Arsenal FA Cup SF Post-Match Thread

[CrownPointBlue]

There aren't many elite managers out there but I think Nuno the Wolves manager may be decent here. Arteta is proving his worth at Arsenal but would he leave?

If we had to make a decision TODAY, I’d go for Nuno.

Like his all round approach and style

 

[simon23]

What like this bigger picture post?



Shall I start with an expensive mistake? He cost a reported 27m and if you think the club couldn't at least double that back if he was sold right now, then you are an even bigger idiot than I believe you are anyway.

He has had his chance to convince, he has scored 66 goals for this club you dolt, 66 he is on a par with any other striker we have had in recent times bar Aguero, there was a report by Stuart Brennan in the MUEN saying we actually score more as a team when Gabby is playing than Aguero, so make of that what you will.

He will score against the cannon fodder and it would seem in the Bernabeu stadium in the champions league as well but yeah we will just brush over that fact as it goes against your current narrative.

And this was the post I responded to.


How much of a bigger picture are you painting there?

Thanks for a more articulated debate (though calling someone a dolt is a litttle playground dont you think?)

Expensive, not in terms of cost but in terms of performances and the consideration he may not be the level required plus 3 years now of waiting for him to step up.

66 goals vs starts - yes his goal ratio is good but how many have been "important goals" I already mentioned his goal vs Madrid in another post. I read the same report by Brennan and Im guessing its a fact that he is stating there so Im not going to question that - I wonder what our win % is with him in the team as opposed to Kun -Ive genuinely no idea. Its also how those goals are scored - for instance vs Burnmouth he effetively won us the game with his goal but stats dont tell the full picture and never do. Look at his performance yesterday vs Arsenal - he was very inaffective and out of the games for long periods - this occurs quite often - now this happens to kun but when the chips are down he creates a chance for himself - gabby rarely does this - he also wasted a very good opportunity from the back pass - he chose to pass which in that position was a very poor decision. He isnt clinical enough by a long shot - with the chances we create he should be scoring more.

ive already addressed the Bernabeu goal - how many other big goals that have decided very important games has he scored

There are no doubting his qualities (and as Ive already said in the thread about him - I dont want him sold) but we need more from him. Imagine a season without Kun (which willbe a reality soon) and relying on him as our main striker. The fact that people are still debating whether GJ is good enough to step up raises the idea that there is doubt (snd its not just me - there are plenty of people that have different opinions on him) - At a similar stage after 3 years with us were there any doubts about Kun? No

 

[IcriedwhenTueartleft]

Still annoyed. Arsenal were fortunate in that we played poorly & they took the very few chances they made. They certainly didn’t outplay us. We made the wrong decisions all night, summed up by Raz in the first 10 minutes when he was about 5 yards from their goal (at the most) on the left hand side, he tried to shoot first when he should have squared it to Jesus (?) then he tried to pass it when he should have shot as the ball came back to him.
The amount of times last night we should have had a shot quickly but Raz or Silva tried to take another touch...

 

[Wizpopblue]

And that 1 on target came from our centre-back just having a dig. Terrible

I thought our one shot on target was mahrez’s effort that had their keeper diving to his left...

 

[paulchapo]

If we had to make a decision TODAY, I’d go for Nuno.

Like his all round approach and style

I like everything about him. He is a good coach and tactician and seems to motivate his team. He is only 46 too.

 

[Saddleworth2]

think there is an argument in the elite games to slightly shift our tactics to the real madrid away model, where we concede a little more possession than normal but are more compact to protect our obvious fragile high line and in turn offer us more space in the attacking third.

at times last night arsenal it seemed had 6 to 8 men in their own box, we needed to draw them out

There were 10 men in their box at times. Compact and well disciplined. Not particularly interested in engaging us out wide but with enough on the near side to block the low cross. We had little option but to put high lobs and crosses in. The only way to get back in the game was to let them have more ball and create more space. We never attempted it.

 

[bluemanchester]

There aren't many elite managers out there but I think Nuno the Wolves manager may be decent here. Arteta is proving his worth at Arsenal but would he leave?

Nuno, maybe. Arteta has had what, half a season as manager, Arse not in top 6. The game against Livarpool was an impressive win holding on to the lead. Their defensive display yesterday was similar to the 9 league games we have lost this season, teams just packing their box waiting and looking for the chances we give all teams and taking them. I view the result as our failings not some masterplan by the opposition, I dont consider a plan that puts all opposing players in defence a masterplan I call it boring. So as for Arteta I think its wait and see but not ruled out.

 

[CrownPointBlue]

the puzzle is in the finishing ? even when city have lost we make over 15 chances and have 4 or 5 great chances in every game. but its the defence that city gets slammed all the time ? the truth is city are short in all departments even the keeper we only have ederson

city need a super striker or 2 ? somebody that scores 40 goals a season. we make the most chances in world football that somebody should be get 40 goals easy ? could you see a alan shearer or andy cole getting just 20 goals a season in this team they would give up football

goals are being made by the hat full but missed because of sloppy finishing, its a simple game just score more than the other team, pep at barca had goals messi he would get easy 40 to 50 and barca had a dodgy defence but the goals saved them

A cheeky £75 upfront for King Arry or straight swop Stones & Zin or some other permutation to suit.

