Unai Emery does NOT seem too concerned about away form.
“I think generally we are well. I don’t think we are very bad,”
“It is a bad result, not a good performance but we are fourth.
Yes, this is true.
“This was a very good opportunity to take the three points and go third but after the result we are fourth and we need to be consistent.
“We are going to have chances also in the next matches and it depends on us and on other teams.
“After the result we can be negative because three points less (to be won) but it is in our hands to continue taking chances to be in the top four.”
This is also true.
Our top 4 chances have taken a big hit after that result, mainly because the loss has taken the wind out of the momentum sails. We’re heading into a crunch run of very important high-intensity games with a horrible away record hanging around our necks with tired legs… not. ideal. fam.
However, if we want to mix it with the big boys next year, the players have to react. If they want bigger bonuses, they’ll have to dust away the sad-webs and make a serious adjustment to their mentality away from home.
The manager is going to have to start learning lessons a touch quicker. Matteo G and BIG Mo cannot be played together, it’s a mix of low talent and raw experience that blends worse than orange juice and milk. Our rotations are going to have to be cuter if we’re to maintain belief, energy, and skill.
We have a monster match this Thursday against the MIGHTY Napoli. I say mighty… I’m not really sure. Juve are mighty and they are top of Serie A by 20 points. Napoli reside in second, 7 points ahead of 3rd. Is this a bit like the difference between Dortmund and Bayern? I would think so. That said, it’ll not be easy and let’s be TOTALLY real here… we’ve been taken down by Rennes and BATE this season, so even if we snatch a win, it’ll be very tough to deal with them at their place.
The big question for Emery is how hard will he go in this game? Where does he see his biggest opportunity? Or, has the season become so unpredictable now that he’s just going to gun hard for both top 4 and Europa? I think likely the latter. He’ll be desperate for a trophy and he’ll really want that tag of being the greatest Europa League king who ever did exist… I heard that he’s hoping they retire the trophy if he wins it this time. He’s very focused.
That could come with issues, we have 6 games in 18 days, players are already tired if Everton was anything to go by… so what impact will gunning for everything have?
Well, we’re going to find out my pretties… but please, don’t be dim in the comments and tell me that an international break is enough to bring players back to freshness, or that fatigue is related to character… or that love for the badge will change anything.
SEE U IN THE COMMENTS x
P.S. Hazard… whoooahmy
Pierre
I agree.
“I mean, they praise everyone not related to Arsenal. It’s just arsenal that they nitpick and criticize. The same people who calm to be arsenal fans, continuously hope we fail just so it proves a point they were trying to make.”
THIS
SAY IT LOUDER
It’s very reminiscent of the film American Werewolf in London.When the locals( Bd, High Leg, etc etc) in The Slaughterd Lamb PH ( ie The Grove) deny they have a Werewolf ( Emery) amongst their midst.And they keep defending and denying that we have a Werewolf ( emery) destroying everything around him..Hope that makes sense.”
lol
Jesus.
Wonder what your thoughts on Wenger was.
The joys of the Easter break in the UK.
Traffic on the roads diminishes by 50% because schools are out.
Could actually keep my average speed above 30 mph.
Simple things like this make life worth living.
Shock horror, just saw a couple of policeman walking the beat. Sorry, my mistake, Community Police Officers.
So many cyclists with their camcorders on their heads.
Plonkers!
Welcome to 2019 Britain.
Dark hei
So underrated was harry. He simplified the game beautifully and gave his players confidence. Never seen a boring harry Redknapp side either. Should have had the england job hands down. I’d still give it to hoddle now.
Graham
Cyclists drive me up the wall. Took one out last week. Was his own fault. Sat at a junction indicating to turn right and he came out of nowhere just as I was turning. Boom. Down he goes. Then he tried the old “you weren’t indicating”trick but thankfully there was an independent witness in the car behind who saw that I’d indicted the whole time.
