BluessinceHydeRoad said:
I haven't read all 50 odd pages and I suspect all important points have been covered, but...
Apparently Vinnie said that's the best Arsenal team he's seen in years, and he's right. Sanchez is a top quality addition, but he shows up the poor quality of some of the Arsenal lads. I don't think he's as honest as Sergio, but he has an impressive physique and shows a commendable ability to stay on his feet at times (though not at others) whereas Wilshere and Ozil fold up like collapsing deckchairs when touched. This is encouraged by the unfailing willingness of refs to give them free kicks... but more of that later! In the light of this, I have to say that I can't agree with comments, including those in the MEN that our squad is not as deep, or good, as we thought. These barmy international breaks make any preparation impossible and put you in the lap of the gods of chance, because you depend enormously on where your players play and on which night - and who you play on Saturday...or Sunday. We were without Ya Ya, Fernando, Jovetic, and they too had their problems, though they had Welbeck to replace their only real "loss". To that extent a much changed City side came away with one point and should have had all 3. Lampard was way off the pace, but he hasn't played for almost 5 months! Navas was excellent to the point that Ozil never looked like getting in the game and Sanchez influence was much reduced. James Milner was his usual high work rate, tactically shrewd self and he helped nullify Arsenal's threats down the wing and pose problems to their full backs. Kolorov was massively influential when he came on and I enjoyed particularly the moment where the BBC told us that he "clipped" a post with a "sidefooted effort"! The corner was inch perfect..for another star to head home. Vinnie was excellent, as usual, but for me David Silva, "Merlin", "the Magician" was simply in a class of his own. That Wilshere was man of the match, that there was so much about Sanchez is yet another sign that on TV they don't watch the match, they are in the "London bubble" watching Arsenal.
And so to the ref. Very, very poor indeed, but aided and abetted by the other officials. Two of Joe Hart's early saves were on efforts from players clearly in off side positions and that set the tone. Manuel has outlined City's main grievances accurately and I think we'd all be disappointed with ANY of those decisions but to be on the wrong end of them ALL in the same game is incomprehensible. And this character has form.
The London bubble you talk about was Cheshire based monotone Michael Owen. No one else in their right mind thought it was Wilshere. For us the best player was clearly Sanchez. For you a toss up between Kompany,Navas and Milner.... The last one being a very underrated player.
You aren't the first team to get done by Prattenburg. He is a homer ref. I guarantee you will benefit from him at home sooner or later. Most of his cock ups are against the away side
As far as Jack yesterday,his dive was out of order but he made up for it with his goal. It wasn't a wonder goal and sorry lads but Hart committed himself far to quickly. The same way Chesney should have stayed bloody put then Flamini would have headed away Demichelis equaliser.
The penalty claim was all down to the lino,how he didn't see it is beyond me. How many times has a player done a nudge on a defender in the box that leads to a goal. Watch John Terry everytime in the opposition's box.
You will all disagree but Aguero wasn't fouled for the first goal.
It was an odd game that was ultimately defined by Aguero. If he played for us yesterday you would have been a couple of goals down by 25th min. He score a good goal and once he was off your chance of winning reduced.
You hit the woodwork,we did too. Point was a fair result. It isn't that easy to win against us at the Grove and on another day we would have battered a different opposition in those first 20mins.
Nothing left to add than wishing Özil would stop trying to coast doing the barest minimum in a game. He is one of the best no 10s in the world. Even out of position, he should get off his a**e and show it.
Good luck against the chavs and Bayern next week on account of I hate Maureen and I hate Fc Hollywood.
