The fallout from the ‘incident’ against Watford at the weekend really does sum up how differently Arsenal are treated to other clubs. It goes back to the Wenger days when we were held to a different standard for a similar incident. We then had to ride the ‘they’re soft boys’ accusations that led to a snapped leg. Now we’re finally showing some edge and win at all costs mentality and it’s happening again.
Think about what we’ve dealt with:
Aaron Ramsey getting chopped down at Stoke and there’s no scandal about their fans booing him.
Hector Bellerin getting smashed over at Chelsea and the narrative is men vs boys.
The absolute scandal whenever we do something that remotely resembles unfair compared to other clubs is spectacular. I’m thinking as far back as the Sheffield United FA Cup incident when we actually replayed a game based on unsporting behaviour or the national indignation over the Robert Pires dive. I mean, don’t even get me started on Eduardo vs Celtic.
Chelsea, Liverpool, and United just don’t have to deal with this sort of press barrage after similar incidents.
Arsenal are held to different standards.
The debate over the Watford incident is not about whether the ball should have been kicked out. It was about whether a team that engages in rotational fouling as a spoiling strategy has any right to complain when something ‘unsporting’ happens to them.
To my mind, they don’t.
Arteta had it right, we’re so honest, it borders on naivety. I’m glad the players made the correct call that Watford were making a meal out of a challenge and trying to run down the clock.
I’d like to see more haranguing of the referees because it’s clearly a tactic that gets you better decisions. Just look at how Sissokho reduced the Watford card output for 19 fouls. You can talk about the red, but who cares when it lands that late in the game?
I want to see our players go to war for each other. Each game is a battle and if you let your men get kicked around it sets a shit tone for a game. I like that this new group of players is looking out for each other. Sambi Lokonga even posted to that effect.
We need to engage in the dark arts. Granit Xhaka will fall on the ball to get out of trouble, Alex Lacazette goes down like he’s been hit by battlefield shrapnel, we’ve started to make tactical fouls of our own. The reality is, if we want to get back to the top, these grim parts of the game are just part of the equation. There’s no point in being a moral bellwether 1) if it costs you points 2) if your rivals do the opposite.
I wish we’d punch back in the media, but I do understand that’s a race to the bottom and legitimizes these voices. Chris Sutton kicking off about the Watford incident when there’s a video of him doing the exact thing against Arsenal, at Highbury, without the context of rotational fouling is a prime example of why this happens: Our fans create viral moments out of insincere punditry.
Aside from that, I’m feeling pretty feisty heading into the November International break. We’ve done really well at managing the fitness of the squad so far, no injuries to worry about right now. We’ve found some rhythm from a performance perspective. The trend line for the type of performance on offer is shifting up a bit. We are offering good football even when we’re not at peak.
There’s are also some nice bits with regards to the football. Brighton and Palace pushed us back. We defended too deep in both games and our keeper had to go long because the midfield wasn’t showing. We’ve seen Ben White and Gabriel push that line higher and whoever has dropped into midfield has given confident outlets.
The striking output isn’t back up to full steam yet but I think there’s finally a system that’s working with our 4-4-2. Auba and Lacazette are working like machines and having the Frenchman drop deep like he does has really opened our game up to speed. We’re much more often on the front foot facing the goal. Last season, everything involved more touches, and there wasn’t the confidence to move at speed.
Overall, the model is more George Graham than Arsene Wenger. The foundations are defensive. We’ve kept 6 clean sheets in 9 since the re-engineered back 5 was put in place. There was a lot of ‘We’ve spent £150m and the needle hasn’t moved’, but I think most can see how silly that view was. I also think people are realizing that upgrading a solid defence was necessary to make the overall system work better. Just look at the speed with move through the lines now. Look at the added height and aggression we have from set-pieces at both ends. Look at some of the deliveries Nuno and Tomi were giving us at the weekend. We just didn’t have that last season. Playing out the back with variety and speed has been absolutely essential to our game this season.