If I was mayor first thing I’d do is put plates on cyclists and bring back school buses. If you want to ease congestion then that’s the first route. No brainer
One solution to avoid the increase in racism and antisocial behaviour in Football (life) is to get ALL season ticket holders to sign a disclaimer on renewing their tickets. Lifetime bans/ fines implemented/ criminal proceedings etc to be enforced. This is not just a football related problem. Racism itself is an inbuilt intolerance to different ethnic cultures and beliefs. It comes about by an upbringing and attitudes engrained into people from childhood. The only way to counter it is to ensure that those culprits are weeded out and dealt with appropriately and severely. As for those countries where it is… Read more »
“Harry Kane could miss rest of Tottenham’s season through injury”
It’s a lol for me.
Fraudiola strikes again last night.
It’s a second lol for me.
Can’t wait to read Pedro about this…
Sorry for the long post.
Day off today and can’t be bothered to tidy up the garden.
Letting nature take hold.
Un battle
Yep, road tax for all cyclists.
Mandatory road tests.
It’s a “no brainer”.
There will always be racists.
Pierre “This one incident could take as long as 5 minutes to sort out.Personally , I think they should keep VAR for incidents like the Son goal ….was it offside ..no …did the ball go over the by line …no …goal awarded , correct decision.” Who would have thought.. i find myself agreeing with Pierre but here we are. VAR wastes too much time IMO. Was watching a La Liga Game over the weekend cant remember the teams, a goal was scored, celebrations were done and all, lo and behold, VAR review!! I counted a total of 4 minutes of… Read more »
Graham62April 10, 2019 08:23:40 CG What I love about your posts is your total denial and ignorance as to why Arsenal are where they are now. Blaming Emery for everything and anything. Wanting something/someone to lead us to the promised land after years of slow decay. Unbelievable really. The real Charlie George is a club legend and icon. He would be embarrassed to know that someone is using his good name to bring so much scorn and negativity on the club after years of decline. Shame on you. >>>>> Thank you Graham, you are my new favourite! That’s why I… Read more »
Emery is doing a decent job. He’s even got Xhaka putting in some decent overall performances lately but people realise or they should that this team still has pretty big limitations as seen in the away form and it’s still a hangover from Wenger’s nasty smelly last season at the club. Going to take more than one season to wash it away. For those that like a dabble on the football in-play bet AFC Champions League = Ulsan Hyundai v Kawasaki Frontale. Home team Ulsan got quite battered and outplayed in the first half but improved near the end of… Read more »
‘It’s very reminiscent of the film American Werewolf in London.When the locals( Bd, High Leg, etc etc) in The Slaughterd Lamb PH ( ie The Grove) deny they have a Werewolf ( Emery) amongst their midst.And they keep defending and denying that we have a Werewolf ( emery) destroying everything around him..Hope that makes sense.””
Only an imbecile would resort to a werewolf analogy, I bet you’re a mature aged man, damn, I actually feel embarrassed for people like you…
“What I love about your posts is your total denial and ignorance as to why Arsenal are where they are now.”
So true.
My one gripe about VAR.
It will destroy the real joys of football.
You know, those topics of discussion and disagreement that make the game so special.
It will become boring and stagnant.
Can’t wait for the day games are officiated by i-robots.
What a waif and stick insect Mahrez is. But fans were calling for him to be signed on here not too long ago. This is the problem. Fans wanting players that give a finishing touch to the team when the side doesn’t have enough players of substance.
In-play bet = AFC Champions League, Guangzhou Evergrande v Melbourne Victory. Class and quality difference here and home team have scored two early goals in the match. Suggested bet = Guangzhou Evergrande AH -1 @ 1.70.
