The sad fact is that tactics have become so intricate, so convoluted and so overwhelming, they’ve sucked all the joy out of the game. Honestly, I find it tedious these days.
Double pivot. Inverted full backs. Gegenpressing. **** it all out the window and get back to, you know… playing football as God intended. 442 or 433, pass and move, pace and power.
To be fair, the majority of the time we play some lovely football. WE just haven't mastered the art of balancing this in a more cautious and structured way. We end up as toothless, static drones, knocking balls across our lines for 90 minutes until someone falls over and we concede a goal.
So sorry to hear about the missus. Best wishes
Well, we're are just two points off the top of the most difficult league in Europe, Peter. So we aren't *that* bad.
If the point that Charles is making is that football is all a bit samey, then I agree with him. Everyone seems to play the same system, endless pressing, flood midfield, get the ball back as quickly as possible when you lose it, push forward again.
Teams used to be about players only, so every team was different. Now it's just who does the same thing the best.
If that's his point, I agree with him.
Old Arsene was saying the same thing last night, when questioned (on the telly, I mean, of course. I didn't buttonhole him in the pub). He couldn't quite bring himself to admit it though, further than suggesting that now the physical, technical and tactical sides of the game have developed so much, it was now time for the artistic, creative, exciting particulars to catch up. And match up.
"Plenty of strikers can score goals," he said, gesturing to the famous old stands casting shadows around us.
"But a lot have found it difficult wearing the number 9 shirt for The Arsenal."
We are 5 points off the top of the league and I didn't say we were bad. I said we hadn't mastered the balance of controlling games without becoming unbelievably ****ing dull.
I don't think all teams play the same way although I do agree that teams are more about teams than individuals these days. I quite like that.