Kane Kun & Jesus.....anything not to like. 60 goals a season !!

 

[Keeper!]

Still annoyed. Arsenal were fortunate in that we played poorly & they took the very few chances they made. They certainly didn’t outplay us. We made the wrong decisions all night, summed up by Raz in the first 10 minutes when he was about 5 yards from their goal (at the most) on the left hand side, he tried to shoot first when he should have squared it to Jesus (?) then he tried to pass it when he should have shot as the ball came back to him.
The amount of times last night we should have had a shot quickly but Raz or Silva tried to take another touch...

Arsenal were not fortunate, we were poor and they were the worthy winners.

Same story all season, don't fall for the statistic crap , 90% of games we dominate with possession but that is fine if you convert it into goals, something we have failed to do all season.

We have lost far to many games through sheer carelessness in front of goal and mistakes at the back.

 

[bluealf]

Thanks for a more articulated debate (though calling someone a dolt is a litttle playground dont you think?)

Expensive, not in terms of cost but in terms of performances and the consideration he may not be the level required plus 3 years now of waiting for him to step up.

66 goals vs starts - yes his goal ratio is good but how many have been "important goals" I already mentioned his goal vs Madrid in another post. I read the same report by Brennan and Im guessing its a fact that he is stating there so Im not going to question that - I wonder what our win % is with him in the team as opposed to Kun -Ive genuinely no idea. Its also how those goals are scored - for instance vs Burnmouth he effetively won us the game with his goal but stats dont tell the full picture and never do. Look at his performance yesterday vs Arsenal - he was very inaffective and out of the games for long periods - this occurs quite often - now this happens to kun but when the chips are down he creates a chance for himself - gabby rarely does this - he also wasted a very good opportunity from the back pass - he chose to pass which in that position was a very poor decision. He isnt clinical enough by a long shot - with the chances we create he should be scoring more.

ive already addressed the Bernabeu goal - how many other big goals that have decided very important games has he scored

There are no doubting his qualities (and as Ive already said in the thread about him - I dont want him sold) but we need more from him. Imagine a season without Kun (which willbe a reality soon) and relying on him as our main striker. The fact that people are still debating whether GJ is good enough to step up raises the idea that there is doubt (snd its not just me - there are plenty of people that have different opinions on him) - At a similar stage after 3 years with us were there any doubts about Kun? No

Do you not remember calling me a C'unt or whatever was hidden underneath the ****. Idiot and dolt are fairly tame compared to that, no?

I will say that in this last post you say you don't want him sold but blatantly in a post, I quoted above, you state I'd sell him now.

Sorry, Simon, you can't have it both ways and no I do not read every single post you have written to see how the wind blows with your thought process, you react to a post that you have read and then the follow-up replies.

Jesus was poor yesterday as was every other single player on that pitch but as a centre forward not getting anything from the wings or from KDB/Silva through the middle then it is always going to be a hard day at the office.

I said to you yesterday do you expect him to pick the ball up at the halfway line and dribble past the entire Arsenal back 10 and pop it into the top corner?

This isn't very realistic, is it?

But on that score, when Gabby first came to this club he used to pick the ball up out wide and run in dribbling, ask yourself this...

Why does he no longer do it?

It isn't the hardest puzzle you will have to solve today.

I am not getting involved further tbh, I fear it will be an endless back and forth all afternoon and frankly, I have loads more enjoyable things to be doing on my one day off of the week.

 

[Millo]

One shot on target, pathetic. There was only KDB that looked interested, and even he was below par. Why does Pep love Gundowank so much? He hardly touched the ball, and was Jesus even on the pitch?
We only seem to have one tactic, it's the same all the time, and even when the subs came on, it' s the same with different players. Endless crosses into their box, and we don't a single forward player that is a decent header of the ball.We definitely need a new striker, but a striker I suppose is no good without the right supply.
The team is so vunerable to break away goals, and until that is addressed we'll never win the Champions League.
Pep wasn't happy at the end, but he is culpable due to the tactics we played.

 

[St.Pauli support]

There were 10 men in their box at times. Compact and well disciplined. Not particularly interested in engaging us out wide but with enough on the near side to block the low cross. We had little option but to put high lobs and crosses in. The only way to get back in the game was to let them have more ball and create more space. We never attempted it.

Spot on.
I still wait for the day when we do the unexpected. When things go wrong, you have to stabilize first and slowly try to change the game. Dont't rush.

I would love to obviously show the opponent we don't play to their game. Kick the ball into the stands 10 times in a row from open play and get in their heads. Do something they start thinking about. And show a bit of team spirit and positive/aggressive togetherness. Communicate.

And: fight. We didn't even get a booking! We guarded them at 5 yards and lost any 1on1. Our high press was pisspoor and uncoordinated, accept for the start when we HAD big chances.

 

[simon23]

Do you not remember calling me a C'unt or whatever was hidden underneath the ****. Idiot and dolt are fairly tame compared to that, no?

I will say that in this last post you say you don't want him sold but blatantly in a post, I quoted above, you state I'd sell him now.