It’s also worth looking at some of the attacking decisions we made. Emile Smith Rowe was given the #10 shirt and he’s totally owned it. He landed his first proper England call-up yesterday. He earned it. 5 goals and 2 assists so far this season is excellent. You’d hope he might make it to double figures in both across all competitions. Saka still needs to kick into gear, but he’s been really good regardless of numbers. 2 goals and 2 assists so far. That’ll get better as we kick on, I’ve no doubt about it.
Then you look at the objectives I thought we needed to address this summer. Improve striking output by 20% and reduce errors in the system by 50%. Now, it’s hard to judge where we are on this because the first 3 games were a write off for so many reasons… but since then, it feels like we’re making less errors generally. Even when mistakes are made, we have the pace and positional awareness to cover for them. That Aaron Ramsdale save vs Leicester wouldn’t have had anyone talking about it last season because no one would have followed in for the clearance. There’s an elevated defensive mindset this season because everyone has the talent and wants to be here.
I know I’ve been going on about it all season, but the fans really have to be seen as part of the process. Having limited fandom in the stadium last season now looks like it was a disadvantage for Arsenal. The fans have been awesome, home and away, winning or losing. That’s massive progress and it’ll be benefitting the youngest team in the league this season.
My favorite part of the last 2 months is that we’ve seen the toxic voices driven into an underground bunker. It’ll be temporary, but you know the types. Only about with their views on what ‘elite’ is when we’re losing. I haven’t seen the screaming guy in the car for a while? Haven’t seen Thierry and Daniel Ek looking cool in the box since Spurs? Are websites still selling merchandise associated with sacking the manager? It’s all quiet, so I haven’t noticed. Hopefully, the fanbase has reached a level of normalization with Mikel Arteta. He’s probably not going anywhere for a while. He’s likely pretty decent and suited to this project. There’s a big chance he’s going to move us up a level this season if things roll well for him.
LATER TONIGHT: We have Perry Groves, cult hero to the fans, joining the podcast to talk about his career and his views on where this Arsenal team is currently! Let us know if you have any questions for him in the comments!
Mornin’
2
3
Tr4phy
Eat that Bankz
Too late
Always said i would wait till Christmas to judge Arteta. Obviously a difficult start to the season but things have improved and the summer signings are doing well. Big games coming up against pool, hammers and utd plus have to keep beating the teams below us.
I was on the Athletic website the other day and made a comment regarding the recent improvement and got swatted for being arrogant and disrespectful
seems I had trespassed on the tribal grounds of the rabidly pro-Arteta
comments that would get ignored — like this one — on this site “)
Great read Pedro, completely agree, the club should stop being nice, naive, sporting, it gets you nowhere in this league with these officials.
Agree , the club should challenge the media, and on what we have seen this season and in previous, they should be challenging Mike Riley as well, I am sure Dicky Garlic is well aware of what goes on from his previous roles.
Watford deserved absolutely nothing from that game, and that’s exactly what they got, and that is a good thing from just about any perspective
A couple days late but I read the post, fantastic job Pedro. One of your best, take a bow.
Defense wins championship, so they said. Our defense and GK currently have to be one of the strongest in the EPL. I find VVD has lost a step after the injury. Maguire is getting fat and slow. Only MC and Chelsea’s defense are top notch.
Another no-nonsense analysis from Pedro. In essence pro football is a ‘get away with whatever you can’ contest. You see this every day in every way – from stealing a yard at a throw-in to rotational fouling.
The media’s overblown focus on the Watford incident should be taken as a compliment, an acknowledgement of Arsenal’s reputation as the most honourable Club in PL. As for the fake horror shown by some on here, it’s yet another expression of their ‘blame the manager for everything’ agenda.
‘
D’oh! I didn’t realise it was a new post… in my defence the recycled picture led me awry!
Watford dared to mock us for a lack of cojones a couple of seasons back when they received a couple of points against us – eagerly lapped up by the pro Liverpool/Man United/Tottenham BBC mob, remember that?
Now they fill the airwaves with how much they are hard done by.
Pleeeeeease. Cry me a river.
Where are their cojones now? 😂😂😂
Pedro
I think English press gives us a hard time because of the fans. They know that Arsenal a section fans are a saddist bunch and they will turn against their own team if something negative is written in papers… Papers dig that kind of sentiment. They can write stories about it for days..
