Via @Arsenal Instagram
Unai Emery hoisted 3 points up the #Top4 flagpole as he continued to progress his mission of bringing goodness, light and Champions League football back to the true home of London football.
The game was almost too easy. We burst out of the traps much in the same way as we did midweek, this time, the fight was led by the impressive Iwobi who looked inspired. The first goal came from his cross that found Mikhi at the back post, the ensuing scuffed strike found Lacazette 6 yards out for the tapped finish.
Did I just totally forget about the superb save Leno made just prior to the goal? I did. Mustafi made a mistake allowing the Redmond in on goal, the German saving brilliantly.
The second came on 15 minutes. Lacazette’s pressure from the front put Southampton under pressure, Angus Gunn duffed his clearance, the mighty Iwobes found Mikhi at the back post again, this time, the Armenian guided a stroked pass low into the near post corner.
The second half was very much taken in second gear. There’s a fair argument to be had that we should have gone hard at Southampton considering the potential goal difference issue we might butt up against, but ultimately, the three points is what mattered.
I think we saw the impact of overexertion in the ScouserManc game, Liverpool losing Firmino and Robertson, with United breaking 3 players in the first half (Mata, Lingaard, Herrera). The draw was good news for us, it looks like Liverpool are letting the title slip and the draw pegged United back two points in the #Top4 race (Matic is also out).
All in all, the game did the job. I thought it was a bit weird to start Ramsey over Ozil considering the style of game, but both landed some game time. Those two could prove vital for the run-in. Sokratis came through the match unscathed which is also vitally important for the week ahead. Additionally, I thought Bernd Leno was excellent. He made two excellent saves that stopped the game turning into an energy sapper.
I also think Kola is underrated. He made some deft touches, he was unselfish and created two very good chances that deserved more. Some additional stats: He made the most ball recoveries, he made the most passes in the attacking 1/3, he won 2 aerial duels and his pass completion rate was 86%. I know Southampton were shite, but you can only play who is put in front of you.
Xhaka had a very good game. Given time and space, he really can pick apart a team. He ran riot yesterday. Still managed to nearly gift them a goal, but I’d almost feel cheated if he stopped doing that. Lacazette was hardworking and decisive as always. Finally, Mikhi played really well. It’s nice to have some craft out wide, he gives us much needed balance.
So: A clean sheet. Our 4th halftime lead of the season. Back into 4th. That’s the way I like my Sunday afternoons.
The other big game of the day went our way as well. Manchester City won the first trophy of the season with a hard-fought win at Wembley. You had to feel for Sarri, tactically, he proved he could be flexible. No repeat of the disaster of a few weeks ago. Watching Kepa destroy the narrative of the game was quite something. I’ve never witnessed behaviour like that. Chelsea has to do something about insubordination like that. Player power gone mad I tells ya.
Chelsea will hurt from losing out on a trophy, but ultimately, the tired legs heading into a showdown with Spurs this Wednesday is likely their bigger concern. Depressed and leggy isn’t a good combo unless your name is Unai and it’s not your team that is depressed and leggy.
Things are all playing into the hands of Arsenal. We have a better run of fixtures and if we can turn over Bournemouth and Spurs this week, it’s ours to fuck up in my opinion.
Additional good news on the stats front. Unai Emery is clocking ahead of Wenger over the past 4 seasons. This stat, courtesy of powerhouse commenter, Redtruth.
2014-15: 51 points
2015-16: 51 points
2016-17: 50 points
2017-18: 45 points
2018-19: 53 points
That’s an average of 3.75 points more than Wenger. Two of those seasons, we won Champions League football. WON. Top 4 was a trophy and still is.
Right, see you in the comments. x
JD, some fans.
I think most would agree that we shouldn’t be stocking up on Iwobi’s.
Matteo is the gold standard.
Of all the fixtures left my only fear is the ManUtd game. Because to be honest in the last 7 years even a dead ManUtd team has always found a way to get a result against us. Can’t forget the game that brought Rashford to limelight.
I’ve always find it odd how there are some players over the years who’ve played for us who I’ve thought were utter shit while others thought were great e.g. Rosický and Hleb, and nowadays Iwobi and Bellerin.
