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By talking to them and telling them where to stand who is making runs etc. The keeper has a better view of the back four than anybody in the back 4. He can see where the space is he should be telling people to close the gaps etc. all the team should be talking like this. the keeper may have a better view but he's not someone you want to be the organiser (one of the back 4 needs to lead the line for offsides etc). Yes someone does need to lead the lines for offsides but thats not what I am talking about. Great defences have keepers with great communication and organisation. England is a prime example even with John Terry because Robbo is useless at organising they look like a midtable premiership defence and yes its also because of the midfield. I don't think its a coinicidence that our defence look more solid with Harper in goals. Anyway this is the way Sam thinks I've seen interviews with him in his Bolton days talking about this as I'm sure many have. not just for offsides. all the keeper can do is point out if a player is unmarked or not doing the job the team tactics dictate (which other players can point out aswell). i believe this "keepers organising "thing is a myth. given isn't silent, he does tell defenders if someone is unmarked etc. we have had a problem for years about the lack of communication throughout the whole team. do you really think the defence looked stronger with harper in goal,compare them fairly,say 2 away games, derby with harper or citeh with given ? to me neither was better than the other defensivly I don't think we'll agree on the organisation thing but I'll make one more point and that is do you think Schmeichel's communication and organisation was beneficial to Man U. I suppose there wasn't much difference in the defence it was probably more down to Cacapa being missing. You are right about the lack of communication in the whole team which is strange considering we have about 6 former captains. I do feel we are more solid with Harper in not only because of his slightly better organisation skills but because he always comes for crosses whereas Shay is hesitant. Obviously Given is the better keeper but I do feel there is some confusion in the backline with him between the sticks.

By talking to them and telling them where to stand who is making runs etc. The keeper has a better view of the back four than anybody in the back 4. He can see where the space is he should be telling people to close the gaps etc. all the team should be talking like this. the keeper may have a better view but he's not someone you want to be the organiser (one of the back 4 needs to lead the line for offsides etc). Yes someone does need to lead the lines for offsides but thats not what I am talking about. Great defences have keepers with great communication and organisation. England is a prime example even with John Terry because Robbo is useless at organising they look like a midtable premiership defence and yes its also because of the midfield. I don't think its a coinicidence that our defence look more solid with Harper in goals. Anyway this is the way Sam thinks I've seen interviews with him in his Bolton days talking about this as I'm sure many have.

By talking to them and telling them where to stand who is making runs etc. The keeper has a better view of the back four than anybody in the back 4. He can see where the space is he should be telling people to close the gaps etc.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,2483_2771236,00.html I thought this would happen. I can see Sam letting Given go because like has been stated in this thread Shay is poor at organising the back 4. Sam likes his Goalkeepers to be big with excellent organisation of the backline. I'd say he rates this probably above shot stopping ability. If the defence is well organised we'll give away less chances so there are less chances that require the world class saves that Given pulls off. In my mind Given is the best shotstopper in the world but I'd prefer us to concede less chances being rectified by world class saves and a more organised backline. I'm not saying sell Given but if we don't I fear we need to buy a centrehalf in the mould of Terry (obviously not him) who can organise the defence.

The only thing I like about pattson is he runs all day but he has no actual footballing ability. If Shola worked as hard as him he'd be decent but neither are worthy of the shirt.

Aye the fishes, if I ever see him in a black and white shirt again.

I'd reckon its 433.

433 is a good system to play away from home in the prem. Only problem is currently we don't have the right players. To play it properly you need 1 dominant physical striker and 2 winger come strikers with plenty of pace for up front. Viduka can be the main striker on his day but could do with being better in the air and needs to put more work in chasing and generally putting their CB's under pressure. 2 Solid defensive midfielders and a creative AM or 2 box to box midfielders and 1 DM. We have 2 decent DM's (Geremi, Butt) 1 box to box midfielder in Barton and one deep sitting playmaker in Emre. I think we are ok at the back for this system. You need attacking fullbacks which we do have in Beye / Zog or Enrique. Our players are made for 442 or possibly 352 but certainly not 433.

I'd say that the strikeforce has improved as has the defence but the midfield is no better, that's our main problem (as everyone knows) we have some very good dm's but not enough midfielder's with a desire to get forward. I'd say Barton will be the only one who will make enough forward runs as Emre although creative is more of a deep sitting playmaker. We all know we'll improve when Barton returns but we can't rely on one midfielder we need another at least in the same mould if not an actual attacking central midfielder. Deco in Jan anyone?

Swap the full backs round Lough Played rightback for the youth team but not so sure about Bertram.

