We are looking a leetle bit sheet here

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

. . . . . . .

[Peter]

. . . . . . .

No control over the game at all. Fortunate to be level.

Needs a big improvement

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

No control over the game at all. Fortunate to be level.

Needs a big improvement

Or with a glass half full, we conceded twice. Once was a joke of a gift. The other a worldie where the slight weight balance wrong-footed our normally Spunky-esque 'keeper.

Despite that we won 3-2 away at a team with a great record at home with a starting XI that allowed us to bring on B, Jeez and Leo.

As far as I can make out, we only have Ricky C, Triphop and Kai out. And speaking of Kai, we're top of both tables when our best striker has only played about 23 mins in total so far so should be like a new signing, Ganpati willing.

Though P, I do love the way you moan about us going into game management mode. But when we don't manage the game, you moan about that.

Stick to the historical approach and save the analysis until after the event. That way, cos you know what happened, you get all your insights spot on thanks to hindsight.

{Unless you pretend certain memoranda didn't exist just to .... etc etc etc}

[Peter]

Or with a glass half full, we conceded twice. Once was a joke of a gift. The other a worldie where the slight weight balance wrong-footed our normally Spunky-esque 'keeper.

Despite that we won 3-2 away at a team with a great record at home with a starting XI that allowed us to bring on B, Jeez and Leo.

As far as I can make out, we only have Ricky C, Triphop and Kai out. And speaking of Kai, we're top of both tables when our best striker has only played about 23 mins in total so far so should be like a new signing, Ganpati willing.

Though P, I do love the way you moan about us going into game management mode. But when we don't manage the game, you moan about that.

Stick to the historical approach and save the analysis until after the event. That way, cos you know what happened, you get all your insights spot on thanks to hindsight.

{Unless you pretend certain memoranda didn't exist just to .... etc etc etc}

That was at half time. We improved. And **** me, it was needed. Last 15 minutes were good. We consistently won the ball back in midfield and managed the game away from our goal. The right approach to game management.

Don't start with all that Hossbach sjite again

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

That was at half time. We improved. And **** me, it was needed. Last 15 minutes were good. We consistently won the ball back in midfield and managed the game away from our goal. The right approach to game management.

Don't start with all that Hossbach sjite again

But even at HT, we'd given away a schoolboy goal yet were still 1-1 away at a team who's much better at home, with B, Leo and Jeez fit to come on from the bench.

Hindsight, see? The prerogative of a historian is to be right every time.

{You would not believe the number of people I know who think I'm basically the cleverest person they've ever met, just because I explain how we've got to where we are while steadfastly refusing to make any predictions about what will happen from now.}

Had Bournemouth scored a late equaliser, I would have explained how it happened and been right. Likewise had we not conceded at 3-1 but scored a 4th and 5th.

Still, your reverse jinxing/manic depressive paranoia [delete as applicable] is most appreciated. So far. I'm sure if we don't win at least one big trophy I will be able to show that it was all your fault.

[Peter]

But even at HT, we'd given away a schoolboy goal yet were still 1-1 away at a team who's much better at home, with B, Leo and Jeez fit to come on from the bench.

Hindsight, see? The prerogative of a historian is to be right every time.

{You would not believe the number of people I know who think I'm basically the cleverest person they've ever met, just because I explain how we've got to where we are while steadfastly refusing to make any predictions about what will happen from now.}

Had Bournemouth scored a late equaliser, I would have explained how it happened and been right. Likewise had we not conceded at 3-1 but scored a 4th and 5th.

Still, your reverse jinxing/manic depressive paranoia [delete as applicable] is most appreciated. So far. I'm sure if we don't win at least one big trophy I will be able to show that it was all your fault.

See.. you are looking at outcomes, i am looking at performance. Which leads to outcomes.

In your language, I am the war correspondent, not the historian.

In your previous post you mistake control for game management. They are not the same thing at all. Indeed, my biggest gripe with our game management mode is that it surrenders far too much control.

I don't object to game management mode- I just don't like ours. It is better suited to an average side of far less ability.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

See.. you are looking at outcomes, i am looking at performance. Which leads to outcomes.

In your language, I am the war correspondent, not the historian.

In your previous post you mistake control for game management. They are not the same thing at all. Indeed, my biggest gripe with our game management mode is that it surrenders far too much control.

I don't object to game management mode- I just don't like ours. It is better suited to an average side of far less ability.

First two lines - agreed. And as I said, it's always easier being an historian as you always have hindsight.

