Yohan Cabaye (now sporting coordinator at Paris Saint-Germain)

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Cabaye-Tiote kind of worked until other teams realised that hard pressing would force Tiote into errors. The cat is out of the bag now.

 

I fear this is the case. I like Tiote and think he still has a chance, but his weakness is plainly obvious now and Anita is ahead of him.

[TheHoob]

Yep, think people worked out that pressing Tioté is a sure fire way of making him do something daft and giving Cabaye a bit of a kicking makes him go full emo.

[The College Dropout]

Cabaye-Tiote is a solid ass foundation in CM. We'll not lose games because of weakness in that area. It's probably not the best route we can go mind but it's the only combo proven to bring results over the course of a season.

where do you play ben arfa ? surely he's better pushed further up but not as a tsriker ?

 

In the Cazorla/Walcott role coming from the right

because arsenal have that lack of mobility in the middle (which we have when tiote plays).

There's many problems with Tiote. A lack of mobility is not one of them.

it's not ? he's mobile when they have, he's statuesque when we have it. it also drags cabaye further back to get the ball off the defenders as the oppo want us to give it tiote.

 

Nah not really. He's meant to be a DM, where do you want him to run? He often makes the most passes for us when he plays and he always shows for the ball. His issue is not moving the ball quickly enough.

 

Pressuring Tiote into mistakes like Stottie said - is very effective for opponent.

 

 

There's nothing wrong with having 2 CM's sitting pretty deep. The problem is that we don't have another midfielder or forward that wants to come deep and get the ball to link it up. When you have 2 strikers that want to run away from the ball

[The College Dropout]

Yep, think people worked out that pressing Tioté is a sure fire way of making him do something daft and giving Cabaye a bit of a kicking makes him go full emo.

Yeah this is a true

[madras]

Cabaye-Tiote is a solid ass foundation in CM. We'll not lose games because of weakness in that area. It's probably not the best route we can go mind but it's the only combo proven to bring results over the course of a season.

where do you play ben arfa ? surely he's better pushed further up but not as a tsriker ?

 

In the Cazorla/Walcott role coming from the right

because arsenal have that lack of mobility in the middle (which we have when tiote plays).

There's many problems with Tiote. A lack of mobility is not one of them.

it's not ? he's mobile when they have, he's statuesque when we have it. it also drags cabaye further back to get the ball off the defenders as the oppo want us to give it tiote.

 

Nah not really. He's meant to be a DM, where do you want him to run? He often makes the most passes for us when he plays and he always shows for the ball. His issue is not moving the ball quickly enough.

 

Pressuring Tiote into mistakes like Stottie said - is very effective for opponent.

 

 

There's nothing wrong with having 2 CM's sitting pretty deep. The problem is that we don't have another midfielder or forward that wants to come deep and get the ball to link it up. When you have 2 strikers that want to run away from the ball

theres nothing wrong with it, esxpet the playing staff we have don't really lend themselves to it as much as a mobile 4-3-3.

[Guest Sherman]

Don't think the pathetic 4-2-3-1 formation helped Tiote much either. He doesn't like being pressured so lets play a second DM right next to him, cluttering the area he plays with even more players hightening the pressure.

[Lotus]

Cabaye-Tiote is a solid ass foundation in CM. We'll not lose games because of weakness in that area. It's probably not the best route we can go mind but it's the only combo proven to bring results over the course of a season.

where do you play ben arfa ? surely he's better pushed further up but not as a tsriker ?

 

In the Cazorla/Walcott role coming from the right

because arsenal have that lack of mobility in the middle (which we have when tiote plays).

There's many problems with Tiote. A lack of mobility is not one of them.

it's not ? he's mobile when they have, he's statuesque when we have it. it also drags cabaye further back to get the ball off the defenders as the oppo want us to give it tiote.

 

Nah not really. He's meant to be a DM, where do you want him to run? He often makes the most passes for us when he plays and he always shows for the ball. His issue is not moving the ball quickly enough.

 

Pressuring Tiote into mistakes like Stottie said - is very effective for opponent.

 

 

There's nothing wrong with having 2 CM's sitting pretty deep. The problem is that we don't have another midfielder or forward that wants to come deep and get the ball to link it up. When you have 2 strikers that want to run away from the ball

theres nothing wrong with it, esxpet the playing staff we have don't really lend themselves to it as much as a mobile 4-3-3.

 

Who else plays a genuine 4-3-3? With 3 strikers?