I guess it’s like anything in life that people don’t agree about – food, music, movies, religion…….
Rosicky was a champ. Hleb was ok, good enough to get a move to Barca. But not enough end product. Still a shit load more end product than Iwobi. Iwobi is ordinary. Never going to make it. Welbeck was absolutely gobsmackingly bang average. Can’t believe some people didn’t see that and still only use his injuries to avoid admitting their mistakes. Bellerin isn’t top level but he has just enough going both ways to be a decent right back. I would have sold him to Barca and reinvested, but now that ship has sailed, pencil him in at RB and… Read more »
Rosicky was a champ.
——————
See thats exactly my point – he was with us 10 years and except for a couple of goals (Liverpool and Spurs I think) he never did it for me and yes I know he was injured all the bloody time.
Limpar was the main reason I started supporting Arsenal when I was young, doesn’t make him qualified for the job.
None of them are.
I don’t care where people are from or how they look, only if they will do a good job for my club. Jury is still out on that because of the weak squad left by Wenger.
You don’t happen to be a flat earther or one of those fuckwits that doesn’t believe Australia is real? Never ending conspiracy theories.
Pedro
If we can have 4-6 talents of Guendozis class as squad players we’re probably one of the best teams in the world already. We’re so far from that now that all 6 would probably start and we still would need 4-6 Iwobi level players as squad players.
Charlie George
Are you on the sauce all day every day?
Are you seriously suggesting Limpar and Schwarz for roles at Arsenal? Based on what exactly?
Don’t get me wrong, I have fond memories of both players (even though Schwarz left at first opportunity) but it seems you are letting nostalgia cloud your judgement about how we move forwards.
Freddie, exactly.
You don’t set your targets low because they are hard. You set them high and strive to reach them.
We are Arsenal. We have everything a young player could ever need. We should have 5-6 Matteo Gs.
bennydevito
Not sure why anyone bothers replying to CG tbh. I just ignore his comments. You should do the same.
Benny,
Raul, Emery and Monchi are Caucasian.
We could do with a Guendouzi at centre-half, left back and left & right wing….
CG,
Some time in the sinbin regardless.
This is a football blog, not a celebrity gossip mag.
No one cares if our exec team is sexy and I think you are trolling.
That said, I think Hector is an attractive man and that is fine.
Pedro
That’s my point, even if we get 4-6 youngsters in of Guens level of potential we still need more squad players because most of those would start for us. Considering we have to replace about 6 players in the starting XI right now it’s wildly unrealistic to think, in a 25 man squad mind you, that we don’t need players of Iwobis level, preferably also homegrown.
If you’re talking 5 years down the line then fine, it’s a possibility for sure, but not now, not even close.
Iwobi is a good squad player and helps with our HG quota but Guendouzi is defo the standard we should be aiming for going forward.
Danny
“The mighty Iwobes – seriously Pedro?”
Glad I’m not the only one who thought that Iwobi played like his usual self yesterday AKA shite. Emiratesstroller described him as a “slightly progressed version of AMN” – Precisely. AMN is a major shite. Which makes Iwobi an average shite. Can’t wait for Nelson and ESR to come back.
Pedro
Nooooo, now I will never know if he’s an Australia denier (or whatever the fuck those imbeciles call themselves) nooooo
But seriously, I think we all need a break from the incessant idiocy. So thank you.
Mustafi
Xhaka
Kolasinac
Mkhitaryan
Iwobi
Maitland-Niles
Elneny
Chambers
Welbeck
Ramsey
Cech
Monreal
Lichtsteiner
Jenkinson
Asano
Bielk
Ospina
Out of these players only Ramsey and Cech are confirmed to leave after the season. Still lot of work to do.
This place will certainly flow better for me not having to skip past CG’s inane ramblings
Thank you Pedro!!!!!!
DM,
Yes I know but don’t we all have a duty in all walks of life to stand up to his type of thinking?
Anyway, with him out of the way for a bit we should all get on much better. His comments are painful to read though, ignoring his continued references to racial stereotypes aside the rest of what he says is toe curlingly, teeth grindingly, forehead slappingly infuriating!!
