Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 My disappointment has quickly evaporated and I'm now over our first defeat of the season and in many ways this is because I'm certain KK will have learned a great deal from the game, our performance and indeed Arsenal's performance and will in time, use it to benefit us in a positive way. I know I have from watching it. Despite Arsenal's class and the level of their performance, we are not a full team of like for like players away from competing with them, far from it. For me what we lack more than ability is balance in the side. Individually with the exception of Ameobi every single player in our lineup today is above average on their day, some way above average. What we now need is to settle on a system or way of playing that will help those players like how the 4-3-3 did last season and we also need to sign one or two players which we lack, notably flair and athleticism in midfield and a leader of the line so we have something to hit up front, a focal point who others can play around and off. Do that, with the work-rate, fitness, spirit, quality and KK's footballing principles, we can have a good season and can compete much closer with a cross section of teams, including your Arsenals. By compete I don't mean in terms of challenging with them for the title, but in single individual matches or moments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest optimistic nit Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 why was enrique taken off and was it a pen? looked ball to hand to me. Whoever it was had their arm out, could clearly see it from where I stood. Apparently Butt hit the bar as well? I wasn't looking and just saw it get cleared out he did hit the bar, although it never really looked like going in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest s0ftcore Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Speaking of hitting the bar, Van Persie's effort from that tight angle would have been embarassing if it had gone in. 4-0 is :-[ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 The most pleasing thing for me about this match and one of the reasons why I know we will be just fine is that not once did we resort to the long ball or kicking Arsenal like we've done the last few years at St. James' under Souness, Roeder and then Allardyce. We had a number of free-kicks just inside our own half for example and when Given sweeps players away to take the free-kick you expect a long punt up field from him, but no, he played it short on the deck. Start again is what it is called. When a move breaks down or space can't be found, you don't force the ball, you start again, if need be right the way back to the 'keeper or defenders. This has always been the way of Keegan and it will lead to more points than we lose or used to lose on the road, especially against sides that we are more equal to or better than. For spells in this match we kept the ball well and created one or two very good moves. It wasn't enough of course but it does at least show that we are capable even against the better sides and that we can do it. The key now is to start stamping our way of playing onto a game or opposition and start dictating play from the off rather than sporadically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest optimistic nit Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 we were always looking for short quick freekicks and while we're on the subject, get fucking N'Zogbia off set pieces, NOW! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Appreciate someone highlighting the (very) few positive aspects of the match. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxaux Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Thought Guthrie was our best player today, always made a yard for himself and never lost the ball, everything Butt should be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Some of Guthrie's passing is excellent, he's wasted next to Nicky Butt though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Jonas - he was a massive positive. He won several free-kicks and his strength and team-work is amazing. He lost the ball near their corner and within what seemed like seconds they were at our corner. But who was there putting in a challenge, winning it and carrying it back towards the halfway line? Yep, Jonas. He needs to become more selfish in the final third and more direct because a number of times space opened up for him or he had the beating of his man and he chose to pass, cross or play triangular football with team-mates rather than shooting and driving into the box more which he is very much capable of. I have to say, he's looking a class above at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Liam Liam O Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Some of Guthrie's passing is excellent, he's wasted next to Nicky Butt though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_69 Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Not unexpected. Arsenal are class, especially at home and we were without 3-4 first team players. What probably would've helped our cause is if we put the fucking ball into the box from free kicks. Every time we had a free kick in their half we played it short and it ended up going backwards. What's the fucking point? It's a bit Bolton-esque but when you're behind in a game, put the fucking ball in the fucking box at every fucking opportunity. You only have to look at the Coventry game to see what can happen. Fuck me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Some of Guthrie's passing is excellent, he's wasted next to Nicky Butt though. It was indeed, as was some of his ball carrying runs. He's a very tidy player, very good close control and body strength too. However he like Jonas needs to make better use of those attributes in getting forward more to support and to take some chances when presented. He needs to do more in short where it matters most, further up the field. Does he have the athleticism to get up and down, across and over? I'm not so sure myself. If he could just add that to his game though he'd be dynamite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElDiablo Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Watching Guthrie and Fabregas play against eachother it made me realise how similar they are in style. He held his own against Fabregas and would have totally outshone him if he had someone better next to him who he could pass to, think replacing Butt should be top priority now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest optimistic nit Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Jonas - he was a massive positive. He won several free-kicks and his strength and team-work is amazing. He lost the ball near their corner and within what seemed like seconds they were at our corner. But who was there putting in a challenge, winning it and carrying it back towards the halfway line? Yep, Jonas. He needs to become more selfish in the final third and more direct because a number of times space opened up for him or he had the beating of his man and he chose to pass, cross or play triangular football with team-mates rather than shooting and driving into the box more which he is very much capable of. I have to say, he's looking a class above at the moment. he was poor in the final third though, although overall it was another good (well, we lost 3-0 so not that good obviously) performance by him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmk Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Nicky Butt was a huge weak link in the middle today, too slow for games like this. We really need someone with a good engine who will really help out the back four and link with Guthrie and the wide players. I have a feeling Viduka is going to make a big difference when he's back too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest optimistic nit Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 was enrique injured when he was taken off, or was it tactical? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Beye was fucking useless. I know he's not fully fit but he's massively overrated by a section of our fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 was enrique injured when he was taken off, or was it tactical? hamstring. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Watching Guthrie and Fabregas play against eachother it made me realise how similar they are in style. He held his own against Fabregas and would have totally outshone him if he had someone better next to him who he could pass to, think replacing Butt should be top priority now. The difference between the two today from what I saw anyway, was that Fabregas took chances in terms of playing the ball forward, making runs and joining up with the attack. I've seen a good range of passing from Guthrie and he can clearly pass the ball well, short and long under pressure and with time and space, but where are the killer balls? I'd rather see a player attempt 5 such balls even if they all failed than 20 tippy-tappy square passes because it only takes one killer ball and we have the player in Owen to make the most of such a ball. To his credit he did ping one such ball which Owen badly miscontrolled. Had he not he could have shot first time, controlled and dragged it to his left to shoot or squared. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mikefin Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 was enrique injured when he was taken off, or was it tactical? injured Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Beye was f***ing useless. I know he's not fully fit but he's massively overrated by a section of our fans. Doesn't look fit at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Watching Guthrie and Fabregas play against eachother it made me realise how similar they are in style. He held his own against Fabregas and would have totally outshone him if he had someone better next to him who he could pass to, think replacing Butt should be top priority now. The difference between the two today from what I saw anyway, was that Fabregas took chances in terms of playing the ball forward, making runs and joining up with the attack. I've seen a good range of passing from Guthrie and he can clearly pass the ball well, short and long under pressure and with time and space, but where are the killer balls? I'd rather see a player attempt 5 such balls even if they all failed than 20 tippy-tappy square passes because it only takes one killer ball and we have the player in Owen to make the most of such a ball. To his credit he did ping one such ball which Owen badly miscontrolled. Had he not he could have shot first time, controlled and dragged it to his left to shoot or squared. Hard to gauge a midfielder's final ball when there's no effective strikers up front, that applies to Jonas too who looks like he can pick a pass given half a chance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Watching Guthrie and Fabregas play against eachother it made me realise how similar they are in style. He held his own against Fabregas and would have totally outshone him if he had someone better next to him who he could pass to, think replacing Butt should be top priority now. The difference between the two today from what I saw anyway, was that Fabregas took chances in terms of playing the ball forward, making runs and joining up with the attack. I've seen a good range of passing from Guthrie and he can clearly pass the ball well, short and long under pressure and with time and space, but where are the killer balls? I'd rather see a player attempt 5 such balls even if they all failed than 20 tippy-tappy square passes because it only takes one killer ball and we have the player in Owen to make the most of such a ball. To his credit he did ping one such ball which Owen badly miscontrolled. Had he not he could have shot first time, controlled and dragged it to his left to shoot or squared. Hard to gauge a midfielder's final ball when there's no effective strikers up front, that applies to Jonas too who looks like he can pick a pass given half a chance. Oh I know and I agree but I'm looking at all the games I've seen him in and not just this one game, in fact against Arsenal he got forward more than he did against Bolton I thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Beye was f***ing useless. I know he's not fully fit but he's massively overrated by a section of our fans. Doesn't look fit at all. I said earlier on he's been abysmal today but I don't think he's over-rated. He was very good last season, but he doesn't look right at the moment. He was walking around by the end, don't know if he was injured or what? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 One thing that this game has shown, against the better sides is that 4-4-2 limits Owen and with it our attacking threat. Martins is much more suited due to his pace and mobility. I think had we played 4-3-3 with Viduka and Martins in the side and Owen deeper we'd have giving Arsenal more of a game I feel. Maybe worth bearing in mind. You take Adebayor and Fabregas away from that Arsenal side and you take a hell of a lot out of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now