[Mole_Toonfan]

Cabaye-Tiote is a solid ass foundation in CM. We'll not lose games because of weakness in that area. It's probably not the best route we can go mind but it's the only combo proven to bring results over the course of a season.

where do you play ben arfa ? surely he's better pushed further up but not as a tsriker ?

 

In the Cazorla/Walcott role coming from the right

because arsenal have that lack of mobility in the middle (which we have when tiote plays).

There's many problems with Tiote. A lack of mobility is not one of them.

it's not ? he's mobile when they have, he's statuesque when we have it. it also drags cabaye further back to get the ball off the defenders as the oppo want us to give it tiote.

 

Nah not really. He's meant to be a DM, where do you want him to run? He often makes the most passes for us when he plays and he always shows for the ball. His issue is not moving the ball quickly enough.

 

Pressuring Tiote into mistakes like Stottie said - is very effective for opponent.

 

 

There's nothing wrong with having 2 CM's sitting pretty deep. The problem is that we don't have another midfielder or forward that wants to come deep and get the ball to link it up. When you have 2 strikers that want to run away from the ball

theres nothing wrong with it, esxpet the playing staff we have don't really lend themselves to it as much as a mobile 4-3-3.

 

Who else plays a genuine 4-3-3? With 3 strikers?

 

We wouldn't be playing with 3 strikers.... Hatem isn't a striker.

 

Besides Liverpool do.

[Lotus]

Cabaye-Tiote is a solid ass foundation in CM. We'll not lose games because of weakness in that area. It's probably not the best route we can go mind but it's the only combo proven to bring results over the course of a season.

where do you play ben arfa ? surely he's better pushed further up but not as a tsriker ?

 

In the Cazorla/Walcott role coming from the right

because arsenal have that lack of mobility in the middle (which we have when tiote plays).

There's many problems with Tiote. A lack of mobility is not one of them.

it's not ? he's mobile when they have, he's statuesque when we have it. it also drags cabaye further back to get the ball off the defenders as the oppo want us to give it tiote.

 

Nah not really. He's meant to be a DM, where do you want him to run? He often makes the most passes for us when he plays and he always shows for the ball. His issue is not moving the ball quickly enough.

 

Pressuring Tiote into mistakes like Stottie said - is very effective for opponent.

 

 

There's nothing wrong with having 2 CM's sitting pretty deep. The problem is that we don't have another midfielder or forward that wants to come deep and get the ball to link it up. When you have 2 strikers that want to run away from the ball

theres nothing wrong with it, esxpet the playing staff we have don't really lend themselves to it as much as a mobile 4-3-3.

 

Who else plays a genuine 4-3-3? With 3 strikers?

 

We wouldn't be playing with 3 strikers.... Hatem isn't a striker.

 

Besides Liverpool do.

 

Help me here, i saw Sturridge up top for Liverpool on MOTD2 but no other strikers?

 

So, our imaginary 4-3-3 has got 2 strikers and 4 midfielders. 2 players who'll get in the box. HBA running from deep. We haven't got the players for it. We would need better midfielders. It's not the running around that wears out Anita and Cabaye. It's the constant shoulder to shoulder action with bigger, stronger blokes that sap them. Tiote can do it but he's not so good at football. That leaves Sissoko, he can do it. We're too powder puff in midfield to just leave 3 in there. We also don't have the tactical discipline to do it. Would constantly need HBA and Remy to spend too much time around the half way line to be effective as a quick attacking unit.

I loved the last 20 minutes against Fulham but Fulham were utterly, utterly woeful and disinterested. Won't get anywhere near that kind of space against Villa. No where near it. So it will be quick balls forward to avoid the midfield getting caught in possession.

[alexf]

Our 4-3-3 worked perfectly when we used it, just Demba Ba wasn't happy playing from the left. We arguably have better players now better suited to it in Remy for the left role and Anita or Sissoko to replace guthrie.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Our 4-3-3 worked perfectly when we used it, just Demba Ba wasn't happy playing from the left. We arguably have better players now better suited to it in Remy for the left role and Anita or Sissoko to replace guthrie.

 

Totally agree. The issues with 4-3-3 are nothing compared to the issue of other systems. With our personnel I mean.

[Guest neesy111]

Cabaye will play better when he's not next to Tiote.  The 2 are about is incompatible as you get in CM.

 

eh?? do you even watch us play?  Those two on top form are one of the best midfield partnerships in the league, as shown two seasons ago, sadly last season they were off form and injured for most of it.