Harper Lough Taylor Ramage Bertram Smith Barton Butt Milner Owen Carroll

We are the new arsenal.... only not as good

Who the fuck is chopra!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah but their reserves got to the final last year.

Aye I hope we can invest the money saved from the debt repayment's in the playing staff. Just think how much extra money the club will have. The future is bright.

I'd say it was more to do with the fact that sam likes his keepers to dominate the box and come for absolutely everything so the defence are sure he's coming for it and don't end up in 2 minds.

Not surprised there are no toon players in there but I'm starting to think had we signed Diouf he may have made a big improvement we could certainly do with someone making those amounts of crosses and runs. We Desparately need Enrique to get fit so we can push zog up on the left and milner on the right but knowing BS it's unlikely he'd play both in advanced positions. Top Shooter - John Carew (Aston Villa) - 17 Top Passer - Paul Scholes (Man Utd) - 478 Top Tackler - Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham) - 31 Most Dribbles & Runs - El Hadji Diouf (Bolton) - 32 Most Crosses - El Hadji Diouf (Bolton) - 82 Most Offsides - Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) - 16 Most Fouls - John Carew (Aston Villa) - 20 Can't believe Jenas is the 'top' tackler but they probably include when he loses the ball then misses a tackle when trying to win the ball back.

What, you wouldn't take Given over Lehmann? Controversial, but no i know im going to get slated now, but i wouldnt Lehmann is a fantastic goal keeper, only his concentration lapses (lets say) let him down Ok on't agree but thats you opinion but how long do you think lehmann will go for? Given has a good 7 years at least left at the top level. Would you not take him as Lehmann's succesor, hypothetically?

He'll Start arsenal away in the carling cup. Les will be on the bench ---------------------Given Beye-----Cacapa--------Rozy----Enrique ----------------------Butt -----------Geremi--------Zog ---------Martins---------------Milner -------------------Shearer Bench: Burridge, Beresford, Beardsley, Viduka, Sir Les.

What, you wouldn't take Given over Lehmann?

Hardly seems like he's wanting out or anything like that, though I would say it's a bit of a shame he can't just respect the fact that Harper is doing quite well for us at the moment and just get on with it. I'm sure the minute Harper makes a major error or suffers another ill-timed injury, Shay will be straight back in the team and won't get dislodged again unless he gets another injury himself. "Showdown" might be too strong a way of putting, but don't people remember Shay slapping in a transfer request the last time Harper got the nod ahead of him when he was fit? As far as I am concerned if Shay does want showdown talks after being dropped for one game then he isn't the man I thought he was. He should fight for his place. Don't believe it though.

I like to see that even the most hardened arsenal fans are unbiased. to be honest i have seen the most of arsenal and that back three (of arsenal) really have all played really well, week in week out, out of the lot clichy, who isnt getting much recognition :S rosicky was a doubt in that team and was torn between him and zog, although he hasnt been playing ther, but to cheer u up i will change it, it's right to that really :/ oh and LEHMANN WAS A JOKE!! Thanks I feel better now. I knew lehmann was a joke. TBH everyone know Lehmann is a joke Aye waiting for tomorrow's papers main sports story. Arsenal in bid for unsettled Newcastle Keeper Arsene Wenger is ready to test Sam Allardyce's resolve with a 5M bid for Irish Star Shay Given. Given has been unhappy of late as manager Sam Allardyce decided not to play him when he was injured and then refused to drop inform Keeper Harper for 1 game. In other news The Daily Mail was voted Englands number one fictional publication.

I like to see that even the most hardened arsenal fans are unbiased. to be honest i have seen the most of arsenal and that back three (of arsenal) really have all played really well, week in week out, out of the lot clichy, who isnt getting much recognition :S rosicky was a doubt in that team and was torn between him and zog, although he hasnt been playing ther, but to cheer u up i will change it, it's right to that really :/ oh and LEHMANN WAS A JOKE!! Thanks I feel better now. I knew lehmann was a joke.

I'd say an attacking midfielder (ground breaking statement that, even when you consider the return of barton). Any where in the front 6 - someone else with pace other than Martins and to some extent zog. Maybe dm - Geremi and butt are fine for a top 7 side but if we want to break into the top 4 with this system we need to improve. The wings could improve but allardyce isn't too bothered with playing old school 442 (even when he plays 442) so it might be pointless. Edit: Can't comment on the defence until I've seen our 1st choice back 4 over a few games. Cacapa and rozehnal have been class if Enrique and Beye are the same then no changes there needed.

I like to see that even the most hardened arsenal fans are unbiased.