Lush Vlad

TBF, he nullified Aarons and all. Willock was tucking in as we were a man down and so wasn’t really helping with that overlap until it was too late. When Aarons got crosses in, it was rarely Lewis’ fault and he never really got beat down the line. He looks really nervous and unsure going forward, the same as the last time he was in the team. But hard to judge tonight as we were down to ten for so long. Overall, I thought he was really good and has to play ahead of Ritchie based on that.

What a man. Tearing about like a lunatic. Wouldn’t be surprised if he had the most successful duels on our team. Seemed to win it back no end of times in 50/50’s. Still not great when he gets in the final third. But an amazing shift from him. MOTM by some distance, I thought.

When does the voting stop? Is it not from January until something like the start of this month? His PSG performances (some of which have been very good, BTW) not really factored in? I think he is the best player of all time and much more of a complete footballer than Ronaldo. So I’m not really sure what I’m arguing about. Just from the games I have seen of each and following them both like a fanboy for a good while each week. I think Lewy deserves it more this year and definitely last, as you’ve said.

Lewy has been unbelievable for Bayern for how long? Plus even managed to score 3 goals for an otherwise useless Poland team at the Euros and has a great scoring record for them, also. Always been a massive Messi fan, so have watched him whenever I have had the chance. Not really shocked he has won it. But I don’t think he was at the same levels as before, nor do I think he should have won it. Lewandowski should have won it two years in a row.

Lewandowski should have won it the last two years, IMO. No idea why they thought cancelling it because of Covid was a good idea.

He gets stuck in and he is one of the best tacklers in the squad. But someone that chucks his weight around and plays like more of an old fashioned enforcer type. He certainly goes down and feigns injury far too easily. Seems like he is about to be stretchered off every other week. Only to make a miraculous recovery.

Who's to say he didn't have more freedom to do that under Bruce, with him usually having two midfielders behind him and probably a lot of others sitting deep playing BruceBall. Plus the fact he was usually in a more advanced role, then surely he is going to have more opportunities to break into the box, plus the fitness wouldn't be such an issue, as he doesn't have to run as far? I thought he made a few of these runs against Brentford, anyway? Not so much against Arsenal. But until the last 15-20 minutes. We didn't really commit men forward full stop.

Agreed. Clark loves the big boom to nobody in particular, clearing it off the pitch or passing it behind players and with not enough weight on it. He's ok on the ball, I just think his passing is crap.

I think if he goes 3-4-3 again, Fernandez will come back in. He might stick with Krafth or Clark to play next to Schar, if not. I hope I'm wrong and he plays regardless. It's a bit of a back handed compliment with the current lot, but I still think he's our best defender. You have to wonder if there was some fall out with Bruce and/or Jones and there has been some carry over from that into Howe's setup. As there is no other logical explanation for playing with Krafth, Clark and even an out of position Hayden, instead of him. When was the last game he played, August/September?!

Hasn't he only just returned to the team after being injured and out of favour? I remember him being fairly anonymous and poor earlier in the season, granted, the same as most of our players. He's now playing in a slightly deeper role, for a new manager and I think he looks fine. If a bit lightweight at times and shirking a few tackles. I really don't think he looks like a totally different player in his all round game and can't understand where that notion is coming from. Perhaps if he did play further up the pitch, then he'd start getting chances again and getting into the box a bit more. But does Howe ever play with a 3 man midfield or a conventional number 10? I don't see it happening any time soon.

There were hardly any players that I'd say played well. But coming reading other fans views, I found it strange that Willock seemed to be getting the most flak, bar maybe Lascelles and Ritchie. I thought bar him bottling some challenges, the one with White being the worst. I was impressed with his workrate and also his drive, when he did get the chance to get on the ball. I might be wrong. But it feels like he set the bar so high at the end of last season, that plenty are expecting too much of him. We have far worse players than Willock and bigger problems (I don't think he is a problem, FWIW). That midfield two against a possession based team, with much more talented players, was always going to struggle. Perhaps needed the legs of someone like Almiron in front, or someone to actually sit a bit deeper and break up play, like Hayden, to go with them.

Being there live. It did seem like anything that was a bit niggly and looked like 6 and two 3's, went there way. Whereas we would have players getting barged over or pulled down and nothing was given. Not seen the Schar one back or the handball. The Wilson one would annoy me if it was given against us. But the more you look at it, the more it seems like a foul. Push in the back, when running full tilt and clearly no way he's going to be playing the ball.