 

It's not.  It's offer almost zero going forward.

[Yorkie]

Complying to the 'sell-to-buy unless we're going down' transfer policy (which will never change) - the 'ideal' scenario for me would have been Cabaye leaving and a winger coming in. We're stuck with the current manager and that particular switcheroo would have worked better for Pardew.

 

But it wouldn't have worked out like that. If he'd left, one of three things would have happened: we buy another CM or we fund the Gomis signing or we sign no one.

 

With that in mind, I'm happy enough that he's stayed. He is a good player and he's provided a lot of good moments. Providing his head is in the right place, I hope he's used in a trio with Anita and Sissoko. Failing that, I'd settle for a pairing with Sissoko. If Pardew reverts back to pairing him with Tiote then we're back to square one and we'll be shite. The implications of putting those two together - nay, playing Tiote at all - will have a negative effect on the entire team.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Cabaye-Tiote is a solid ass foundation in CM. We'll not lose games because of weakness in that area. It's probably not the best route we can go mind but it's the only combo proven to bring results over the course of a season.

where do you play ben arfa ? surely he's better pushed further up but not as a tsriker ?

 

In the Cazorla/Walcott role coming from the right

because arsenal have that lack of mobility in the middle (which we have when tiote plays).

There's many problems with Tiote. A lack of mobility is not one of them.

it's not ? he's mobile when they have, he's statuesque when we have it. it also drags cabaye further back to get the ball off the defenders as the oppo want us to give it tiote.

 

Nah not really. He's meant to be a DM, where do you want him to run? He often makes the most passes for us when he plays and he always shows for the ball. His issue is not moving the ball quickly enough.

 

Pressuring Tiote into mistakes like Stottie said - is very effective for opponent.

 

 

There's nothing wrong with having 2 CM's sitting pretty deep. The problem is that we don't have another midfielder or forward that wants to come deep and get the ball to link it up. When you have 2 strikers that want to run away from the ball

theres nothing wrong with it, esxpet the playing staff we have don't really lend themselves to it as much as a mobile 4-3-3.

 

Who else plays a genuine 4-3-3? With 3 strikers?

 

We wouldn't be playing with 3 strikers.... Hatem isn't a striker.

 

Besides Liverpool do.

 

Help me here, i saw Sturridge up top for Liverpool on MOTD2 but no other strikers?

 

So, our imaginary 4-3-3 has got 2 strikers and 4 midfielders. 2 players who'll get in the box. HBA running from deep. We haven't got the players for it. We would need better midfielders. It's not the running around that wears out Anita and Cabaye. It's the constant shoulder to shoulder action with bigger, stronger blokes that sap them. Tiote can do it but he's not so good at football. That leaves Sissoko, he can do it. We're too powder puff in midfield to just leave 3 in there. We also don't have the tactical discipline to do it. Would constantly need HBA and Remy to spend too much time around the half way line to be effective as a quick attacking unit.

I loved the last 20 minutes against Fulham but Fulham were utterly, utterly woeful and disinterested. Won't get anywhere near that kind of space against Villa. No where near it. So it will be quick balls forward to avoid the midfield getting caught in possession.

 

Aspas and Sturridge and when Suarez comes back it will be him and Sturridge.

 

Also what running? i don't know if you have noticed but we have been making the other teams run around in the last two games in the main with a midfield 4 of Ben Arfa-Sissoko-Anita-Marveaux and look a lot better defensively.... you know why? because unlike before it actually has intelligence and ability so we keep the ball better but we haven't created much sadly.

 

Getting quite annoyed how powder puff our midfield is supposed to be.... Arsenal dominated Spurs with Ramsey-Rosicky-Cazorla-Wilshere despite Spurs having 3 big blokes in Capoue-Paulinho-Dembele.... why? because they are much better footballers and they moved them about.

 

There are much bigger teams in this league than us who have weaker teams from a physical point of view but they do alright.

 

Everyone talks about how Physicality is such a big issue.... yet one of the most physical players in the league Diame was utterly bossed in the midfield by Anita the other week.... did you see him very often? because i didn't.... why because we actually did what we bloody should and pass through the midfield we have instead of over it.

 

What's wrong with an Anita-Sissoko-Cabaye midfield 3?, they can all defend i really fail to see the issue.  Also despite Tiote supposedly being better defensively ( utter ballcrap btw) i felt a lot safer with Anita in last 2 games than i have with Tiote for more or less 2 years.

