That is Raya's ball all day long. Gabriel is deep in the box and is only heading it into danger. Raya is right there and it is an easy catch.
It's a mix up. But Gabriel should be getting out of Raya's way there.
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That is Raya's ball all day long. Gabriel is deep in the box and is only heading it into danger. Raya is right there and it is an easy catch.
It's a mix up. But Gabriel should be getting out of Raya's way there.
We're going to need to spend an awful lot of money on our forward line in the summer. At an absolute minimum you're looking at a new striker and left winger. With presumably Jesus departing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
And while I agree with you on the above - I do wonder whether we'll look at the market for a goalkeeper. Perhaps someone to challenge Raya as I understand Kepa is likely off in the summer. Raya has had a few shaky moments in this second half of the season - not all his fault.
Also understand that White will leave the club in the summer. Which is presumably why we like this young defender at Real Madrid.
Do you have any words of comfort for me, P? Do you now conceed that the Carabao Cup is by far in a way our most likely chance of getting any silverwear this season?
It's something that's been puzzling for a while; the apparent lack of peripheral awareness players sometimes have. Years ago, Gilberto would simply misplace five-yard passes. As a youth player, David Rocastle wouldn't pass at all and they eventually discovered it was because he couldn't actually see very well; a standard contact lens prescription allowed him to make the step up. As England coach, Clive Woodward actually employed a peripheral vision coach. Forwards, not only ours, imagining they have about twenty minutes on the ball in the penalty area to do a fancy trick or two before shooting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
We praise footballers for their sixth sense-like perception at times; no-look flicks and whatnot. So how on earth does Gabriel not know where his own goalkeeper was.
Fortunately, we have an awful lot of money to spend nowadays. But what is the outlay supposed to achieve because we are not going to outspend our rivals, in any case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
If only the problem was as simple as changing players :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
I'm afraid it is the coach.
No words of comfort, I'm afraid. We could still nick the Carabao Cup.
No - I won't accept it's the coach. Gyokeres, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus would not start (and wouldn't make the bench in some cases) of City, Liverpool or Chelsea.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
We have a fantastic defence and midfield. We have built those foundations over the past 3 years. The cherry on top is the forward line which is barely top 8 standard - let alone title challenging.
That's precisely why we have to share goals around - we simply do not have the raw talent in forward areas. If you add an Julian Alvarez and a Morgan Rogers / Bradley Barcola - all of a sudden we have flair in that final third. Players to be feared.
There is no team in the PL that's scared of facing Gyokeres and co.
It is astonishing to me that people still cant see the problem....Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Was Martin Odegaard just rhe luckiest guy in the world. The only footballer ever to have a fortunate run of great form that lasted 3 years?
Look at Eze. Brilliant at Palace, he looks like a ****ing pub player with us. Even Saka is struggling now.
We have an approach to games that would destroy an Henry. Sign any player in the world and we will ruin him. Haaland couldn't score goals in this side.
By "no team" you must mean "Manchester City" as we do tend to finish above everybody else and will likely do so again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
A month ago the problem was apparently that everyone uses a low block against us and against nobody else. Now nobody is scared of us.Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
I can name someone who is terrified of our players. Arteta :-(
I mean all 19 teams in the PL that face us. Not one is scared about the players I mention because they're simply not at the level we require.Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
Obviously forward players of the standard we need are very expensive so I understand why we have left them until last in the rebuild. Also defences win titles etc.
*******s, Martinelli would walk into the Chelsea side and quite probably Liverpool as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
The point is they play low blocks against us because they know our players have very little technical ability and it gives them the best possible chance of winning the game. Give Martinelli space and he'll destroy you. Make it tight and he will give the ball away a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
You think Martinelli gets in ahead of Salah, Isak or Ektitike? Even Gakpo is a better footballer (not sprinter) than him.Quote:
Originally Posted by PSRB
He's also not getting in a side with Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto, Palmer (and others) either.
So, funnily enough, the likes of Martinelli would be great if they played for anyone else, as they wouldn't have to face the low blocks?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Is that why we sit back and constantly give the ball away? Is it a cunning plan to pull the opposition out of shape?
Salah wouldn't even get minutes off the bench for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Yes, and it's also why everyone who joins us becomes rubbish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
I agree with you on that but that's because he doesn't really fit with what Arteta is trying to achieve. You cannot doubt his talent, though. Coming up on 200 Premier League goals... it would take any of our forward players between 18 and 35 seasons to get that many.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
He'd be better for other sides, yes. Put him in AFC Bournemouth's side and he would score 15+ PL goals a season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
As he did for us, until Arteta decided that scoring goals was costing us the title.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
I dont doubt his talent. But he is lazy, selfish and doesn't do his defensive work. Arteta wouldn't stand for that. Even if he scored 35 goals a season. If anything, that would make it worse :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
He has achieved that once, Peter. This season he has one goal. 1. Uno.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
It's absolutely pathetic.
I know. One almost wonders how a good player can possibly suffer so badly. I mean, were it just him.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Think we need to give Eze another go on the left. He is someone that has the skills to excel against low blocks. Saka or Odegaard in the 10 and then Saka (if Odegaard is playing) or Madueke (if he's not) on the right. Havertz leads the line.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
It's our only hope now - I know Eze might not be so good off the ball but it's **** or bust now, I fear. Play Martinelli in the CL.
None of which play on the left wing :thumbup: hence Chelsea play Garnacho on the left.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
And Garnacho is a far more technically gifted player than Martinelli. 3 years younger than him too.Quote:
Originally Posted by PSRB
Absolute nonsenseQuote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Makes relatively little difference who you play in the front three when the rest of the side are camped in their own half pretending to be injured or taking 2 minutes over a throw in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
There's no change of lineup or amount of money that is going to fix this.
It is down to Arteta. He needs to give them all a pass. Tear into teams, make mistakes, whatever happens, I'll back you.
It's like the bit in Mississippi Burning when they decide to go after the bad guys by any means....
That's what we need. A complete and utter change of heart. It isnt going to happen. If anything, we will now go more negative.
Although Gene Hackman could be the man we need :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Arteta has taken us from an absolutle nothing side to being top of the PL, FA Cup QF (assuming we beat Mansfield), CC Final, Won the CL group with a perfect record.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
He gets plaudits from other top managers and many pundits. Yet Peter from AWIMB doesn't rate him.
Come on now.
Peter from Awimb loved him. He did a great job and for two years we looked wonderful.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
But we have gone backwards over the last season and a half and you have to be blind not to see it.
He has become increasingly negative and the football has got worse and worse. And we are paying the price for it. And all of this with the deepest and strongest squad we have ever had.
You cant blame tactics on the players.
You wouldn't want to mark him at a corner :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
The going backwards thing isn't really supported by the evidence, though. It's the best ever position we have been in at this point in the season in my lifetime (both domesitally and in Europe) and I suspect in yours too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
And from the Kroenkes perspective, although silverware would be a bonus, Arteta has increased the value of the club enormously. Even if we go on to win sod all, revenue and profit will likely soar again at the end of financial yearQuote:
Originally Posted by Rich
It is supported by every metric bar the fact that we are top of the league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Down on points, down on goals, down on wins. The fact that City and Liverpool have got worse quicker is the only thing stopping you from seeing it.
And in a few weeks time, we'll be second
True, but we owe them for the loans. For the huge sums we have spent on players.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
What do you do this summer? We probably cant afford another splurge and remain compliant.
It is a tough one.