Dont give two hoots to what papers are writing. I am glad that we are developing win at all costs mentality. am glad that we are getting back Viera type mentality to give it back to the opposition on the pitch. dont read too much into papers.. Christmas is around the corner, theses journos have to earn extra for a holiday.. What better to write a clickbait against Arsenal which will crowd all the plastic fans to their website.
Talkshite are the most biased they will not mention Arsenal when winning and Goughy the thick Yorkshireman ex cricketer who knows everything on football even complimented Wolves the other day saying how well they done since losing the first 3 games! I wonder what other teams are in good shape after 3 games?
“D’oh! I didn’t realise it was a new post… in my defence the recycled picture led me awry!”
This reminds me.. it been years we have seen that lassie from ocktoberfest..
Pedro are you listening..??????
Perry groves is a class guest I’ve read this blog for year’s from back in the day when it was you and another guy I can’t remember his name? Sorry enjoyed the opposing views still love the blog bizarrely proud to see how you’re career in marketing has progressed and I love the podcast! Please ask Perry what he thinks of Tottenham!
Loving the great run of form currently
I’ve not changed my nappy in a good few weeks and I’ve not even needed to break the seal on that new dettol spray I bought to disinfect those off white urine stained sheets from last season.
Gabriel is still my fav player not including ESR
Honestly these international breaks are doing my nut in. We’re on a really nice roll. Such a waste to have it interrupted for, what, the 3rd time this season? Lame. Watford crying about refereeing decisions is as embarrassing as gooners crying about refereeing decisions. Refs are, by and large, absolutely shit. Mitigate against that by playing well over 90 minutes and scoring enough goals for/preventing enough goals against to counter the few obligatory bad calls a ref will make during any given game. It’s always defensive errors or missed goal-scoring opportunities that decide the outcome of a game. Whining about… Read more »
Yeah these internationals can do one
Such a bland bore and distraction from what is now turning into a really interesting season for us
People can cry me a river about arsenal being unsporting
I don’t approve or support unsporting behavior but I also think arsenal does VASTLY less of that shit than virtually any other team these days.
Not a lot of diving, not a lot of time wasting. Apart from xhaka, not a lot of fouling and certainly no rotational fouling which is a disgracefully cynical tactic
So people can suck a but if they think arsenal need to apologize right now
Pedro all the shite about the ball out incident is just white noise. Id be happy if we did every week if it meant we got a result. From Fergie time to us getting kicked all over the place in recent seasons, footballers cheat. I have no problem with it. Its a very competitive game.
That was like reading peak Atwood. You like your teams and players to be hard and savvy – good, so do I and I suspect almost all other tribal fans do. The opposite of those qualities are soft and naive – who thinks that’s a recipe for success? The anti-Arteta bedwetters I suppose… We’ve enjoyed many of those tough uncompromising players – Storey, Talbot, Steve Williams, TA, Ian Wright, Bouldy, Stefan Schwartz and dear old PV and Petit to name just a few. It’s properly partizan to want your team to dominate the opposition and to expect them to be… Read more »
China
I disagree. I think one of the several reasons for an uptick in our form and the improved defence is precisely because we’re getting into the greyer part of the game eg rotational fouling and time management. No one is running at our defence because TP or Sambi is bringng them down in the centre circle.
China
Congrats on the prolonged continence (is that a word?) by the way.
Davey
Gough is one of those rare commodities. A northern spuds fan.
Davey
Gough is one of those rare commodities. A northern spuds fan.
Yes his first club is Barnsley 2nd Spuds
Stick to Cricket
Kroenke thanks the last time I went this long without soiling myself after an arsenal game was probably around 2011 or so.
Actually know it was during the great unbeaten run from he who must not be named!!