 

Pardew's fear tactics are clearly spreading to the fans, what happened to making the opposition play to your game instead playing to theirs?

 

We will never go anywhere with this type of mentality.

[Tooj]

Cabaye-Tiote is a solid ass foundation in CM. We'll not lose games because of weakness in that area. It's probably not the best route we can go mind but it's the only combo proven to bring results over the course of a season.

where do you play ben arfa ? surely he's better pushed further up but not as a tsriker ?

 

In the Cazorla/Walcott role coming from the right

because arsenal have that lack of mobility in the middle (which we have when tiote plays).

There's many problems with Tiote. A lack of mobility is not one of them.

it's not ? he's mobile when they have, he's statuesque when we have it. it also drags cabaye further back to get the ball off the defenders as the oppo want us to give it tiote.

 

Nah not really. He's meant to be a DM, where do you want him to run? He often makes the most passes for us when he plays and he always shows for the ball. His issue is not moving the ball quickly enough.

 

Pressuring Tiote into mistakes like Stottie said - is very effective for opponent.

 

 

There's nothing wrong with having 2 CM's sitting pretty deep. The problem is that we don't have another midfielder or forward that wants to come deep and get the ball to link it up. When you have 2 strikers that want to run away from the ball

theres nothing wrong with it, esxpet the playing staff we have don't really lend themselves to it as much as a mobile 4-3-3.

 

Who else plays a genuine 4-3-3? With 3 strikers?

 

We wouldn't be playing with 3 strikers.... Hatem isn't a striker.

 

Besides Liverpool do.

 

Help me here, i saw Sturridge up top for Liverpool on MOTD2 but no other strikers?

 

So, our imaginary 4-3-3 has got 2 strikers and 4 midfielders. 2 players who'll get in the box. HBA running from deep. We haven't got the players for it. We would need better midfielders. It's not the running around that wears out Anita and Cabaye. It's the constant shoulder to shoulder action with bigger, stronger blokes that sap them. Tiote can do it but he's not so good at football. That leaves Sissoko, he can do it. We're too powder puff in midfield to just leave 3 in there. We also don't have the tactical discipline to do it. Would constantly need HBA and Remy to spend too much time around the half way line to be effective as a quick attacking unit.

I loved the last 20 minutes against Fulham but Fulham were utterly, utterly woeful and disinterested. Won't get anywhere near that kind of space against Villa. No where near it. So it will be quick balls forward to avoid the midfield getting caught in possession.

 

Aspas and Sturridge and when Suarez comes back it will be him and Sturridge.

 

Also what running? i don't know if you have noticed but we have been making the other teams run around in the last two games in the main with a midfield 4 of Ben Arfa-Sissoko-Anita-Marveaux and look a lot better defensively.... you know why? because unlike before it actually has intelligence and ability so we keep the ball better but we haven't created much sadly.

 

Getting quite annoyed how powder puff our midfield is supposed to be.... Arsenal dominated Spurs with Ramsey-Rosicky-Cazorla-Wilshere despite Spurs having 3 big blokes in Capoue-Paulinho-Dembele.... why? because they are much better footballers and they moved them about.

 

There are much bigger teams in this league than us who have weaker teams from a physical point of view but they do alright.

 

Everyone talks about how Physicality is such a big issue.... yet one of the most physical players in the league Diame was utterly bossed in the midfield by Anita the other week.... did you see him very often? because i didn't.... why because we actually did what we bloody should and pass through the midfield we have instead of over it.

 

What's wrong with an Anita-Sissoko-Cabaye midfield 3?, they can all defend i really fail to see the issue.  Also despite Tiote supposedly being better defensively ( utter ballcrap btw) i felt a lot safer with Anita in last 2 games than i have with Tiote for more or less 2 years.

 

Pardew's fear tactics are clearly spreading to the fans, what happened to making the opposition play to your game instead playing to theirs?

 

We will never go anywhere with this type of mentality.

 

Excellent post.

[Wullie]

[The College Dropout]

WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. Mole.

 

West Ham/Fulham gladly sat back and both came for the draw. There's not much difference between the last minute goal against Fulham last season, compared to this seasons. Neither West Ham/Fulham came to win the match. I'm not crediting our midfield, they haven't put in great performances. Fulham especially largely let Anita and co. play.