3rd line - arguing over semantics. Not a lefty, are we? Though tbf, since these culture wars started, the right have been playing "let's just redefine the terms so I think I'm right."

If game management works and get 3 pts, we were in control. If it doesn't, we weren't. Again, you only know when the final whistle gives one hindsight.

4th line - that would be the game management mode that has given us the best defence for about the last 3 seasons, and currently has us top of both tables?

The problem wasn't the defence and game management, it was the lack of quality options up top. That's why we added Noni, Easy and Vik without selling anyone. That's why we could bring on MnM at 3-2 to see the game out, but could have added Easy for Zubi if we needed a winner.

If you start redefining terms like a Corbynista {"Everyone to the right of Jeremy is a Thatcherite"} I will start banging on about all the Stufenplan evidence going back to the unpublished Zweitesbuch.

[Peter]

First two lines - agreed. And as I said, it's always easier being an historian as you always have hindsight.

3rd line - arguing over semantics. Not a lefty, are we? Though tbf, since these culture wars started, the right have been playing "let's just redefine the terms so I think I'm right."

If game management works and get 3 pts, we were in control. If it doesn't, we weren't. Again, you only know when the final whistle gives one hindsight.

4th line - that would be the game management mode that has given us the best defence for about the last 3 seasons, and currently has us top of both tables?

The problem wasn't the defence and game management, it was the lack of quality options up top. That's why we added Noni, Easy and Vik without selling anyone. That's why we could bring on MnM at 3-2 to see the game out, but could have added Easy for Zubi if we needed a winner.

If you start redefining terms like a Corbynista {"Everyone to the right of Jeremy is a Thatcherite"} I will start banging on about all the Stufenplan evidence going back to the unpublished Zweitesbuch.

I haven't redefined anything. Control and game management were never the same in my head.

We look to control a game when e are trying to win it. By controlling possession and the midfield. This what City do superbly. Or did....

We use game management when we are looking to kill the game, and it is usually through a low block, static positioning and 'antics' to break up the game. As I said, I don't object to doing it, in some circumstances. I just don't like the way we do it. And I don't like us doing it after 30 minutes when we go 1-0 up.

Your belief that game management has got us where we are is a pretty bold claim. I could argue it cost us points at Liverpool, Sunderland, maybe even Villa. I could argue it is the thing that has been holding us back

And your approach to this has the unholy ring of post hoc ergo propter hoc......

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I haven't redefined anything. Control and game management were never the same in my head.

We look to control a game when e are trying to win it. By controlling possession and the midfield. This what City do superbly. Or did....

We use game management when we are looking to kill the game, and it is usually through a low block, static positioning and 'antics' to break up the game. As I said, I don't object to doing it, in some circumstances. I just don't like the way we do it. And I don't like us doing it after 30 minutes when we go 1-0 up.

Your belief that game management has got us where we are is a pretty bold claim. I could argue it cost us points at Liverpool, Sunderland, maybe even Villa. I could argue it is the thing that has been holding us back

And your approach to this has the unholy ring of post hoc ergo propter hoc......

I only watch us so can make no comment on your City analogies - I'll take your word for it.

But para:4. You're using hindsights. Given our first five games, our injuries etc, had we got a 0-0 at Anfield having fluked a win at OT, we'd have taken it. Had that world class FK been a few inches either way, we'd have got away with the lack of control that led to the FK.

Sunderland, a home team with great support get a late equaliser in a game we weren't able to finish off because we had Odin, Noni, Gabby, Vik, Jeez and Kai all out. We started with MnM up top. Yes, you could argue that if he'd brought on Ethan for Easy instead of Triphop we might have held on by playing less defensively, but again we're playing historians - hindsight and counter-factuals.

At Villa, we had a CH pairing of Hinchappy and JT, with MLS coming on to replace Ricky C at LB.

And what you call post hoc ergo propter hoc, I call being happy with 3 pts away at a club that beat us last year.

I never thought I'd meet a cat-loving historian who's even gloomier than me.

In short, we've been seriously stress-tested by injuries both up top and at the back and are still top of the table. I pray to God we don't have to find out what happens if both Dec and Zubi get big injuries, but I reckon Norgie, MnM, and/or MLS and the skipper dropping deeper ? la Santi could get us through it.

[Peter]

I only watch us so can make no comment on your City analogies - I'll take your word for it.

But para:4. You're using hindsights. Given our first five games, our injuries etc, had we got a 0-0 at Anfield having fluked a win at OT, we'd have taken it. Had that world class FK been a few inches either way, we'd have got away with the lack of control that led to the FK.

