Arsenal(FA Cup Semi Final) Post Match Thread

[Bobbyespania]

Totally pissed off how we cannot get results in games that we are far superior in. It beggars belief that we get beat by shit theses days.

 

[chaddblue]

They have no ibra...so they are forced to play properly which may fall into place for city. Then again stamina will 100% play its part.

4 days to recover should be enough

 

[Pleatfooted]

Our bench is rubbish. Even Arsenal had better players to bring on than we did.

This

 

[shemnel]

I think people are entitled to. Not to go all Rafa but let's look at some facts here.

In 2012 we won the title. The next season we refused to invest at the same rate as our rivals. This was for an FFP that we failed anyway so brought no benefit. From that title win, it became clear that we were attempting to recreate the Barca model and the success that it brought and Mancini was not going to fit into that mold.

From 2012 to 2016 we were essentially in a holding pattern. We attempted to appoint people in key roles of the club that would work in a Pep based team. We attempted to purchase players who would play in a Pep team. We built a new Academy with all of the philosophies that Pep expected. We appointed managers that would lay foundations for Peps arrival.

Pep is one the best managers who has ever lived. His record speaks for itself and those who try to excuse it are ridiculous. But the club here was designed for him to walk in and elevate us. That hasn't happened.

Now it's fair to say that many things haven't gone to plan. FFP put a dent in our progress as did some puzzling decisions on not insisting on quotas for youth graduation. Pellegrini brought attacking mentality and started building a high line defensive system but couldn't implement it properly.

Pep was supposed to walk into a club setup for him. Instead he walked into a club with no youth promotion, a squad that was too important to sell but too aged to keep, and a system of play that required a major overhaul.

I'd argue if you build a club for the eventual appointment of that manager then that manager should not have to spend his first season implanting his core basic philosophies on it.

Pep came in with the biggest reputation in the game but has suffered the same problems as Pellegrini and Mancini before him. This club doesn't know it's a big club and doesn't act like one. It allows snail paced football from its team while those in the stands sit quietly. It allows the media and referees to dictate to us on their terms. They didn't even go after UEFA in the courts when they got screwed.

We've got the expectations of Barcelona yet the psychology of Barnsley. In almost ten years of the takeover that was designed to make us among the biggest in the world we've won two league titles and are still rolling around the same problems as we had under Hughes.

People are disappointed because we're becoming Arsenal like in writing off seasons after season.

I've no doubt that Pep will get it right because I see the changes he's making to how we play but he has not been the revolution that many including me expected because the club was not and is still not in a place where he can take it forward.

we're becoming more arsenal like in the amount we complain. honestly.

seriously, i'm not disagreeing that there've been some ropey signings and perhaps we haven't kicked on to the expected level etc etc but BM is thread after thread of complaints and a not insignificant minority calling for the manager.

anyway whatever, i just thought, 8 or 9 seasons in to takeover, the fans would still be good old City fans

 

[Peggy's a blue]

In a fair world that should have been a 1-0 City win, but we are not in a fair world, football seems to reflect society the London elite rule, Lineker, silly Allen, Emma Thompson Piers Morgan et al they rule northerners are second class!

 

[BoundedCascade]

Our bench is rubbish. Even Arsenal had better players to bring on than we did.

For me this is one of our biggest issues. We have nothing on the bench that can change a game. In order to win things we need to be able to change tactics or significantly change the personnel available in order to win.

It was telling that they had Walcott and Welbeck on the bench and the only people that we had that are known for changing anything were Sterling and Ihenacho, one of which is still vastly inexperienced and apparently not trusted by the management to even change anything.

 

[dubblue]

I think he's been crap this season and should definitely be worried about his place for next season if his form this season continues (13 assists, blah, blah blah). He needs to produce much, much more.

De Bruyne will be fine for the first 2/3 months before another drop off,as we have seen over the past couple of seasons. He lacks stamina so can't play every game with the same intensity.

 

[Nelinho]

There was only one winner once they scored, we gave them hope with that goal, before that they were fucked and were like a rabbit in the headlights.
We've got to learn to have a killer instinct, when we're dominating teams we need to go for the jugular.

I've already replied to a poster regarding this, I will insist once more because it's absolutely crucial: The same group of players, under a different state of mind, under a different psychology, can and will perform better. We have seen it, but we haven't seen it consistently, and there are reasons for that. People have to ask themselves why. Most importantly, the man running the team from the bench and his staff have to ask the right questions. If they do and answer them correctly, they will have the material to guide them in the decisions they have to make in the summer. Otherwise they are bound to face tough realities on the pitch once again next season. Mark my words: Simply upgrading the personnel in certain positions and improving squad depth in others, even though essential, will not be enough. It doesn't work that way, never has...

 

[stan bowles]

Name them.

1. New full backs not signed.
2. Signing Bravo at the expense of Hart.
3. Constant chopping and changing of the team preventing continuity and confidence from developing
4. Substitutions: a) Not closing up the back door when ahead (i.e. Monaco, Chelsea (h), Arsenal (a). b) Making defensive substitutions when we are behind e.g. today.
5. Retention of older, past their sell-by-date players and no promotion of youth from Academy when situations have made this a no risk option.
6. At times, tempo and passing too slow and over cautious.
7. Questionable squad fitness levels.

These are mistakes but there have been positives too.

 

[abu13]

Missed the first half, why was the goal disallowed an what was the penalty appeal?