“They have previous so don’t rule out a potential footballing robbery.” They’ve been robbing us for years. They don’t need an excuse to even anything up, we’re already in deficit. This season so far we had McArthur at Palace kicking Saka so hard he couldn’t continue, robbing us of the two extra points; then the Johnny Evans foul which two players for other teams were red carded for, which luckily didn’t affect the result. But it could have. Last season we had so many wrong decisions, including some odd sending offs and the blatant handball at Burnley. So blatant the… Read more »
AFCF I respectfully disagree. Best way to do the talking/avenging/agenda-setting is by the boys on the pitch. Works on Hackney marshes and in the PL. Taking it to PGMOL or the PL would be a risky strategy. The press would roast us and potentially undermine confidence. We’re already getting better at the physical aspects and game/opposition manipulation and need to continue in the same vein. I’m still astonished that our captain seems unwilling to take up cudgels on the pitch. What’s to lose by handing the armband to one of our captains in waiting and persuading Auba that it’ll free… Read more »
Team bonding? Take a lesson GX. Laughs along with an opponent instead of backing our own player – no wonder KT was furious.
GX has a list of football felonies as long as his arm but for some reason there are still people thinking he’s offering some great ‘intangibles’ to the team. The idea that someone’s main contribution cannot even be quantified says it all really
Whilst I don’t wish any ill to Xhaka as a person and certainly don’t wish him to suffer injuries like this, his absence this season has been showing quite conclusively how little he’s needed. All of our worst performances this season had him on the pitch (or off after he was sent off…). Besides the Spurs game, all of our best performances have been without him. He’s not missed at all. We’re winning games left right and center. We are defensively watertight. We are playing consistently better. There are zero reasons for him to come back into the starting 11… Read more »
The problem was when Wenger used to go on about the opposition it just allowed room to complain about our bleating and more importantly give room for teams to engage in dark arts as ‘we were always moaning’ Wenger forgot a very important lesson when he went disastrously Barca Lite. He didn’t have anyone with sharp elbows ( possibly Nasri? ) . Previously Petit and Vieira could rotationaly foul along with Denis and that was before the opposition got to our back 4 whom I’m sure were stepping on feet and whispering in forwards ears. From teak tough to startled… Read more »
There’s no point trying to “fight back” in the media. It would only be used as proof that we’re a soft and whiny club. The only solution is to master the dark arts, ignore the critics and learn how to put pressure on the refs. They should feel nervous every time they’re officiating at the Emirates.
China,
Completely agree on GX. Hopefully his fanboys here are starting to realise what you give up when you completely set up the team tactics to compensate for a very limited player’s weaknesses.
Xhaka was on his way out, if we didn’t have so much other transfer business he would have gone. Circumstances meant the decision to upgrade him was delayed.
Almost certain he’ll go in the summer.
“I’d like to see more haranguing of the referees because it’s clearly a tactic that gets you better decisions.”
This is so true, under Fergie, lead by the detestable Roy Keane terrorized refs, Rooney was mental for it as well. It clearly bought them very favorable treatment along the way.
Pedro, what’s the chances of getting Raymondo Parlour onto the pod? That would be awesome, he’s a fucking leg-end.
https://mobile.twitter.com/thegoonerspod/status/1457805772377763849
In case anybody missed this, the added/injury time is amazing;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwsMS2DHIXc
That was some goal from Balogun. We need to find him a good loan deal so that he can continue developing.
Also, some very dodgy defending and goalkeeping. Our CBs expressing themselves like in the good old Wenger days.
Thanks Pete. It’s great that Pedro gave us this blog to come and discuss our urinary issues without judgment. The side commentary about Arsenal is also vaguely interesting
Just recently, Lucas Moura took out Xhaka and then scored while Xhaka was still lying on the floor. Things like that happened The difference is that we didn’t say a word.
Postive
Your post at 13.19 was, err, a little bit negative. You’re confusing us. Did you mean to put this one out under Nigel’s moniker? That’s the negative one rather than the (occasionally negative) lead guitar Tufnell version.
More generally, why the negativity positive? It’s getting as difficult to understand as electro magnetism with all these pluses and minuses. What are the pros and cons of all these aliases?
Positive Pete
“& my favourite ( not) “ same old Arsenal,cheating again”.Every f*** no cliche in the book trotted out again & again to suit their anti Arsenal agenda.”