Thomas
“Mustafi
Xhaka
Kolasinac
Mkhitaryan
Iwobi
Maitland-Niles
Elneny
Chambers
Welbeck
Ramsey
Cech
Monreal
Lichtsteiner
Jenkinson
Asano
Bielk
Ospina ”
Geezus… I was wondering about that Polish kid, Bielik. He’s still on our books? And Asano too? That’s just messed up. Oh, and add Kosci to the list. Cech, Ramsey, and Welbz are gone for sure. But yes, that’s still a lot of work to be done.
Nelson
“Mustafi was much better when he first joined us. Then he started to made all these errors and these got to his brain.”
That’s on the manager(s). There’s definitely a decent player somewhere inside him. He could and should be properly coached. I blame Wenger/Bould for not addressing it in the last couple of seasons. And I certainly blame Emery/Bould for doing (or NOT doing) the same now.
Isn’t Lichtsteiner on a one year contract?
“Mustafi was much better when he first joined us. Then he started to made all these errors and these got to his brain.”
Like so many others, he has been wengerized.
What I don’t understand with AMN development is how he was transformed from a swashbuckling winger at U18 into a Jack of all defensive position. His pace used to frighten defenders. Now he only use it to recover in defensive position. Also I don’t know why we entertained the idea that his natural position is central midfield. It is not. He is too laid back to be a defensive midfielder in the Kanye, Torreira mould. And he lack the vision and positional awareness than Gilberto Silva used to bring. Long term I can only see him staying a few years… Read more »
Minus monreal and Kola of that list and we cool.
Elmo “Spuds’ match-day revenue increased from £45m (16/17) to £75m (17/18) by moving to Wembley. Obviously there will be significant costs / fees, but it’s likely they’re making more profit on match-day than at WHL.” I’m not saying that they’re not pulling in more revenue at Wembley compared to WHL my argument is the cost of the new stadium is going to cripple them. The difference between the original projected cost (£500 million ish) and the current cost (£1 billion plus) would be enough to give anyone nightmares. The other thing people seem to forget is whilst there is a… Read more »
Stroller
“Spurs under Pochettino are a resilient side with perhaps 4 quality players in Kane, Alli, Son and Ericsson.
The rest of squad punches above its weight and is well organised, but is nothing to write home about. ”
Lloris, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Trippier, Walker-Peters, Moura, Lamela – give me this “shit” squad any day of the week. They have better players than we do in EVERY single position.
Thomas. Lots of work to do indeed. Not sure why Monreal is there and not also Kos. Both have been good enough over recent years, but breaking down. As I don’t think either have any resale value we should be transitioned to depth players. I haven’t really rated Kola up until now. He is on a lot of money. Has impressed me recently but he is not worth the 140k/wk he is on. So agree. He must go. As discussed by others, I don’t mind if we keep AMN or Iwobi as home grown squad members but if a good… Read more »
Charlie George
How or why is Iwobi’s hair ridiculous?
GOB: Minus monreal and Kola of that list and we cool.
Is Kola on 140k/wk cool though? He has finally looked like a decent player this season, so he might fetch a reasonable transfer fee. Take it while it’s on offer, if it’s on offer.
Back in moderation
“Lloris, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Trippier, Walker-Peters, Moura, Lamela – give me this “shit” squad any day of the week. They have better players than we do in EVERY single position.”
Surely you wouldn’t take Trippier or Walker-peters over Bellerin when fit, and Leno is just as good as Lloris. Lamela is not as good as players we have in similar positions.
Their squad isn’t that much better than ours, they have just been coached a lot better over a long period of time and have progressed whilst we have done he opposite.
@qna, As I mentioned in previous post, There is a very good player in Iwobi, but we need a coach to unlock that potential and smooth his rough edge. For example: 1) Shooting: training shooting session where he shoot at 60% force but try to place the ball instead of shooting at full force and miss the target 2) Final ball: putting him in situation where he works with strikers so he know where and when he should release the ball. 3) conditioning: he may have to either change his diet or have a specific condition regime, but clearly having… Read more »
Jay
“Of all the fixtures left my only fear is the ManUtd game. Because to be honest in the last 7 years even a dead ManUtd team has always found a way to get a result against us. Can’t forget the game that brought Rashford to limelight.”