Arsene Wenger left last season. What he has do with The Emery Debate- I have no idea. 6 players have been signed since he left. Emery inherited some excellent players- albeit with gaps in the squad. Especially In the defensive dept Its not Wengers fault- that these Arsenal defensive woes have still not been cured. Still no clean sheet away from home. Wenger was here 2 decades – we hardly ever entered the Europa Cup. We were a CL team. Constant The Europa is the staple diet of emery. His whole managerial doctrine – is based on this worthless trophy.… Read more »
Bit pathetic laughing at the injury of England’s best player. Should t we be looking to elevate ourselves above hoping for the demise of our rival’s best and concentrating on us actually being better than them
“Unfortunately- I am in the minority.”
Ah ah. Priceless.
@deux battle : go support the Spuds, while you’re at it.
HL
Swing off my dick you little mug
“Arsene Wenger left last season.
Wenger was here 2 decades – we hardly ever entered the Europa Cup.
We were a CL team. Constant
The Europa is the staple diet of emery.
His whole managerial doctrine – is based on this worthless trophy.”
Would you be so kind as to explain to us all WHY Arsenal are playing Europa League THIS SEASON and NOT Champions League??
don’t understand what value Charlie George adds to the discuss here, this place was sane when he was temporarily binned.
And as for all this talk of “freshness” of players, every “big team” worth its salt is involved in multiple competitions at this stage so i don’t get what the issue is, our player should get on with the job, we should stop pushing forward the excuse of tiredness or “throwing ” competitions
I may or may not annoy some on here
I certainly don’t intend to.
What should annoy everyone on here-
spurs are on the cusp of winning the Cl.
Whilst we are phaffin around playing the likes of Rennes and Bate( and losing both away legs)
We should be all- putting “soft power” on The Kroenkes in upping their game.
I hooe -We can all agree – that we need to UPGRADE In all departments of The club.
I’m sorry but… of what dick are you talking about ?? l don’t see any dick. lol
Stupid piece of crap…
“spurs are on the cusp of winning the Cl.”
Another priceless quote…
Exactly. We’re only in the Europa League because of Wenger. If Emery gets us back in the CL in his first attempt it will be a masterstroke.
I’m going to make a t-short pretty soon
‘I ♥♥♥ CG”
***t-shirt
Yes but it will be short anyway.
“spurs are on the cusp of winning the Cl.”
Yesterday’s game was the quarter final first leg where they got their goal at home against the run of play.
Yea literally on the cusp
Receding (and others)
For the sake of your peace of mind, not to mention your blood pressure, I would strongly advise you to treat 99% of what Chucky G says as a kind of absurdist form of light entertainment.
Once you train yourself to do that (I do appreciate that it is quite a difficult thing to do) you will achieve a state of Zen, and be amused and entertained by his comments and the blog in general.
I just ordered tank-top online with the inscription “I ♥♥♥ CG”
Any takers?
The English clubs in the CL aren’t going to get that much money because there are four of them left.
That doesn’t augur well for the purse they have to share.
One of the little blessings from watching spuds play in the last-8 stages.
I didn’t realize that Villarreal are facing the risk of relegation from La liga
The Cazorla magic is gone
Maybe it makes it easy to get Chukwueze.
Dissenter,
I’ll have one of those tank-tops you ordered
CG
If Spuds win the CL, as you seem to think they are close to doing,then will that be Emery’s fault as well?
Who put us in the Europa? Was that Emery?
You don’t annoy me Charlie, you just make me laugh.
———————————————
Words on a blog.
He is funny though.
@Dissenter –
“I didn’t realize that Villarreal are facing the risk of relegation from La liga
The Cazorla magic is gone”
https://www.planetfootball.com/trending/villarreal-have-won-the-lottery-with-the-reborn-santi-cazorla/
Graham,
Re Chucky G, I agree. Funnier than Bob Mortimer.
The man is a Le Grovd Legend.
Jim
Cazorla looks good for the pace of La Liga. I think the change was good for him.
That said, he could very well be playing for them in the segunda division if they continue to slide.
Stupid piece of crap…
HL
Great come back!! How long did it take you to think of that?