That song originated from the Arsenal north bank back in the late 60’s, who used to chant ” same old Arsenal , taking the piss” , whenever we were giving the opposition a hiding…
Spurs are proper media darlings it makes me sick
Every fucking season they get talked up as title contenders. Based on WHAT??? Lol
They had one genuinely good league campaign and one good CL campaign in the last decade or so. They are a total irrelevance to the title each season. Makes me sick how everyone wets the bed for them every time they put 2 wins together
No matter how hard I try, i really cant care what the media says. I’m not at the Untold Arsenal levels of anti Arsenal conspiracy but something doesn’t add up. Never has.
I like what’s happening around the club, I like that Arteta is getting his ideas across, and I’m encouraged by what I see on the pitch.
I see the Liverpool game as a free hit and I hope we really have a go.
Against Chelsea and MC, Arteta gave up before the players hitting the pitch. The players played accordingly. OGS behaved the same in the Manchester derby. Manure paid the highest salary. But OGS was so timid to put up a fight.
Against the Pools, I hope that Arteta is brave enough. Win or loss, he should rally the troop to put up a fight.
I’m just thinking out loud here, but Artetas entire coaching apprenticeship was four years under Pep. Maybe he had to un-learn some things before he could stamp his identity on the team.
Could be something in it, could also be bollocks.
There’s a difference between rotational fouling , which is a tactic used by teams to slow down play, break up counters, neutralize opponents best and most talented players……….and teams like Watford committing more fouls than their opponents because they’re shit and they foul a lot. Watford had 19 fouls against Newcastle in week six….…. were they trying to slow down the slick Newcastle juggernaut too? When Mourinho took his Man U to Chelsea in 2017, five different United players fouled Hazard in the first ten opening minutes …..that’s rotational fouling. And when Herrera was yellow carded for the sixth consecutive… Read more »
Yeah, I see more of GG in Arteta than I do of AW, and yeah, that pleases me. Like GG, Arteta doesn’t whine, or constantly complain of unfair treatment like Wenger. It’s unmanly, makes you seem helpless. If there’s an injustice, then raise the matter, by all means. But whining gets you nowhere in pro football. GG’s focus was on winning, beautiful or ugly. Likewise Arteta. He figured the first step was a solid defence. Likewise Arteta. GG was forthright and straightforward. Likewise Arteta. Was GG honest? In one sense he was. He said no player of mine will earn… Read more »
Have to say, first time reading through the comments in a while and what a joy it is here today. great post pete. feels fucking good to watch a young team grow their nuts and prove people wrong huh. one of those experiences that hasnt happened for the arsenal in a while. many years where it was rebuild rebuild, all empty wenger talk. this is what a rebuild looks like, and honestly thought it would take a bit longer this season to really get going. knew ESR would start posting big numbers this season, Ode is right on his tail-… Read more »
Artetas interview with Amy Lawrence a couple of days ago proves why he has been such a good appointment. He’s changing the culture, something we all knew. was wrong in previous years. I’m not sure a new manager coming in would be able to have that passion or be able to transmit it like. a former player can. Amy Lawrence: “I was lucky enough to have a tour of the training ground. You can see a lot of changes, a lot of visual stuff to make you feel this is Arsenal; what’s going on at the club, connecting with the… Read more »
Tom,
Maybe there was a Rainieri tactic of rotational fouling, and maybe there wasn’t and Watford are simply violent because they are just shit and thugs.
But I’m not at all sure that the distinction between “unintentional” thuggery” or “unintentional play acting” amd rotational fouling is all that meaningful.
Arsenal we’re right to play on, and it’s all a Rainieri diversionary storm in a teacup.