Sorry, Simon, you can't have it both ways and no I do not read every single post you have written to see how the wind blows with your thought process, you react to a post that you have read and then the follow-up replies.

Jesus was poor yesterday as was every other single player on that pitch but as a centre forward not getting anything from the wings or from KDB/Silva through the middle then it is always going to be a hard day at the office.

I said to you yesterday do you expect him to pick the ball up at the halfway line and dribble past the entire Arsenal back 10 and pop it into the top corner?

This isn't very realistic, is it?

But on that score, when Gabby first came to this club he used to pick the ball up out wide and run in dribbling, ask yourself this...

Why does he no longer do it?

It isn't the hardest puzzle you will have to solve today.

I am not getting involved further tbh, I fear it will be an endless back and forth all afternoon and frankly, I have loads more enjoyable things to be doing on my one day off of the week.

that was in responce to your **** in your post -I apolgise

I did sy that but Im unsure tbh - i think he could do a job for us but not as a main centre forward - if he is to be that then I would sell him - but if he was to play as part of a front 3 with another main striker I wouldnt

Ive just posted this on his thread about our best possible front 3 (baring injuries)

Jesus ------------Kun ---------Sterling

Silva------------------------KDB

Rodri

Back 4

Eddie

I dont expect him to do what you are suggesting but I expect him to pose a threat - I expect him when he recieves the ball from a bad back pass to at least turn towards goal and get a shot away - not lay it off -there is always one too many passes with him

I actually believe he is better on the left of a front 3 than the central stiker (Maybe the better way of putting it is part of a fluid front 3 but with someone else who is a better finisher/more f a goal scorer)- teams just dont fear GJ . They dont see him as a goal threat and its not suprising cause he isnt really. He is a very good foil for other people but at the moment he is nowhere near a lead the line type of striker.

Pep has clearly told him to retain possession - thats what Pep is about andits why he use to go mad at Sane.....BUT thats not the issue with Jesus. HIs ball retention is generally very good (though his control at times is poor) and his link up play excellent - but again he isnt a real goal threat.

I guess we will see but if he ends up main striker after Kun goes then I suspect we will hugely struggle unless we bring in another goal threat.

 

[Marvin]

Arsenal were not fortunate, we were poor and they were the worthy winners.

Same story all season, don't fall for the statistic crap , 90% of games we dominate with possession but that is fine if you convert it into goals, something we have failed to do all season.

We have lost far to many games through sheer carelessness in front of goal and mistakes at the back.

They certainly rode their luck with ricochets etc that didn't fall our way but generally defended well. Can't argue with the result.

 

[paulchapo]

Nuno, maybe. Arteta has had what, half a season as manager, Arse not in top 6. The game against Livarpool was an impressive win holding on to the lead. Their defensive display yesterday was similar to the 9 league games we have lost this season, teams just packing their box waiting and looking for the chances we give all teams and taking them. I view the result as our failings not some masterplan by the opposition, I dont consider a plan that puts all opposing players in defence a masterplan I call it boring. So as for Arteta I think its wait and see but not ruled out.

I agree it is early days for him but the signs are he is on the right track.

On the whole I love watching us play but I feel if we just tweaked our style, especially for certain games we'd be even more effective. With our forward talent we will.aleays score goals but if we tighten that back line we'd win more. We can keep the high line if we have pace and nous like Kompany brought to it, at the moment we don't and hence why we are getting punished.

 

[Ardwick Green Blue]

Laporte is also having to nurse a rookie kid alongside him as well as also having the erratic Walker and Mendy to contend with.

All relevant points! Plus having Otamendi, Stones & Cancelo as potential playing partners. We have a shambolic defence set up and you have question how we have arrived at this point.

 

[Keeper!]

They certainly rode their luck with ricochets etc that didn't fall our way but generally defended well. Can't argue with the result.

We got what we deserved, nothing!

 

[Cellarite]

I hate UEFA with a passion mate.
They wont ever let us win it

Fair enough that you hate UEFA but I personally think our fan base goes too far with it. Let’s say we win against Madrid, Juventus and Bayern and face Atlético in the final.
Are you telling me you won’t be watching?

They can’t stop us from winning it if the team wipe the floor with teams. The first half of the quarter final against Liverpool showed what the fans can add.

I dreamt of facing the giants of Europe in front of a packed Kippax. We have it now, it was nearly taken away and our team would’ve crumbled. It’s time to embrace it and if we end up back amongst the dead men, at least the fans can say they tried.

 

[hilts]

I like everything about him. He is a good coach and tactician and seems to motivate his team. He is only 46 too.

He would be an interesting choice anyway we have a big few months coming up.

 

[paulchapo]

All relevant points! Plus having Otamendi, Stones & Cancelo as potential playing partners. We have a shambolic defence set up and you have question how we have arrived at this point.

Probably becausw player's we bought just haven't worked out, mainly Stones, Cancelo and Mendy. All three looked great additions but for various reasons they just haven't worked. The money we spunked on them could have bought the rock of a centre back we desperately need. Add to that Dinho' getting old and Rodri not a patch on him and we.are where we are.