Wholeheartedly agree. Those fuckers always show up against us. And yes, who can forget that Rashford game. However… they lost Matic, Herrera, Mata, and Lingard. Rashford too ended yesterday’s game on one leg. So I actually fancy us to get at least a point, if not all 3 against the Mancs.
Loving Marc’s proposed path that sees us a point behind Spurs in less than a weeks time.
What a turn that would be, banter baby.
Iwobi is the least of our problems. Awful decision making and a lack of quality at creativity means he’s never be anything more than decent though but in saying that there’s at least 3 players in that area who need shifting before him.
JDavey “Surely you wouldn’t take Trippier or Walker-peters over Bellerin when fit, and Leno is just as good as Lloris. Lamela is not as good as players we have in similar positions. Their squad isn’t that much better than ours, they have just been coached a lot better over a long period of time and have progressed whilst we have done he opposite.” Yes, I would absolutely take Trippier (one of the best full backs in the country, IMHO) and even Walker-Peters (amazing young talent) over Bellerin (pace and nothing else, and that’s before the injury). Leno is NOT as… Read more »
Valentin. He is an Arsenal youth product and has spent most of his professional career under Wenger. This is not on Emery.
Like I have said. I think he will benefit from a loan in Germany. They play intelligent football and teams are well drilled. But they also have more time on the ball. Iwobi holds on to it too long. He wants that bit of extra time that you don’t get in the PL. maybe he will get that extra time in the Bundesliga. He just might get it together then and look like the next Jordon Sancho.
Ahhh to sell kola on?
I assumed that was the shite list 😂
Better be a decent replacement tho.
The Spud’s have some good players and some pretty average ones as well. What they have is a better balanced squad than ours. That’s something that cannot just be coached out of the team it’s going to take a couple of summers to correct.
To be a fly on the wall at Chelsea’s training this morning.
Sal
It’s a long shot but not beyond the realms of reality.
It would also put the Spud’s under pressure from 3 teams not just us and we all know how well they respond to pressure.
Marko
“To be a fly on the wall at Chelsea’s training this morning.”
Kepa: “Mauri, get me some coffee”.
Sarri: “How do you take it, black or cream and sugar?”
Upstate
You also need to factor in the match against PSG ManU have mid week before our match. Not one they can rotate for!
Marc
“You also need to factor in the match against PSG ManU have mid week before our match. Not one they can rotate for!”
Good point, completely forgot about their game against PSG.
@qna, I was not blaming Iwobi deficiencies on Emery. Clearly they are the results of the academy trainers and previous coaches. However irrespective of who is responsible, there is a path to correct them. If the current coaching staff is not prepared to work on them, he has to take personal responsibility to work on them. I was merely comparing the pro-active attitude than Rahim Sterling took with the wait for the coach to give me the solution of Iwobi. If he does not change that attitude, he will never reach the high he could and should. It is the… Read more »
Iwobi will tear up the Bundesliga and score lots of goals with lots of made-for- TV moments.
…AND IT STILL WON’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.
The Bundesliga is a weaker league
Kolasinac bossed it before he came to us.
I should’ve added Koscielny on my list before. Forgot about him. He’s finished at this level.
It’s gonna be a real slaughter.
Valentin
Players come in sizes,
Raheem sterling’s baseline was higher that Nathan Redmond and Iwobi’s.
Raheem Sterling has benefited from food coaching but his starting point was really high.
There are players that have you on the edge of your seat the first time you see them play in youth academies; Raheem Sterling was one of these. Academy coaches spot them easily.
Wenger used to talk about how Iwobi broke through; there was a fortuitous aspect to him because the academy coaches didn’t think he was all that.
**good coaching, not food coaching!
Now I have to go get an early lunch.
Valentin. It’s a good point. I have to put my hand up and say I didn’t think Raheem would reach this level. But he was order of magnitude better than Iwobi in terms of his raw attributes and skills even at Liverpool. The were working on fixing something that had a lot more to work with. I think Iwobi is close to his limit to what can be taught. Now it’s a matter of finding a way to put that into games. He needs to perform even within his limits. But he just isn’t improving. Still not timing his passes… Read more »
Mkhitaryan: “Everyone knows what they have to do. There is nothing to be under pressure because we know exactly what we have to do. We know how to play the ball and understand each other to have a good connection between the players to score goals.”