“Watford had 19 fouls against Newcastle in week six….…. were they trying to slow down the slick Newcastle juggernaut too?”
to answer that question someone would have to watch that game. seems like a tall ask
*Arsenal were
how bout josh kroenkes new hells angels beard
I’m just thinking out loud here, but Artetas entire coaching apprenticeship was four years under Pep. Maybe he had to un-learn some things before he could stamp his identity on the team.Could be something in it, could also be bollocks. _______ My interepretation .. is Teta didnt have to unlearn things. He had to simplify what he was trying to impliment stratgically. I think he was expecting senior players and young players to quickly pick up complicated and intricate stragies like JDP and inverted wingers and false 9’s within that framework as well as playing out of the back. And… Read more »
“2007 was a decisive point. It was the first time I could feel there were tensions inside the board. I was torn between being loyal to the club and being loyal to David [Dein]. I still today wonder if I did the right thing because life was never exactly the same after. I thought, ‘I have now to go to the end of this project,” Wenger said.
love this AFC
Arteta: “Because I found an environment, a culture that I wasn’t feeling I identified with. First of all, having a feeling of being privileged to represent this club and be in the position you are in every time you walk through that door. If that is lost you have to go. Get back in your car and drive home and come back the next day differently”.
I think Josh Kroenke looks like a chronic masturbator. The kind of geezer that would do it to himself standing up in front of a full-length mirror while listening to a Donald Trump or Lee Iacocca motivational speech. He’d ‘close the deal’ and put the runny output in a paper cup, ready for cryogenic suspension. Him and miserable toupeed terrorist of a father are a couple of wrong uns. Oh, and Walmart is a fucking terrible shop.
the vlashovic fee has dropped 10m in 3 days time. still a lot for a guy w less than 2 yrs left on his contract but if it means we get him and not bayern/inter etc then i guess its worth it. if he’s the real deal.
KPhobe
how do you really feel about him?
i’m sure those two could afford much worse than you’re giving them credit for.
Eloquently put kroenke
Zach/China
That was quite restrained.
I’m trying to multitask here now that Sid appears to have spontaneously combusted. There’s a wide girth that needs filling following the apparent withdrawal of his long stuff.
Zacharse
Me too.
I find Josh k’s new Ming the Merciless look more amusing then anything, It looks like a misguided attempt for a billionaire playboy to look more “common” man.. and missing that mark terribly.
Anyhow.. if he releases the purse strings he can look like Sasquatch for all I care. Is the bottom line for me. But I will still laugh at him.
its like fashion response to having a testicle amputated
Mid
The comparison to MtM reminded me of some ancient Confucian philosophy, as follows…
The only time when it’s acceptable to spit in a man’s face is when Josh Kroenke’s beard is on fire.
I got that from a fortune cookie.
Hahahaha KPhobe….. that reminds me.
I always thought Sid’s posts always came across as fortune cookie wisdom.. you get for free with your Shrimp stir fry. Anyhow.. I hope this International break doesn’t drive us all a little crazy.
the main thing i’d say to someone accusing me of whining about refs is that they ruin the fucking game. i hope this point doesnt get lost in all the chaos of PGMOL. it’s really simple to me, if one team is spoiling the flow against the rules and spirit of the game they should be punished. if that is their full strategy they should be punished severely to discourage that shit and it should be done early in the game by the refs. so instead of getting to watch the best players in the world work magic we get… Read more »
Playing the devil’s advocate, did Leno have the defensive support that Ramsdale is currently enjoying. Leno looked good the last time he featured for Arsenal. David Louis, Kolasinac, Mustafi, Sokratis, Chambers, Latter da Bellerin, a, Chambers, on and on!!!??
To be fair, Ashley Williams on MOTD didn’t have a problem with us not giving the ball back, plus both him and Micah Richards were praising Arsenal for dishing it out as required.
Mid
I loathe international breaks too. Games this term are scarce enough following Arteta’s risible inability to keep us in Europe last year. Heresy but true…. My tin hat is on in expectation of a torrent of pro-Arteta invective.
I’m off out ce soir for a dose of FAW (Football Association of Cymru ie Wales) and the premier league relegation 6 point clash between Haverfordwest County and Barry Town. 5 quid entry (about 7 dollars) and less than 5 dollars for a pint. Come on you Bluebirds!
I dont think Leno’s shotstoppping ability and speed off the line 1v1 has ever been questioned that much. I think it’s always been coming for high balls, Decision making with the ball at his feet, distribution and commnication. that have been questioned.. All things that don’t really depend on who your backline is.. Ramsdale has all those things as strengths.. It is still early and he was over agressive last match.. with not much action… almost cost us. But I think his ball distribution is what we needed to help with our playing out of the back. We dont get… Read more »
Enjoy Kphobe… I only have US versus Mexico to look forwad to on Friday. Other then that it”s a wasteland.