So Un na na is a Spurs fan, Thomas is a Chelsea fan and Charlie George is an Arsenal fan but only a fan of the team 50 years ago. Hence the name.
It all makes sense now.
Fancy Ajax to get a result against Madrid tonight and for some reason United to edge Barcelona
You mean Juventus …. Batistuta? I can see why the slip though….. hahaha Since basically as it turns out Ronaldo was RM. Team faltering without him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjElZ-O9EpM
Batistuta “Fancy Ajax to get a result against Madrid tonight ” Juventus. Real Madrid are pretty rank average this season though eh. Any team in Spain now they make a big fuss of playing against them. Impressive against no-one. What a great fall it has been in such a short space of time for them. It likes it’s a team that just shuddered to a halt because of lack of hunger. Juve have hunger. They have hunger for the CL trophy. They may be over-rated as a side but hunger is the important aspect. Something which Real Madrid lost overnight.… Read more »
“How long did it take you to think of that?”
let’s say the same amount of time made you think of “Swing off my dick you little mug” .
I think Juve will push for away goal at very least… I could see a scoring draw. 1-1 or 2-2.
United v Barca… Gonna say Barca 1-0. Even though Barca has a bad record at United historically.
Barca 3-1
There are whispers that Barca will go for the jugular tonight in Manchester and they will seek goals in the first leg which will lead to an open match.
A goal in the first half there could see the match go up to 4 goals which Guns of SF predicted.
We’ll see.
As Pedro rightfully described Man United “shit-housed” their way through against PSG although PSG allowed the shitting on them.
That would be a good payout Guns.. 20-1 odds.
At this stage, teams that are visitors must score to keep hope alive. Barca has never been a defensive machine. They attack you to death. They will do the same again.
When they are on their game, its not even fair at times.
Lets see Rashford or Lingard Martial or Lukaku do a Kane today.
Manure may set up knowing this- to counter attack them but that would be futile I think. Sitting back against them would be foolish, they are that good to break through…
They create imbalances all over the field. When you least expect it, they exploit it
If Arthur doesn’t start Barca of play well Barca will be there for the taking. Busquets is getting found out more and more with every passing year, and if Arthur is not there to play around United’s pressure then Rakitic and Busquets could get swamped and overrun.
United should for it and they might be pleasantly surprised.
*Or play well
???
Fancy Ajax tonight. Maybe 2-1 or 3-1.
Can see MU scoring but think Barcelona will score at least one.
I’ll go 2-2.
Ajax are suited for playing away from home.
Can see them dumping Juventus out of the competition.
Go Ajax. Would love to see another spoiler this round
Graham “””””If Spuds win the CL, as you seem to think they are close to doing,then will that be Emery’s fault as well?”””” It would be churlish of me to portion any blame to Emery – if Spuds ( why are they named after potatoes-btw?) Win the CL. BUT … his complete lack of coherent English ( I know – its improving- and I don’t want to touch on an old hot topic) means he can not ‘Play any Mind Games’ -Fergie/Mourinho style. I would like to see An Arsenal manager ‘trying to get into the head of Poch and… Read more »
Charlie “LOLz” George is back to tell us that the Spuds will win the CL.
Hot stuff, coming through!
CG,
Just swap out the r in spurs to d and you have spuds. It’s just an amusing bit of banter.
Bd
Some are easily amused methinks..
Some are easily amused methinks..
Really! That’s quite the statement coming from someone who uses his troll antics to amuse himself daily.
CG
So you’re admitting Wenger couldn’t play “mind games”?
You don’t have to speak coherent English to be good at playing mind games.
Look at Sir Alex!
Graham
Wenger was the master of mind games.
That is why he lasted so long….even when he was perceived to be underachiving
Comparing Wenger and Emery physcological abilities are like comparing
the aforementioned Fergie to Moyes’
I would say Mourinho is the master of mind games.. it might work for 1 season .. but in the end you just end up being a cunt who nobody likes and the team switches off listening to your bullshit after that.
