Ratings vs Arsenal

[thinktank]

How about both, with Capoue in the middle.

I daren't project 433s as I can't see poch addling their very challenged minds with anything else other than 4231 until they get it down.

That would have a nice balance to it though, for sure.

 

[guiltyparty]

I guarantee you if we 'went for it', we would have left our defence exposed so many times and would've been beaten by 3 or 4

Not sure we needed to go for it more that much, just needed the attackers to play better. All had off days bar the goal, which stunned me it was such an out of the blue bit of quality, seemingly beamed in from a different game

 

[mpickard2087]

I wouldn't have minded us sitting a bit deeper and taking a risk averse approach at all, but we didn't press them at all, there was no counter attacking just waiting for Arsenal to fuck up on the edge of our box and someone going on a lone charge up the pitch until he realised he was on his own.

I love a decent counter attacking strategy, but that involves you actually proactively trying to catch them on the hop. We were so shocked to have the ball the few times we did it caught us on the hop.

There were two or three in the first half where we broke and had a man (or men) over and wasted it. One was wasted by Mason, another Eriksen, think Chadli or Lamela was also guilty of one(?)... And none were that difficult to execute. Three very decent opportunities that could/should have resulted in goals, plus the Chadli and Adebayor golden chances.

Second half I agree was more messy.

There are some games where you might want to press and then counter. Other games where you get everyone in behind the ball and be tough to break down and then go from there. Especially against a Giroud-less Arsenal, you can funnel them wide and leave them toothless, no-one to cross to. Off the ball we weren't perfect in our work, it needs to better if we use this approach again, and changes should have been made second half, but it was a determined effort.

 

[guiltyparty]

There were two or three in the first half where we broke and had a man (or men) over and wasted it. One was wasted by Mason, another Eriksen, think Chadli or Lamela was also guilty of one(?)... And none were that difficult to execute. Three very decent opportunities that could/should have resulted in goals, plus the Chadli and Adebayor golden chances.

Second half I agree was more messy.

There are some games where you might want to press and then counter. Other games where you get everyone in behind the ball and be tough to break down and then go from there. Especially against a Giroud-less Arsenal, you can funnel them wide and leave them toothless, no-one to cross to. Off the ball we weren't perfect in our work, it needs to better if we use this approach again, and changes should have been made second half, but it was a determined effort.

Blimey, we counting that Mason one as a chance? How far can we seriously go back in a move breaking down to justify our attacking prowess? He'd miscontrolled it before he was even in the box and once he'd done that he was never getting that across to Adebayor. Not slating the guy but if opportunities that should have been goals includes that, I think we're clutching at straws

 

[Mr Pink]

Blimey, we counting that Mason one as a chance? How far can we seriously go back in a move breaking down to justify our attacking prowess? He'd miscontrolled it before he was even in the box and once he'd done that he was never getting that across to Adebayor. Not slating the guy but if opportunities that should have been goals includes that, I think we're clutching at straws

Our first chance to counter... if Lamela gets the pass right, and its developing into a one on one with their keeper.

Arsenal were there to be picked off tonight, no doubt about it.

Just a pity we couldn't counter more effectively.

 

[guiltyparty]

Our first chance to counter... if Lamela gets the pass right, and its developing into a one on one with their keeper.

Arsenal were there to be picked off tonight, no doubt about it.

Just a pity we couldn't counter more effectively.

They were. But we never looked like doing it. The goal was a freak in a game of really poor attacking

Arsenal are really not that good

 

[mpickard2087]

Blimey, we counting that Mason one as a chance? How far can we seriously go back in a move breaking down to justify our attacking prowess? He'd miscontrolled it before he was even in the box and once he'd done that he was never getting that across to Adebayor. Not slating the guy but if opportunities that should have been goals includes that, I think we're clutching at straws

When he had the ball Adebayor was wide open. The ball could have been moved quicker to him for starters... It was only a poor touch (that shouldn't have happened really) that sent him wide and even then if he wraps his foot around it more and sends it across goal there's a good chance Ade has a tap in at the back post.

I'd say it was a very decent situation if actions are performed competently.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

The entire back seven ranged from pretty good to superb, with Kaboul topping the lot.

The entire front four were ineffectual in attack (goal aside) and non existent in defence, with Lamela the least culpable and Adebayor the winner of this week's 'wanker of the week' award.

Dier had a good cameo, Bentaleb was okay, Lennon made zero contribution.

 

[guiltyparty]

When he had the ball Adebayor was wide open. The ball could have been moved quicker to him for starters... It was only a poor touch (that shouldn't have happened really) that sent him wide and even then if he wraps his foot around it more and sends it across goal there's a good chance Ade has a tap in at the back post.

I'd say it was a very decent situation if actions are performed competently.

But actions weren't performed competently. We can't rewrite the game how we'd have liked it to go just to create a chance that didn't happen

We did it well, once. Their goalie has had fuck all to do all game really, yet Lloris had to make a succession of great saves. I think we deserved a point, but that was down to the goalie, defenders and CMs.

