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06 Feb 2014 22:56:50
Not Arsenal related and sorry to post this so late but let's spare a few moments for those who lost their lives in the Munich aircrash 56 years ago today.
May they continue to rest in peace.
Agreed- I am not old enough to have been alive when that happened and whatever your football allegiances, it's always tragic when young people lose their lives and as fans of football, its especially poignant. RIP to them all.
06 Feb 2014 22:41:47
I was looking to see if there was an update on Diaby's latest injury, and saw that he had been talking in January of his hopes of making the France squad for the the world cup. I was wondering how people feel about that? Firstly that must mean we can expect to see him back before the end of the season as there is no way he can expect to get into the squad without playing. But personally as it is Arsenal who pay his wages, and he misses so much time through injury surely he should retire from international football. I know that may seem harsh as we all dream of playing for our country but, to me it seems fair that he limits the amount he plays and ensures he stays fit, especially as he got injured with France last season during a great run of games and form. Wondered what everyone else thinks? Am I being to harsh or should he only play for us?
Fair point but maybe he was just using the possibility of playing for France in the world cup as an incentive to get over his horrendous injuries.
I'm sure putting on an Arsenal shirt again is just as important for him and he was probably misquoted by the media.
Also, from what I have heard he pretty much refuses to accept any money from Arsenal as he feel's he has not earned his wages due to his injuries.
Full respect to the man.
I felt for Rosicky when it looked like we had lost him during his prime years, but look at him now. And he says his injuries have ironically extended his career now. There is always hope.
06 Feb 2014 21:57:24
Team of the season so far: I actually tried not to be biased. I'm sure someone will have a few disagreements.
Szczesny
Sagna
Koscielny
Mertesacker
Baines
Lallana
Ramsey
Yaya Toure
Hazard
Suarez
Aguero
Now honestly 10 players picked themselves in my humble opinion. The only position I struggled with was left back. Gibbs and Monreal have been fair consistent but they didn't stand out. Baines, although injured for a bit has 7 clean sheets, 1 assist and 3 goals compared to Gibbs 7 clean sheets no goals or assists.
Greeny, that's a terrific team. I might swap Lallana and replace him with Schneiderlin though to cover Ya Ya Toure when he goes marauding forward.
I think that's pretty fair "team of the season" so far. Gibbs has played well and has improved a lot, but Baines is a fantastic left back.
Now imagine that team being managed by tony pulis and shiver with disgust
Negredo over Aguero and Shaw over Bains! But the rest spot on I think
I'd replace Sagna with Coleman, and Lallana for Oscar. I might be a little biased with Oscar, but his start to the season was phenomenal. It's not everyone that dislodges a Juan Mata.
I think Shezza has been one of our most underrated players. Some of his saves have been tremendous and usually at crucial times within the matches. We surely would not be thinking of titles without him.
That's a great list. I would build the team around the Lalana-Ramsey axis. It depends on formation and it is controversial, but I would replace Toure for Schneiderlin, which is a bit of a Mourinho move, but Toure is surplus with Ramsey and Lalana. And Oscar over Hazard. And someone has to move out for Özil -:)
06 Feb 2014 18:20:36
Kompany and Ramos declare they want to be Gooners and accept pay cuts to do so, their clubs reluctantly agree to sell at a price Arsene would pay!
Would you take them or stick with Merts and Kos
I'd take tthem as back-up for Kos and Mert :)
I honestly can't believe how far their partnership has come in the past year.
They suit each other down to the ground, each complement each other.
I would dare say they look like the best partnership in the league.
Keep what we have.
I have been observing how certain players play and passion has a lot to do with their game.
read a recent article on messi, and how his passion for the game seems to have gone.
i could not agree more, same with ozil, the passion the other players have, is just not in him.
Does he love the game yes, but for those players its more about timing and position to create a moment, rather than be passionate and play every moment like you love it.
Kos and per are those passionate players, attached to a club and a cause, hence they thrive, and for me I would keep them.
On current form our duo is the best in Europe and it isn't even close
On that list, I'd do anything I could to get Ramos and then play him at right back, his natural position
Kompany's knees are shot, this form wasn't there earlier this year, and it won't be there long-term
Mert and Kos should be there next 2-3 years
Kompany is a beast and Ramos is a twonk!
I'd stick with future title winners Koscielny and Mertesacker!
Stick with kos and per. They've been fantastic. If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
Excellent answers and what I had hoped to you would all say.
There's very few of our players I would trade, add one or two yes but 95% of what we have is to be treasured
G62, if they threw in Aguero I would think about it lol
I'd have to take kompany as he is one of my 3 wish lost players to take us to the next level, the other 2 are Citeh players, Augero and Yaya to please
Take Kompany and stick him as DM!
If I had any power, Ramos would be nowhere near our squad.
but there's a reason I don't have any power
06 Feb 2014 17:10:12
Seen a few reports today about St.Dennis being touted to takeover at Swansea. Whilst I cannot see that happening, no doubt Swansea would be a 2nd team for a lot of us on here if it did.
I know it's lazy journalism and by all accounts he is happy plying his trade as Ajax's number 2 BUT
For a bit of banter, what if he joined the likes of either of the Manchester sides, Chelsea or that team down the road in our shadows. Would any of them be your 2nd team.
I know it wouldn't happen but I'm bored and need a laugh.