It is comforting to know that our players are no more confused. What a change since the game at BATE Borisov .
Season really starts now. 4th with players getting back and 11 games to go and really outside of Spurs away we should be looking at winning out. Will probably have to
@Dissenter, I am not so sure about Rahim Sterling having a higher baseline than Iwobi. When Rahim Sterling left Liverpool, not a lot people would have predicted the massive improvement in him. His shooting was atrocious, his off the ball movement mediocre. But he had pace and good close control. I think that Iwobi is a better and more natural dribbler than Rahim Sterling. He is also stronger. What is clear is that for whatever reason Iwobi is not making full use of his natural talent. So maybe it is about natural football intelligence, but personally I think that it… Read more »
Valentin. It’s wishful thinking that Iwobi is comparable to Sterling. Sterling went for 50m a few years ago and inflation has been ridiculous since then. Nobody is knocking down our door with an offer similar to Raheems. What helped Sterling is he played in a really good, fluent side with a world class Suarez and Sturridge when he was simply at the top of his game. Iwobi may have looked brilliant in Raheems place, but you simply can’t assume that. He has to walk the walk before you can credit him with anything. It’s a fair point you make about… Read more »
Sterling has a very fast initial few steps. That gives him confidence to keep the ball and run pass the defender. This is a natural talent. Recently, he has improved his shots. That you can acquire through training and good coaching.
@qna, The fact that we do not have a specific training regime assigned to every young players is in my view a failure of Arsenal. To be clear I meant Arsenal, not Emery. That should have been in place years ago. However management should instruct Emery to put that in place. The strange things is that Arsène used to do it. He had special 1 on 1 coaching session with Anelka and then later with Henry. Martin Keown said that later on he stopped doing that, but I don’t think that he elaborated why. However I keep coming back to… Read more »
The main issue with Iwobi is not his natural ability, but his football brain and
decision making.
Raheem Sterling also had a similar problem in his formative career. He could be exceedingly frustrating as a player not least when he represented England.
My view is that Iwobi is worth keeping, because he is not the type of player likely to agitate for a move from club.
He is not going to be a star, but I do think that he has the makings of a very good “team” player despite all the negativity expressed on Le Grove.
The manure game will be the real test friends.
They know their season depends on getting a win at our place.
They will come at us, looking to score or make the game ugly and grab a late winner. Emery needs to be game planning for this game now slowly…
Im sure they will have some starters returning for this fixture.
Cortisone shots and all….
We get a draw with spurs, and we look good.
Valentin
I remember watching an Arsenal youth vs Liverpool youth (probably under 18s but can’t remember exactly) game some years ago. We had some talent in our squad but Sterling was hands down the best player on pitch by a distance. Could def see huge potential in him even back then, it just took time (and coaching) for it to be realised.
Emirates. I agree completely decision making is the main thing. I personally can’t see Iwobi overcoming what is keeping him from being a very decent player. If things just play out as per normal, I think it’s quite predictable what kind of career/player he will become. I think Valentin is suggesting a kind of intervention that would seek to break that predictable outcome. I’m not sure how easy that would be to do, or whether it could be effective. But it’s an outside the box thinking that I can get behind. It would need to be significant and I’m not… Read more »
I am not so sure about Rahim Sterling having a higher baseline than Iwobi. When Rahim Sterling left Liverpool, not a lot people would have predicted the massive improvement in him.
He went for 50 million. That’s a pretty good indicator of his talent and potential.
In the youth game, Rahim Sterling main threat was his initial burst of pace on the first 5 meters from a standing position. He was able to go past a fullback in a flash, but the rest of his game was patchy. I remember seeing him play for QPR and thinking another speed merchant with nothing else in his game. The only other thing that I remember from that game was a girl that I think was his girlfriend in full WAG regalia fur coat, sunglasses, mini skirt, high leather boots on a game for U18 st 19:00 on a… Read more »
@Marko,
He left for a lot of money, but a lot of people thought that ManCity had been mugged. I remember pundits stating that he will never get a game. I must admit that at the time I thought the same.