Eriksen needs a shake, too, he's starting to piss me off no end

 

[zzz]

Not sure if this has been mentioned or not, but Capoue made more defensive interventions than anyone else in the premiership so far this weekend.

 

[mpickard2087]

But actions weren't performed competently. We can't rewrite the game how we'd have liked it to go just to create a chance that didn't happen

We did it well, once. Their goalie has had fuck all to do all game really, yet Lloris had to make a succession of great saves. I think we deserved a point, but that was down to the goalie, defenders and CMs.

Eriksen needs a shake, too, he's starting to piss me off no end

The point was that BC said the only counter attacks we mounted were lone rangers running from their own penalty box, which wasn't true. Whether it was performed competently or not, it was still an example where we had countered with numbers and had spare men waiting to be played in on goal. That suggests we were at least effective in creating the opportunities in the first half.

 

[guiltyparty]

The point was that BC said the only counter attacks we mounted were lone rangers running from their own penalty box, which wasn't true. Whether it was performed competently or not, it was still an example where we had countered with numbers and had spare men waiting to be played in on goal. That suggests we were at least effective in creating the opportunities in the first half.

I agree, we countered with two or three a few times - Vertonghen one near the end comes to mind instantly. But in all cases, it had fizzled out before we even got to their box through indecision or poor play. They were opportunities to create chances that we spurned. I'm not sure there's a stat for that

 

[jezz]

The entire back seven ranged from pretty good to superb, with Kaboul topping the lot.

The entire front four were ineffectual in attack (goal aside) and non existent in defence, witless Lamela the least culpable and Adebayor the winner of this week's 'wanker of the week' award.

Dier had a good cameo, Bentaleb was okay, Lennon made zero contribution.

Two of the same awards for Ade on the trot, impressive

 

[Mr Pink]

I agree, we countered with two or three a few times - Vertonghen one near the end comes to mind instantly. But in all cases, it had fizzled out before we even got to their box through indecision or poor play. They were opportunities to create chances that we spurned. I'm not sure there's a stat for that

You don't need stats for everything, that's the whole point.

But you can see these things unfolding and still have a strong feeling on how we've played.

I agree with Phil Neville on MOTD, a total neutral - that we created the better chances, he even went on to say we were the better side in the first half - and when you look at the clear cut chances I'd agree with him.

 

[SlotBadger]

Which comedian voted for Adebayor?

 

[guiltyparty]

You don't need stats for everything, that's the whole point.

But you can see these things unfolding and still have a strong feeling on how we've played.

I agree with Phil Neville on MOTD, a total neutral - that we created the better chances, he even went on to say we were the better side in the first half - and when you look at the clear cut chances I'd agree with him.

The stats line was a gag

I've just watched the extended highlights to refresh what I thought was my memory. Lloris makes about five good saves that could have been goals. Their bloke had to stop Mertesacker's attempted own goal. That's it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not slating the team, but some seem to be willing an attacking performance that just wasn't there. It was a great defensive showing for me and no more

 

[mpickard2087]

Which comedian voted for Adebayor?

Sorry.

 

[Mr Pink]

The stats line was a gag

I've just watched the extended highlights to refresh what I thought was my memory. Lloris makes about six very good saves that could have been goals. Their bloke had to stop Mertesacker's attempted own goal. That's it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not slating the team, but some seem to be willing an attacking performance that just wasn't there. It was a great defensive showing for me and no more

Of course it wasn't an attacking performance, it was a defensive one - that brought about good counter attacking situations that we should of made far more of.

I'm not talking about possession, domination and working their keeper, peppering their goal etc. That was never our game plan and had it been we would of got caned anyway.

What I'm saying is, that the way we set up to play tonight, Arsenal struggle with. Teams like Villa, good counter attacking side, have gone their and beaten them recently playing this way - and really exposed them to boot.

We should of scored more tonight. We were more threatening tonight than last season - where we had twice the possession practically.

 

[zzz]

Of course it wasn't an attacking performance, it was a defensive one - that brought about good counter attacking situations that we should of made far more of.

I'm not talking about possession, domination and working their keeper, peppering their goal etc. That was never our game plan and had it been we would of got caned anyway.

What I'm saying is, that the way we set up to play tonight, Arsenal struggle with. Teams like Villa, good counter attacking side, have gone their and beaten them recently playing this way - and really exposed them to boot.

We should of scored more tonight. We were more threatening tonight that last season - where we had twice the possession practically.

To be fair, we haven't had a lot of luck getting into the oppositions box this season, so it's no wonder we were a bit rusty once we got there.

 

[rabbikeane]

Only let down today was the precision in our counter attacks at times.
Our game play was solid enough, but we made some individual mistakes when we had the opportunity to punish them.
Trying to out play them would have been foolish, pro away game performance.

Kaboul a mountain at the back today, had some good games now