Sunderland, a home team with great support get a late equaliser in a game we weren't able to finish off because we had Odin, Noni, Gabby, Vik, Jeez and Kai all out. We started with MnM up top. Yes, you could argue that if he'd brought on Ethan for Easy instead of Triphop we might have held on by playing less defensively, but again we're playing historians - hindsight and counter-factuals.

At Villa, we had a CH pairing of Hinchappy and JT, with MLS coming on to replace Ricky C at LB.

And what you call post hoc ergo propter hoc, I call being happy with 3 pts away at a club that beat us last year.

I never thought I'd meet a cat-loving historian who's even gloomier than me.

In short, we've been seriously stress-tested by injuries both up top and at the back and are still top of the table. I pray to God we don't have to find out what happens if both Dec and Zubi get big injuries, but I reckon Norgie, MnM, and/or MLS and the skipper dropping deeper ? la Santi could get us through it.

I agree with you to some extent.

Completely agree re Sunderland. We had no forward subs that Arteta felt he could make, and we couldn't keep them away from our box, so he strengthened our box with an extra defender for the last 10 minutes. Absolutely the right thing to do, even though it didn't work.

Villa, same. We were great second half and didn't deserve to lose.

Liverpool- no! They were there to be beaten at half time and instead we dropped off and played for the draw. We wouldn't do that now. It was wrong. I'll never change my mind on that. And it isnt hindsight. I was moaning live, I was moaning at 0-0 and would have carried on moaning if it had ended 0-0.

And look.... I was very happy with the second half yesterday, we were largely great. But the first half wasn't good enough. And the second half doesn't change that.

We were poor in the first half against Villa in tje game before. It needs thinking about. That is two games in a row where we have started slowly. This is what I look for. Patterns, repeated mistakes, repeated successes. We don't want to be starting games slowly every week.

I can assure you, Arteta is far more demanding than I am

I'm happy with where we are abd i hope with players back our performances will improve. They do kind of need to. The other competitions kick in now and we cant afford to have every game going into the 95th minute as a contest.

The key to fhe second half of the season is ruthlessness.

I know we have a four point cushion but it is City chasing us.....

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I agree with you to some extent.

Completely agree re Sunderland. We had no forward subs that Arteta felt he could make, and we couldn't keep them away from our box, so he strengthened our box with an extra defender for the last 10 minutes. Absolutely the right thing to do, even though it didn't work.

Villa, same. We were great second half and didn't deserve to lose.

Liverpool- no! They were there to be beaten at half time and instead we dropped off and played for the draw. We wouldn't do that now. It was wrong. I'll never change my mind on that. And it isnt hindsight. I was moaning live, I was moaning at 0-0 and would have carried on moaning if it had ended 0-0.

And look.... I was very happy with the second half yesterday, we were largely great. But the first half wasn't good enough. And the second half doesn't change that.

We were poor in the first half against Villa in tje game before. It needs thinking about. That is two games in a row where we have started slowly. This is what I look for. Patterns, repeated mistakes, repeated successes. We don't want to be starting games slowly every week.

I can assure you, Arteta is far more demanding than I am

I'm happy with where we are abd i hope with players back our performances will improve. They do kind of need to. The other competitions kick in now and we cant afford to have every game going into the 95th minute as a contest.

The key to fhe second half of the season is ruthlessness.

I know we have a four point cushion but it is City chasing us.....

"That is two games in a row where we have started slowly." Or two games in a row where the opposing manager had worked out how to frustrate us, but MA sorted it at HT and we went on to win.

Again, it just becomes an argument over semantics.

LFC - yes, with hindsight they were there for the taking. But we had no B, no skipper and Vik playing his third game for us. 2 games later, when we drew with City, we had ten points, LFC had 15 and everyone said it was their title.

At that point, had we got a draw at Anfield, and been just 2 points behind, having played 3 big teams in our first five games, we'd have been happier.

We've played 20 PL games so far this season. The fact that you shouted "twist" during the LFC game, when MA went "stick" and we lost doesn't mean we can ignore all those times you shouted "twist" and MA went "stick" and we won. A bit like AJP Taylor and.....

Now let's hope everyone stays fit and we can see what Kai will do.

One could argue that so far this season, of the 3 options up top, we've looked better with MnM than Vik or Jeez. And Kai is like MnM but a natural 10/false 9.

We've seen a new year run with him before. That's what we want again. But with extra options like Noni and Easy and Vik, as well as more cover at the back.

Pep going on the other day about them having Rodri back. We have Kai to come back.