Willock does. I’m nowhere near as down on him based on the last two games as others. I think his fitness and pace for a centre mid are great. But he certainly needs to learn to tackle. Not just press and then stop, or bottle it. Also seems on at tracking back and then just gives away pointless fouls. Not quite Colback levels. But still well annoying.

I’m thinking somewhere inbetween last week’s Sega Mega Drive FIFA 96 4-2-4 formation and Bruce/Jones’ sit everyone deep, treat the ball like a live grenade and never close down the opposition, could work. Balance.

I was at that game

I still don’t think he had this nightmare game like people are making out. Especially considering he has barely been used this season, didn’t have a proper pre-season and was struggling with injury for a good few weeks. He was too weak on the ball and in the tackle at times. Plus playing next to Shelvey in a two left us far too open. But he’s the only centre mid we have that has the pace and fitness to actually get from box to box and carry a goal threat. He makes quality driving runs on and off the ball. It’s just whether or not the other side of his game can be brought up to scratch.

I think and hope we might go to 4-4-1-1 for this, or whatever variant of that Howe plays. I’d like to see Manquillo come in and maybe Fraser to start. Barely seen him used as a winger during his time here.

That miss from Benfica at the end there. Holy fuck. What a game by the way.

This is kind of my thinking. I wanted Emery and I still think in the short term and for just 'staying up' he may well have been the better choice. However, I was speaking to a mate about exactly what you touched on. We've played quite a negative brand of football for a good while now, bar a decent chunk of games towards the end of Rafa's reign. Apart from Rafa, I don't think we've had a coach with a real identity or defined style of play since what, Keegan? I'm just looking forward to enjoying watching us again and if the performances remain positive. I'm not overly arsed if we go down. It would set us back, sure. But I'd be confident in coming straight back up and with the owners and Howe in charge. The future certainly looks a lot brighter than it did 2 months ago.

Hopefully, it might work more in our favour early on and for the next few games or so, be a bit of a surprise factor. There won't be much footage available of these players in this system. It's been two years of sit everyone behind the ball and hump it up to ASM and Wilson. I saw an average positions graphic from the Brighton game compared to Brentford. Whilst I appreciate Brighton was extreme in how defensive we were and we were playing away from home against a possession based team. It was still much more attacking on Saturday than I would have thought. I think it was 3-4 players more in the opposition half and everyone a good 10 yards further up the pitch.

When was Bournemouth away, where he had the freedom of the whole town? He ran the show that day and we won 4-1 or 4-0 from memory. Should have been a lot more.

Played a bit further forward, he seemed to have on average 4-5 players to pass forward to, as opposed to 1-2 and it was noticeable how much more effort he put in. It may well change under Howe's system. But currently, he seems to be the only midfielder at the club capable of passing the ball forward, whether that is long or short. He played really well. One thing I did notice, despite the improved work rate. Was that he would still regularly go in to press, when he was clearly not going to get there, due to how immobile he is. Then he would just get easily passed or dribbled round, whilst he is stood still and is completely taken out of the game. He has never been mobile and it seems like there have always been attitude problems throughout his career. But maybe with the right coach and fitness regime. He might manage to improve the defensive side of his game. As whilst it made a refreshing change seeing him sprint. It was still ineffective a lot of the time.

Going to this. First game since Southampton at home under Benitez. I think that Saturday and this are the first times I've actually looking forward to watching us, since Benitez. I've always liked Arsenal as a ground to visit and for an away day. Been a few times to watch NUFC and also to other Arsenal games. Plenty of pubs around the ground and easy to get to, for me. It might just be a bit of optimism hanging around after the takeover and because Bruce has finally been fucked off. But I think we are capable of getting something. When you look at their results and a lot of their performances in even a slight bit of detail. I think they're a bit of a paper tiger and I don't think they've been particularly good the whole time Arteta has been there. All that said, if we afford them as much time and space between the lines as we did against Brentford. Then with the calibre of players they have, it could be a massacre.

I get there is a bit more nuance to it with managers. Styles of play, ability of players, time to implement tactics and changes etc. But it's the same when people say we should go for someone that is experienced in Premier League relegation battles. Yes, let's go for Tony Pulis or Sean Dyche, instead of Conte or Emery.

I might be wrong. But I'm sure we are awful for it compared to other clubs.