Arsenal (H) | Pre-Match Thread

[Tricky_Trev]

Sorry for swearing but you deserve it if you actually think Fernandinho isn't good enough and should be nowhere near the team. Is still the best cdm in the world when fit and rested. Without him as cdm we struggle EVERY fucking time because he is one of the few players in the world that can stop 40 counters every game in an efficient and smart way.

It isn’t 2018 any more. Swear as much as you want, it won’t change that.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

To be fair, Fernandinho is still a lot more mobile than Rodri...but that’s not saying a great deal.

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Wait! Did Rodri get injured or something?

Why am I seeing lots of Dihno in Rodri's position? Did I miss some injury update?

If not, what then can be the rationale for this change? Has Dihno played better than Rodri in any game this year? No! Has Dihno shown speed and Athletism unusual of a 35 year-old? No. Has there been any game in which Dihno gave away fewer balls than Rodri? No. Has there been any game where he made more stops than Rodri? No.

So in the name of all things reasonable, why the fuck am I seeing so many lineups with no Rodri...

Fuck! Did we sell Rodri at the deadline?

There's a strange blind spot on Fernandinho. People can accept that Aguero is on the decline and isn't the player he used to be but still think Fernandinho is good enough to start for us.

He was dreadful at CB all of last season and has been poor in midfield this season, it's not even his fitness which is the biggest concern, his passing has been woeful.

Seems like 50% of forward passes he has tried this season have gone straight to the opposition.

 

[vin]

There's a strange blind spot on Fernandinho. People can accept that Aguero is on the decline and isn't the player he used to be but still think Fernandinho is good enough to start for us.

He was dreadful at CB all of last season and has been poor in midfield this season, it's not even his fitness which is the biggest concern, his passing has been woeful.

Seems like 50% of forward passes he has tried this season have gone straight to the opposition.

Dreadful is being harsh. He was still better than all of our other centre backs whilst playing in a position which he wasn't used to. I get he made the odd mistake here and there but come on, cut him a bit of slack there.

He was being asked to play with 40 yards worth of space in behind him. He's hardly Usain Bolt is he.

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Dreadful is being harsh. He was still better than all of our other centre backs whilst playing in a position which he wasn't used to. I get he made the odd mistake here and there but come on, cut him a bit of slack there.

He was being asked to play with 40 yards worth of space in behind him. He's hardly Usain Bolt is he.

I am not blaming him, I am sure he did the best he could playing in a new position but the fact is he is a very poor CB.

Thankfully we have strengthened in that position so Fernandinho can now be a squad player as should be expected of a 35 year old.

 

[MAG]

Ferna > Rodri

Fernandinho is still better than Rodri in the central defensive midfield role in front of the centre backs ... drops back in between the two when needed and gets forward and moves the play forward whenever there’s an opportunity and senses danger on counter attacks and is always in the right position to stop that ... Rodri goes around in a whole circle with the ball without giving it away so looks like he’s retaining it in pressure but then passes the ball to the teammate closest to him and that’s that ...

So I’d start Ferna in every big game of the week and keep Rodri for the second game ... since we’d be playing two games a week every week till almost the end of the season.

 

[chickaroon]

Ferna > Rodri

Fernandinho is still better than Rodri in the central defensive midfield role in front of the centre backs ... drops back in between the two when needed and gets forward and moves the play forward whenever there’s an opportunity and senses danger on counter attacks and is always in the right position to stop that ... Rodri goes around in a whole circle with the ball without giving it away so looks like he’s retaining it in pressure but then passes the ball to the teammate closest to him and that’s that ...

So I’d start Ferna in every big game of the week and keep Rodri for the second game ... since we’d be playing two games a week every week till almost the end of the season.

When Leeds got on top in the second half, it was Ferna who changed the course of the game and got some control back fir us. We miss him whenever he is not in that DM position.

 

[FantasyIreland]

When Leeds got on top in the second half, it was Ferna who changed the course of the game and got some control back fir us. We miss him whenever he is not in that DM position.

Bernardo was equally instrumental,his workrate is often undervalued because of his skill.

 

[FantasyIreland]

There's a strange blind spot on Fernandinho. People can accept that Aguero is on the decline and isn't the player he used to be but still think Fernandinho is good enough to start for us.

He was dreadful at CB all of last season and has been poor in midfield this season, it's not even his fitness which is the biggest concern, his passing has been woeful.

Seems like 50% of forward passes he has tried this season have gone straight to the opposition.