I don’t want to be unkind.
Our incumbent coach – has no intention of using any of the ‘old’ physcological weapons or tactics at his disposal whatsoever.
He is more concerned with tactics,tweaks and clipboard coaching**
**Maybe – that is just the modern way.( and not an indictment on him per se….. Chelsea Sarri seems to be of the same ilk)
It’s common knowledge that most of MU’s players( even the Brtitish lads) hadn’t a clue what Sir Alex was talking about, especially after he had had a few glasses of red wine. They just nodded in fear of any reprisals.
That was his idea of successful mind games.
Mourinho has a small shelf life. You nailed it Midwest.
If he doesnt have the resources or buy in, then its not going to work
His tactics are highly susceptible to backfiring in the worst way.
However, I wish he was never fired from Manure. He would have taken them to hell this year which would have been beautiful
Graham
At what time of day was Fergie drinking his Red??
This is an exclusive.
The best managers today prepare their teams the best they can with information and training… for each match. Attention to details. Think Pep. If you have to rely on mind games or motivational tactics every match … it wears off and you get tuned out.. Sure the ability to communicate is important.. but also just fyi.. most players today are products of the global environment due to the internet and understand many languages as well.
What’s up poontangs?
How’s everybody doing?
Alright!!!
GOH_ You cantankerous bastard! How are you? hahaha
The one good thing emerging from Emery’s team now is that they have dropped the swagger and arrogance from the side that was present in Wenger’s time. All well and good having this arrogance in a winning side that is competing for the top trophies at the top end but a bit of a chimera when the side have not been at the real top level for a lengthy time. In-play bet = Polish Cup Semi-final, Rakow Czestochowa v Lechia Gdansk. Home team 0-1 down in the second half. Were the better side in the first half. Knocked out Legia… Read more »
Its common knowledge that Sir Alex was a connoisseur of fine wines. It is also a known fact that most of his players couldn’t understand his broad Glaswegian accent.
Even Ferguson has admitted this.
Midwest I agree with most of your sentiments But there are other ways of imposing physcological pressure on the opposition. Eg. A very attacking line up. Fergie was very aggressive with this strategy Consistently putting centre forwards on the pitch ,late on. Pep – always seems to have an aggressive team line up.( gawd knows -what happened last night no sane/de Byrne) Wenger like wise-7/8 Fa Cup finals wins . (Always played very attacking football in finals.) Our Emery is a continually timid with his selections- see Everton Elneny debacle Emery should play PEA, Laca,Rambo,Ozil, Miki in our remaining league… Read more »
And another from Bundesliga 2.
Duisburg v Cologne. Home team bottom of the league, Cologne top of the table.
Cologne find themselves 2-1 down atm in the first half. Think they can make a recovery here from here in.
Suggested bet = Cologne team goals over 2.5 @ 2.10
I don’t think Emery was too timid with his tactics.. I would say he more guilty of trying to be too smart for his own good.. and trusting that Elneny and Miki are veteran international and professional players and could do a job for one match. He was wrong. He actually realized this very quickly and changed at halftime. To be fair it makes sense to try and manage your way through a large amount of games in a short amount of time.. But he doesn’t have the luxury of a very deep squad. Just play your best players basically… Read more »
Lack of a third striker has not helped us.
Hopefully this summer we get a good one if we are not renewing Danny
Fingers crossed with Auba and Laca in the run in that they dont do a Kane
Mid west G
“””I would say he more guilty of trying to be too smart for his own good.. “””
And that’s another reason ( in my humble position) why he should be sacked at the end of the season.
Keep it simple.
Its only football.