@qna, When my godson joined his Ligue 2 club in France, he was given a specific training Program. They all trained together for 2 hours in the morning. However three times per week, he had skill drill specific bro him. As a winger one of them was to run for 10 yards with a bag attached on one of his shoulder to simulate a defender shoving you aside and then cross toward bucket. The coach was shouting a colour and based on the colour he had to cross to the target, different heights, different places, different speed of cross. Having… Read more »
Soon Valentin’s godson will be good enough for Arsenal.
Valentin paying more attention to Sterling’s WAG than his technique….tellement Francais!
Before anyone gets too upset, I present toValentin my sincere apologies for the National stereotyping.
No my god son was never good enough for Arsenal, but some of his friends were. Like him, most messed up their football career.
Chasing girls and dreaming of a career in music instead of concentrating on what he was good at.
Still think of himself as a music producer with a part time football job to pay the bills until his big musical break.
Signing with dubious agents who did not know the difference between Slovakia and Slovenia.
Dissenter
“Charlie George
I see you’ve decided to use Iwobi as the whip to flog Emery with today.”
I would say it’s pretty similar to what many do ( you included) in using Ozil as a reason to defend Emery …reeks of double standards .
Haha what a freakshow going on at Chelsea, newb keeper’s defying the manager publicly now.
Senior Chelsea players ought to be ashamed as well, especially Azpilicueta who has the armband and had the cheek to say it was on the other side of the pitch so he can’t comment on what happened! Lol couldn’t write that shit.
I’d hook the captaincy off that gimp and promptly stick Kepa to try that shit with the under 18’s the rest of the season if I were Sarri.
Felt proper sorry for the gaffer.
@Word,
No need to apologize it was funny.
The fact that she stood as everybody was in jeans or in Bermuda. Plus the sunglasses when it was pitch dark, people were thinking she might be a celebrity coming incognito.
I include Hazard in that as well, forwards tend to be let off the hook more lightly in these scenarios as defenders are traditionally the bigger personalities in teams but even at 28, he’s a veteran and a club legend already.
By the way Valentin I do agree with your view that with proper one-on-one coaching, particularly on finishing technique (his final ball decision making has improved in my view) Iwobi still has the potential to improve further, perhaps not to Sterling’s level, but still beyond where he is now.
Stood up.
There was a man behind us who thought he recognised her as a porn star. She heard him, stood up, turned around and stared at him, was going to say something and then saw the size of him and the type of man he was, just sat down puffing.
United result obviously good for us and was doubly good if like me you want to see the Bin Dippers choke the league once again courtesy of their posturing dickheaded fanbase getting ahead of themselves.
Still feel that they’re the favourites to clinch 4th but at least we’ve a healthy chance. Chelsea are a sinking ship and will fall away further unless Sarri is removed and replaced immediately, players have given up on him.
Valentin. I really think that Arsenal is missing a trick in our academy systems. I’ve seen a few documentaries on how France went about setting up their academies, which culminated in their France 98 teams. Germany took a cold hard look at themselves and looked at what was done in France and the Ozil generation was born. It’s really a well known science now. Clubs all over the world are doing it very well and most don’t have the money that a club like Arsenal has. We can and should be producing really good talents through our system. I really… Read more »
Imagine if John Terry has been on the pitch …he would have grabbed the little twerp of a keeper by the neck and marched him off the pitch quicker than you could say arrivederci
Lampard too Pierre, Drogba same.
Even Cech in his prime was a real leader and wouldn’t have stood for that sub ordinance, although seeing as how he’s a GK too that’s obviously just a funny hypothetical him being an outfielder.
Would have loved to have seen Roy Keane or Gattuso reacting to that, would have been hands thrown.
Qna I’m not sure whether there’s any magic cut-off point to the age at which players can be improved – clearly, it’s easier when they’re younger, and so,e players are irredeemable/unimprovable at any age, but with a lot of dedicated trading ,some players do keep improving well beyond 23x – Lampard might be an example of such a player…
John Terry was a c*nt.
