing a functioning team.
Personally for the reasons I stated above I don’t think another 5-6 transfer windows will do it.
The best players don't always remain the "best players", - a lot depends on context, the specific culture at the club, their relationship with a particular manager, whether they themselves can - or wish - adapt to new systems and new team structures.
Rather, to my mind, the best managers are those who can identify stuff in a player that the player themselves may not know exists, managers who can persuade players to want to develop, grow, and become better, managers who can bring players along with them.
In other words, you can "grow" great players (but you must be able to identify them) as well as buy them.
However, I am not so sure that the team that Mikel Arteta has at his disposal is capable of developing or growing into the kind of team and system that he may wish them to be able to play.
Playing to a structure is all very well, but only works if they players are able to perform properly within that structure; in other words, building the team around a structure only works if you have the quality of player to do so.
If you lack that quality - as Arseal do at the moment, - it may be time to consider amending the structure, or amending the team - or both.
If the team can't play to the structure, well, then, the structure must bend to the team, until you can construct or put together, a team that can play to such a structure.
While I am prepared to give Mikel Arteta some slack, (and some time, and some one), I also think that he may need to think about the players he has at his disposal, and build a structure around them, rather than seek to mould the to something that does not seem to be working terribly well.
Columbus have started well against the Revs in their conference final knockout match; I think we have the better attack but we are still playing with our backup keeper. But why the hell are we wearing our away kit at home in a playoff match, and why are we attacking the Nordecke in the first half? Would like to see us grab a goal in the first half.
Speaking of backup keepers, Liverpool are in the same boat but currently have a two goal cushion against Wolves, so hopefully Kelleher won't be required to make any game-saving plays today.
It's unusual to have both 'Pool and Columbus on the pitch at the same time. If I were a multi-billionaire and owned buth clubs I'd have them play a pre-season friendly tournament every year. Two matches each in Columbus and Liverpool.
I think it's worth remembering that nobody is playing really great football right now. Between fixture congestion, injuries, and players getting COVID, The best you can hope for are good results.
Hard to judge some clubs and managers right now with all those complications. With that being said, it was a bad day for Arsenal, and right now it does not look like Arteta is really building on last season's finish. Good win for Man Utd yesterday but another inconsistent performance....PSG would have tore them apart in the first half.
Speaking of backup keepers, Liverpool are in the same boat but currently have a two goal cushion against Wolves, so hopefully Kelleher won't be required to make any game-saving plays today.
It's unusual to have both 'Pool and Columbus on the pitch at the same time. If I were a multi-billionaire and owned buth clubs I'd have them play a pre-season friendly tournament every year. Two matches each in Columbus and Liverpool.
I think it's worth remembering that nobody is playing really great football right now. Between fixture congestion, injuries, and players getting COVID, The best you can hope for are good results.
Hard to judge some clubs and managers right now with all those complications. With that being said, it was a bad day for Arsenal, and right now it does not look like Arteta is really building on last season's finish. Good win for Man Utd yesterday but another inconsistent performance....PSG would have tore them apart in the first half.