Nonsense,while he was never the answer to central defence,he put in some superb performances and helped bring composure to a team that badly needed it.He has obviously slowed down and he cannot influence a game in the world class manner he did a couple of seasons back.....but he still remains a hugely influential and useful member of our squad,and he will forever be thought of as a legend for what he has achieved here.

So while some might allow him the extra leeway,it's because its been earnt and its in the bank.

 

[Benarbia’s Backheel]

It isn’t 2018 any more. Swear as much as you want, it won’t change that.

So you think Rodri is better? Covers more ground? Makes better interceptions? Makes more aggressive challenges? Protects the back four better? Moves the ball forward better and quicker? Or is it Gundogan you think is better?

i mean, each to their own, but we must be watching different teams because Fernandinho is clearly better all round

 

[Dax777]

Maybe because Ferna is the best cdm on earth right now? Especially against team that play on the counter, which arsenal will 100% do.

Was...

 

[Dax777]

Ferna > Rodri

Fernandinho is still better than Rodri in the central defensive midfield role in front of the centre backs ... drops back in between the two when needed and gets forward and moves the play forward whenever there’s an opportunity and senses danger on counter attacks and is always in the right position to stop that ... Rodri goes around in a whole circle with the ball without giving it away so looks like he’s retaining it in pressure but then passes the ball to the teammate closest to him and that’s that ...

So I’d start Ferna in every big game of the week and keep Rodri for the second game ... since we’d be playing two games a week every week till almost the end of the season.

This is demonstrably false.

 

[Dax777]

Bernardo was equally instrumental,his workrate is often undervalued because of his skill.

That's a disservice to Bernado. He was more than equally instrumental. He was the difference. Dihno was incidental to the outcome.

 

[Dax777]

So you think Rodri is better? Covers more ground? Makes better interceptions? Makes more aggressive challenges? Protects the back four better? Moves the ball forward better and quicker? Or is it Gundogan you think is better?

i mean, each to their own, but we must be watching different teams because Fernandinho is clearly better all round

Rodri is by a clear margin better than Fernandihno. We haven't seen Gundogan yet, so I'll wait. But unless he plays like he is 35, it's highly likely he is better too.

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Nonsense,while he was never the answer to central defence,he put in some superb performances and helped bring composure to a team that badly needed it.He has obviously slowed down and he cannot influence a game in the world class manner he did a couple of seasons back.....but he still remains a hugely influential and useful member of our squad,and he will forever be thought of as a legend for what he has achieved here.

So while some might allow him the extra leeway,it's because its been earnt and its in the bank.

That last line is sort of the point. Because he has been so good for us, single-handedly running the midfield almost, people view his recent performances through rose-tinted glasses.

If Stones or Otamendi or heaven forbid Garcia had put in the exact same performances at CB last season they would have been destroyed on here.

You have to put sentiment aside and look at his performances objectively.

 

[simon23]

This is demonstrably false.

How do you know - he has hardly played there in 2 years and when he played there along with rodri it fell apart when Ferna was taken off (now of course that could have happened the other way around as well of course ) but its unfair to judge Ferna when there is little data to suggest either way

Fera at peak is so much more effective than Rodri has been but Im willing to submit that peak has probably passed

 

[Stoned Rose]

How do you know - he has hardly played there in 2 years and when he played there along with rodri it fell apart when Ferna was taken off (now of course that could have happened the other way around as well of course ) but its unfair to judge Ferna when there is little data to suggest either way

Fera at peak is so much more effective than Rodri has been but Im willing to submit that peak has probably passed

At his peak Fernandinho's farts were better players than Rodri will ever be.

 

[simon23]

---------Ederson--------

Walker Dias Laporte Ake

----------Ferna

Sterling------B. SIlva ----KDB----Torres


Kun/Jesus - dependant upon if either are fit

Im sure it ont be that but for me that is ur strongest team

Im sure Pep will play Rodri and Mendy or even Gundogan

 

[birchwoodgingerste]

---------Ederson--------

Walker Dias Laporte Ake

----------Ferna

Sterling------B. SIlva ----KDB----Torres


Kun/Jesus - dependant upon if either are fit

Im sure it ont be that but for me that is ur strongest team

Im sure Pep will play Rodri and Mendy or even Gundogan

Eddy
Walker
Cancello
Dias
Laporte
Rodri
Gundogan
Kdb
Jesus
Sterling
Aguero

 

[lasereyes]

So you think Rodri is better? Covers more ground? Makes better interceptions? Makes more aggressive challenges? Protects the back four better? Moves the ball forward better and quicker? Or is it Gundogan you think is better?

i mean, each to their own, but we must be watching different teams because Fernandinho is clearly better all round

If you're in a time warp and you're watching Fernandinho c. 2017, you are spot on