Definitely not, but I would hope, for Bergkamp's sake that the Manchester sides and Chelsea don't get relegated lol
06 Feb 2014 16:30:10
question for people! next Sunday fa cup 2 mins to go, drawing, do U throw the match to avoid an away match reply, with our already busy schedule or do you draw and play the youth team/second string and just see what what happens? I think if the bayern game was before the fa cup it might be easier to answer as u would have more info about your chances in the champs league! I want us to win them all just thought I'd ask?
If its all level with 10 to go? Send on all out attack subs play 2 5 3 and Szczesney up for corners if that doesn't decided it then a replay at full strength would be the only answer
I would take a FA cup loss to liverpool and loss to bayern if we beat liverpool and utd in the league.
Lakerville, you make a very interesting call there!
I sort of agree although it pains me to accept losing to the scousers in the FA cup.
Also, I actually fancy us to beat Bayern over two legs.
I am so excited for Saturdays game. We could make a huge statement and continue sitting pretty on top whilst all around us continue to doubt our chances.
You have to secure the replay. If you have to sacrifice a game, sacrifice in the replay. Play a weaker team in the replay if you have to. Too demoralizing for players and fans to lose a game that way in a season where momentum and emotion play such a role in these tight races.
06 Feb 2014 15:32:48
Players likely to leave
Out
Podolski-not really made an impact
Arteta-getting on a bit could do with an upgrade
Vermaelen-not enough playing time
Diaby-injury prone needs replacing
Bendtner-probably off to barca messi better watch out
Park-not arsenal standard
Djourou- c u later
Myiachi-not been given a chance keeps getting injured
Coquelin-I like this Lad good pace and versatility but been poor this season and now injured
The top of your list just doesn't stack up.
Podolski has been awesome, and is great in bursts. Arteta isn't the same player, but I doubt Wenger will allow him to leave, even with proper replacement. you have to look at the impact he has in the locker room as an influence for the young players.
Vermaelen unfortunately coule leave, but Wenger won't let him go before he has a third CB in place. I also believe that Verm is happy to be on this side, and unless he is transferred to russia right now to get playing time for the world cup, I doubt he will ask to leave.
as for the rest, who knows, but well have to wait and see.
Winner, winner chicken dinner - OH gets the prize for level headedness today. Stability is what got us here no point in changing now.
Sad if Verm leaves means we are going to downgrade on the back up CB's eventually someone will get hurt.
Since vermaelan was dropped results have proved that he wasn't good enough at the time, shame as we could have rotated but his performances when last a regular weren't up to the mark
If we win the title, I do not expect any of the defenders to leave.
poldi will be more than happy to play part time role, considering he won't be going to the next world cup. or its too far ahead to think of.
gnabry, ox, will only improve.
wilshere and ramsey will improve.
rosicky, cazorla and ozil will be better.
i expect a striker to be signed, a winger, GK, and some young players.
expect sagna to re sign.
Why does everyone think Podolski hasn't made an impact?! He's one of my favourite current players just based on how much he loves the club and hates spurs. He's a quality finisher and a definite keeper.
Sagna might sign on depending on how well we do this year. Vermaelen staying would be good IMO as he is decent back up. Keeping the main players (which we did in the summer) is one of the main reasons the team is currently so strong together.
Park, Bendtner, Diaby etc can go as they are definitely not good enough.
Rosicky is a legend and deserves to stay on.
Take a look at Podolski's record, he doesn't start because he can't run around chasing the ball like Giroud for 90+ minutes.
His record is phenomenal.
Hi Greeny,
Think I prefer Podolski where he is than try to convert him to a keeper, even if his lineage is Polish and we do like a Polish 'keeper.
06 Feb 2014 07:25:36
its been a while since my last post. Read an interesting article about our tactics and I thought I should share.
It was raving on about how AW seems to be playing a fake 9 system without people even realizing it and that's the reason why our central mids seem to score a lot of goals regardless of who plays there. OG 12 seems to be the furthest forward midfielder and that's the reason why we can play a pivot system with Arteta or flamini and ramsey, wilshere or Ox or carzola. That's also the reason OG 12 can drop deep and start attacks and stuff but isn't the one who isn't in the box to finish them off, its usually TW14 or LP9.
If this is what sly fox is doing then it is genius because it allows OG12 to draw defenders out and create space for other mids because they will be marking him as the target man and as the person tasked with scoring goals. This could be the same reason why LP9 as striker won't work!
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Definitely what we've been doing. I really didn't think it was a secret?
This system has been obvious for a while. However, I have noticed that the defence defends deeper this season, rather than pushing up to the halfway line, which stops teams getting in behind the back four, due to a lack of space & hence Mertesacker in particular is benefitting. In addition, the wide midfield players and the two deeper midfielders are protecting the back four so much better than before. I assume this i'd down to Bould's influence, rather than Wenger.
4-1-4-1 on attack and 4-2-3-1 when defending.
similar to guardiola at barcelona who used 4-1-4-1 on attack and 4-5-1 when defending.
not easy formations at all to switch between attack and defend, but discipline and practice has enabled us to be where we are.
on paper we don't even have a better squad to chelsea or man city, even their depth is immense.
anyway let's cross our fingers and hope that the good guys can win the title. after so long, some luck has to go our way in securing a title.