 

 

Arsenal played 4 players in central areas against Spurs to outnumber them in midfield. It's not a case of Arsenal out-playing Spurs man for man. And even then possession was even. 2 of Spurs 3 midfielders are new to the division too. Can't draw anything conclusive in that match about the central midfield except that Cazorla provides overloads in the middle of the pitch. If you're going to say it was 3v3 and Arsenal's 3 outplayed the Spurs 3 that would be a lie. 4-3-1-2 would work a treat for us I reckon.

 

I think those 3 in midfield could work fine. But i'm not sold on Anita being able to compete with physical sides that want to get it cracking. Not 1 point away from home Sam Ham or the powder puffs at Fulham.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I don't care if Possession was even.... Arsenal clearly created the most of the chances... Chesney hardly had a thing to do all game and Lloris kept the score respectful.

 

In any case fact of the matter is.... the midfield we have played the last 2 games played a lot better than any midfield involving Jonas and Tiote since we finished 5th that is the entire point.

 

What is wrong with a front 6 of Anita-Sissoko-Cabaye Remy-Cisse-Ben Arfa? which is the entire premise of the post.

 

If we start playing more physical players over more talented players just because we are scared of what the opposition can do we will be chucking away points for fun again.

 

There is clearly nothing wrong with that set up and its not going effect us so negatively that we have to make measures to help defensively.

 

 

[Guest neesy111]

Mole. 

[Kanj]

I don't care if Possession was even.... Arsenal clearly created the most of the chances... Chesney hardly had a thing to do all game and Lloris kept the score respectful.

 

In any case fact of the matter is.... the midfield we have played the last 2 games played a lot better than any midfield involving Jonas and Tiote since we finished 5th that is the entire point.

 

What is wrong with a front 6 of Anita-Sissoko-Cabaye Remy-Cisse-Ben Arfa? which is the entire premise of the post.

 

If we start playing more physical players over more talented players just because we are scared of what the opposition can do we will be chucking away points for fun again.

 

There is clearly nothing wrong with that set up and its not going effect us so negatively that we have to make measures to help defensively.

 

 

 

Two great posts Mole. Essentially saying play our game with our most talented players and we'll always be within range of getting a result.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I can't say that for definite tbf.... because there are better teams with better players than us.

 

But at least impose ourself on the opposition, play our game and put teams under pressure and see how far it takes us.

 

Hell look at how Hull and Cardiff went into playing Man City and it was quite obvious that Man City didn't like it they were uncomfortable.

 

Look at Liverpool vs Man Utd for example, they didn't go into it thinking negatively they went for it from the start and defended when they had to.

 

Would see a marked improvement with a change of mentality more than anything else, sadly we have a manager who is scared of his own shadow.

[Kanj]

obviously its not definite and obviously better teams with better players and manager, etc. but what I'm agreeing with is that how our manager should be playing with this team. Imposing one's game is the way to play football, not being reactive and defeatist like last season.

[Weezertron]

A lot of over thinking for me. Just hoy our best players on the pitch no matter who the opposition is. We'll lose sometimes, but we'll pick up enough to be atleast safe, and we might even have fun watching.

[TRon]

WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. Mole.

 

West Ham/Fulham gladly sat back and both came for the draw. There's not much difference between the last minute goal against Fulham last season, compared to this seasons. Neither West Ham/Fulham came to win the match. I'm not crediting our midfield, they haven't put in great performances. Fulham especially largely let Anita and co. play.

 

 

Arsenal played 4 players in central areas against Spurs to outnumber them in midfield. It's not a case of Arsenal out-playing Spurs man for man. And even then possession was even. 2 of Spurs 3 midfielders are new to the division too. Can't draw anything conclusive in that match about the central midfield except that Cazorla provides overloads in the middle of the pitch. If you're going to say it was 3v3 and Arsenal's 3 outplayed the Spurs 3 that would be a lie. 4-3-1-2 would work a treat for us I reckon.

 

I think those 3 in midfield could work fine. But i'm not sold on Anita being able to compete with physical sides that want to get it cracking. Not 1 point away from home Sam Ham or the powder puffs at Fulham.

 

If West Ham had the players to boss us physically in midfield, then why wouldn't they do it instead of sitting back? It doesn't make any sense.

 

 

[KaKa]

I long for a manager that knows how to set us up the right way, whatever that may be, just so we wouldn't have to discuss this all the time.

 

It's the complete ncompetence of the manager that continues to drive us to do it though.

 

Its depressing, especially because every idea on here seems far more feasible than the trash he serves up every weekend.

 

Sad