Manure’s Team to play Barcelona: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot, McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Lukaku, Rashford
Subs: Romero, Jones, Rojo, Pereira, Lingard, Mata, Martial
If I was going to worry about Emery and his management style and be critical then that’s what I would be more concerned with. Is over complication and over thinking stuff and that may well be his downfall. Remains to be seen but their are signs of it creeping in. Ironically AW was the opposite and now we may have went the other way too far. You can see Emery living and dying with every moment on the sideline and the wheels spinning constantly. Whether this is a good thing or not in the long run over more then 1… Read more »
Midwest Gun
What a remarkably accurate assessment of the two managers.
I am nodding in total agreement.
Two extremes styles ,indeed.
Mid
We don’t know exactly the physical condition of the players. I would believe that both Auba and Ramsey were not 100% before the game. If not, it would be stupid not starting them when he spent a lot of time before the match stressing how well Auba and Laca playing together.
Good manager’s .. good teams are all about balance. I guess you could say that about anything in life really. Not to get all existential on a Wednesday,
Barca’s Team to play Manchester United: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur, Suarez, Coutinho, Messi
Subs: Cillessen, Dembele, Malcom, Sergi Roberto, Vidal, Umtiti, Alena
Umtiti is on the bench. I thought that he is injured. If Barca signs that Ajax’s CB, they may let Umtiti go.
I hope Barca destroy the spirit of Manure today. Add another level of stress to them.
A good whipping will do that.
@Midwest, More than the mindgame, I would say Mourinho’s approach and tactics have a limited shelf life at a club. He maximise results in an under-achieving, underdog club. As soon as the club starts winning expectation are raised, and the underdog approach does not work anymore. I would also said that his so called mind game are something that the English press likes. However most of it is just hogwash. He can’t help himself and when put under the spotlight he has to say something controversial. But because he is charming, the press lap it up and does not call… Read more »
Nelson –
True nobody knows the fitness levels or concerns but if they were fit to play the second half they would have been fit to play first half and be subbed off. Just my opinion obviously and that could have back fired as well if they would have suffered a season ending injury but that was an important match so I think I would have played my best.
Valentin –
Yep.. the media seems to love a smug smartass as it makes for good quotes. But agree Mourinho is one of my least favorite people let alone managers of all times. His over confidence and lack of humility and self awareness if I had to put a finger on it annoys me greatly. I’m not in to manipulative people in general hence why I have a few ex-wives.
Wenger and Emery are the polar opposite Wenger preferred artists and never gave them proper instructions. Emery preferred robots and does like players who strayed away from the instructions. The problem is that in the long run both approaches have a ceiling. Artists need framework and structure in which they can strive. The best players win you game, but they need a degree of freedom to be able to express. I don’t see either of them having the personality or the will to adapt to that reality in the long run. We have just exchanged a control freak dictator for… Read more »
@Midwest,
The British media likes that that quotability aspect of Mourinho. I think that it is cultural, as in Italy he was taken to task by the Italian media.
I remember a press conference that degenerated in a slanging match because some of the journalists had called up his lies and bullshit. He tried to make it they were xenophobic and that really kicks everything off. Inter forced him to publicly apologize to them at the next press conference.
Valentin
“Wenger and Emery are the polar opposite
Wenger preferred artists and never gave them proper instructions.
Emery preferred robots and does like players who strayed away from the instructions.”
What makes you think Emery likes Robots”
Good managers expect excellent players to still play to instruction, that’s not the something as trying to make them robots.
Even Messi plays to instructions, as is Ronaldo.
We will find out very quickly is all I can say. The results don’t lie. But Emery doesn’t have the power over the organization that Wenger had at this point to be a dictator and that is a good thing. This summer will go a long ways into finding out what the Organization looks like but first we need to see what this season ends up like.. 1 step at a time.
MWG
Cool and the gang. The three month, nearly four month old just had a total nuclear meltdown. He just had a lovely bath and a nursery rhyme and bang! 25mins of freakshow. Could be teething or he could just be a total jerk.
My wife and I can’t wait to find out what’s behind door B.
You good old buddy?