(and is still a c*nt)
Highbury
I think that’s a little unfair to cunts to be honest.
Words. As you say it gets harder as they get older. I think Pedro’s article the other day essentially said Red Bull don’t buy players older than 23 because they can’t be trained after that. So there’s an arbitrary cut off point thats as good as any to reference. Also, Iwobi is flat out training and playing a 60 game season. When is he going to have time to put in the work?
@qna, Arsenal tried a more Dutch approach to their academy with Joncker. It was a failure mostly due to culture clash. Dutch, intellectual teacher Vs Inner City kids did not interact very well. Overmars who has experience in both countries could have been a solution. With Ajax refusing to let him go, that is a possibility that is now gone. The most crucial period of youth players is between 20 and 23. Too good for U21 football, but not necessarily ready for regular premiership football. We should have a proper system to determine the strength and weaknesses of every players… Read more »
Yeah but Giggs makes Terry look downright wholesome.
Pierre
For once I agree 100% with you.
Chelsea have a serious issue with the squad’s attitude towards managers. They downed tools on Mourinho and Conte to get them the sack, now they’re just ignoring the manager.
Where exactly does M’Bappe fall into this in your view Valentin?
You likely have an interesting view as you’re French and watch him much more regularly than most on here.
Lad is just turned 20. Is he obscenely precocious or will he be an even superior player in his mid 20’s?
Iwobi is what he is , I don’t think he will suddenly become a Robert Pires , Freddie ljungberg or a nasri .
It’s debatable if he will even become as good as Walcott in front of goal or assisting.
He’s more of the level of Eboue when it comes to getting his head up and being composed when playing the final ball .
This is not a criticism of Iwobi , it is just how it is I’m afraid ..
Valentin. Is that so. But at some point these kids will have to accept an alien way of thinking if we are ever going to get a technical and tactical focused system into place. Maybe we need translators. Almost social workers that understand these kids and can motivate them to put these alien practices into place. Cause it doesn’t matter if it’s Dutch, French, Spanish or German all of these systems will be completely alien to them. They won’t understand why they can’t keep score. Or don’t play games with a full pitch. Perhaps Jonkers didn’t have the necessary respect… Read more »
QNA – I guess you/Red Bull are probably right, in the majority of cases.
The exceptions occur with hyper-dedicated/obsessive players who are happy to train extra and push their football to its absolute limits
Chelsea made the mistake of selling off 3 big players and characters in Costa, Courtois and Matic and marginalising Fabregas who was a 4th big player and character in their two title winning sides.
Gary Cahill wasn’t a great player but he was a very good one and he was another character. Also marginalized into a bench role.
Jaap Stam, Vieira, Keano, Pearce, Adams all go back and rip poor ole Kepa out from between the sticks.
Stam may even spit a bit of blood out, Pearce would likely of decked him getting a Red for taking his own man down.
Of those, id be most interested in seeing Keano’s reaction.
I think that Mbappe is the real deal. Incredible raw pace, great technique, but also mature decision making.
Also he has a good head on his shoulder.
For example he chose PSG rather than Real Madrid, because he thought that the step up would be more manageable, but also because it would make it easier for him to study for his baccalaureat (equivalent to French A-Level).
I think that in 3’years he will have a ballon d’or to his name.
Jesus Christ. One, it’s Raheem Sterling, not Rahim Sterling. Two, Iwobi doesn’t have anything even approaching the talent that Sterling had when he left Liverpool. Not even close. Sterling was quicker, a better dribbler, better in close spaces and a better finisher (even if his finishing needed work). City paid £50m for Sterling. No one would pay more than £22m for Iwobi and for good reason. Ludicrous comparison. Absolutely ludicrous.
Why are people actually surprised by the Chelsea GKs behaviour?
1. He’s a millionaire man child.
2. He’s a fucking millenial bastard.
3. An inflated sense of being.
Senior Chelsea players ought to be ashamed as well, especially Azpilicueta who has the armband and had the cheek to say it was on the other side of the pitch so he can’t comment on what happened! Lol couldn’t write that shit.
You see David Luiz in all that? Hand over mouth telling him to stay on. Physically too. What a piece of epic shit that one