I actually agree with gray here, i would rather us go for it in the 1st 20 mins and at least put them under some pressure even if we end up gettin beat 4 nil rather than sitting back keeping it tight but not managing a shot on target and gettin beat 1 nil.


Think it been 2 each might actually help us, think if we had been 2 up we would have gone with 4 central midfielders with lennon + defoe on the bench , keane droppin into midfield, we would have tried to hang on for 90 mins, which were useless at. At least now we know we have to go out and win the game, no point in trying to play for a draw, hopefully same team as last night but with lee in for ekotto, ekotto did well last night but struggles away from home, if they play a similar team to last night i think we have an even chance of winning.


To dare is to do.

COYS.

Gray has said nothing here which many people have pointed out on this site already.

I hope that the memory of what happened at their place earlier in the season will help inspire the players to really go for it. My problem is, unlike last season at Highbury, I just don't fancy us to get a result. For 20 odd mins almost every game I think we look, dare I say it, like Ar**nal. And then, for some reason I just can not comprehend, we have a period when we pull our pants down and let the opposition feast on our crack!!

The guys are trying, the skill levels are there and, in general, Jol gets his tatics and selection right.

Any ideas anyone?

With Arsenals youngsters, the only one ever looking like scoring is Baptsita.. 4 against Liverpool & 2 against us.
Let Dawson man mark him for the entire game and push on like we did in the 1st half.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Maybe he tells them that if they don't play like they mean it the whole ninety minutes he himself will feast on their cracks for a good several hours...........................what's that, Sol Campbell wants to come back to the Lane?

That is a very important point. We haven't been exactly convincing on any front lately. Our record in the UEFA Cup is obviously perfect, but the biggest favourites there are still to be played.

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but let's face it, our chances of qualifying for Europe via the cups are slim. I can't see us winning the league cup. I mean, John Hendry scored in our last away win at Arsenal. It has been that long. We have a chance of reaching the FA Cup final, but that would require a great deal of luck. Not likely. It could be that reaching the UEFA Cup final is easier, but that wouldn't be enough, we'd have to win it also. We're one of the biggest favourites there so that's possible. But not likely. We haven't got too much European experience and there are some very tough teams in it, Sevilla propably the biggest favourites.

Our best chance is still via the League. We have to be in the top 7 to qualify (the league cup place is going to the league unless we win it). I think that the current top 5 will be the top 5 at the end of the season also. That means that only one of Portsmouth, Everton, Reading, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Man City, Aston Villa or Fulham can finish ahead of us. Pompey and Everton are the biggest threats. I think Reading will fade a bit and Blackburn have suffered a couple of bad injuries lately. Newcastle and Villa could still be in the mix, but City and Fulham are propably happy just to stay out of the relegation battle.

I'd say that if we want to keep our key players in the summer, European qualification is very important, in fact it's a must. We have to be in there. Am I the only one who is worried that we might not be?

not having a go at jol, cos he's done a fantastic job for us and is still moulding tis young team.
However, it was disappointing how he learnt nothing from the 3-0 defeat at the emirates. we went in with 5 in midfield and keane on the left there and yet again fabregas stole the show on that day.

Fast forward to the lane on weds, we were a goal up berby went off injured and yet again we went 5 in the middle with keane on the left.
At 4-4-2 we were harrying their midfield and rabregas was not in the game. Went to 4-5-1 (or 4-3-3 whateva you want to call it) and somehow having an extra man in the middle fabregas found himself getting more and more time on the ball.

if we are to go 4-5-1, get davids in the team to do a job on fabregas and follow him for 90 mins. with him marked out of the game we can and will do a job on the dirty cheating scumbags from south london !!!

All we have to do is man mark the two central midfielders (fabs and whatever). Then the rest can play as usual. it wont tire our players for 90 minutes to do that would it. Give fabergas space and he will deliver. The rest of the team dont have his range/accuracy. the beast is only good when he received the passes.

experience! - sadly the only way to get that is time (or a lot of money)

The only saving grace from going into this game at 2-2 is we have to have a go at Arsenal rather than sit back for 90mins and hope to get a result. One thing we should have learned is that the only way to beat them is to have a go

Good point.

Whats the crack with away goals this season? If it's 2-2 after 90 do Arse go through?

Away goals count only after extra time. Weird, but true.

So, if the aggregate score is level after 90 minutes, extra time is played. If the score is still level after extra time, the goons go through if the aggregate score is 2-2 or 3-3, penalty shoot-out is held if it's 4-4 and if it's 5-5 or more, we go through.

0-0 Arsenal through After extra time
1-1 Arsenal Through AET
2-2 Penalties
3-3 or above We go through.

Meaning we have to Win!

... or draw 3-3 :roll:

Jol must see sense and play Mido with Def/Keane - looks likely Berb wont feature. If he doesnt, it will quite simply be the same old story of the 2nd half Wed night. It is near on impossible for JD/Keano to try and retain possession when they are both 5ft somethings!!

To DARE is to DO... the only way to take out the Arsenal.

This draw did feel like a defeat yesterday, but having back to reality, I guess we have improved over the last decade.

Nonethelss, it's plain to see that we need a it of BELIEF on the pitch. No use shouting orders or tactical ploys from the sidelines.

Eleven players each. Man for man. It's the one with the greatest DESIRE whom will win. Us paying supporters (that feed you and your kin) DEMAND only DESIRE. Not much, just more than the your direct opponent. That'll do.......

Go on Spurs, we DARE you to DO.

winning mentality

The players only seemed to wake up once Arsenal had equalised. Keane was lost on the pitch. Unfortunately he seemed to hinder rather than help the shape.
Bring on the sports psychologist who convinces the players that even when you are ahead you still need to work as hard in closing down players etc. It is a mental issue of a winning mentality.
I still feel it was not a bad result merely disapointing !
The bad results were against Newcastle (home and away) and Fulham home and way. If we cannot win against poor sides we stand no chance of progressing in the premiership.