“Maybe there was a Rainieri tactic of rotational fouling, and maybe there wasn’t and Watford are simply violent because they are just shit and thugs.“
Words, considering Ranieri was appointed their manager on October 5th, and they have been playing like that from day one………..I think the answer should be pretty obvious.
18 fouls vs Leeds
18 fouls vs Villa
19 fouls vs Newcastle
Midwest The key was recruitment. Last season I kept repeating the fact we had the wrong personnel to play the way Arteta wanted. I said judge him when he’s got his own players but got slaughtered when I said it. I was right though. The very DNA of the football is to build up play from the back, creating space by beating the press and moving between the lines. Last season our personnel weren’t good at that which is why we played slow, sideways and Leno kept passing to the wrong player or out of touch. You can’t play quickly… Read more »
Hmmm well Tom I think it;s nitpicking and in the grande scheme it doesnt matter but I think that stat actually proves it is rotational fouling. Because you dont just teach a base philosophy to a team llike rotational fouling for one match. You practice it in every match. To me rotational fouling is not just stopping the other teams best playerby fpuling him by breaking up his momentum although thats part of it. but it’s about spreading the fouls around so you dont get players sent off. And fouling at every opportunity.
You probably don’t follow the NBA but rotational fouling was basically invented by The Detroit Pistons to stop Michael Jordan. They didnt just do it against the Bulls though.. they did it against everyone and led the league in fouls. Hence why they were known as the Bad Boys
The same principals apply to football.
I think most Arsenal fans knew that after seeing
the new transfers play a few games that the 150mill had been well spent
Midwest, maybe, but the point is Ranieri didn’t implement whatever it is Watford are doing.
The game was like that then mid pistons were just better at it
The knicks team in early ewing years was just as bad
Most athletes were blowing lines during those years
Tom
But he clearly sees it as Their only tactic right now hence his ridiculous histrionics
Zacharse_
_________
Other teams defintely emulated the Pistions the Knicks being one of them. I try not to think who or what Dennis Rodman may have been blowing though… hahaha
Kroenkephobe
Lol your Josh K take.
I hope you have a good lawyer though …….any minute you’ll be served papers by Nigel T suing you for libel and slander
When does England play this week anyone know?
Midwest
England home vs Albania on Friday. Then away to San Marino on Monday.
Don’t bother, they will be borefests.
Ok Thanks AFC… appreciate it.. Doesn’t sound scintillating.
Any game involving Arsenal players has a sufficient interest for me to watch it!
Zach, totally, this place is a lot more fun right now and god bless the players for making that happen.
Midwest, I used to follow NBA in the Jordan era , went to quite a few games too…. that place is a shadow of what it used to be though and it was the hottest ticket in town then.
A good buddy of mine was the director of Chicago Park District Fund back then and he always had free Bulls tickets.
I think Detroit got their bad boys moniker because of the type of fouls they’d dish out more than the sheer number.
Going hard in the paint against them was met with only one outcome.
Bob N16
As long as they get selected. I can only take so much screaming every time Kane touches the ball. How he keeps getting selected is beyond me, he’s been poor in previous games.
I’m not very technical with football knowledge but it seems we don’t really play 442. A lot of times when we are defending, I’ve noticed we have 5 along the back. And going forward we play more 244. Just my thoughts, I am willing to be shot down.
Rewatched the Rose /Laca play from every possible angle to see if I missed the red card offense many Arsenal fans were asking for, and I still don’t see it.
As a matter of fact, the more you watch it the less of a controversy this should become.
Laca overran the ball, leaned back with his upper body and Rose ran into him with his arm.
Not blaming the victim here but more of a freak play than anything else.
Yellow card would’ve been sufficient.
Tom
Good point – I wouldn’t want to be on the shit list of those two utter cunts. Oops!
I think Nigel Tufnell is at band practice tonight. He, David St Hubbins and Derek Smalls are putting Spinal Tap back on the road turning the bullshit up to 11. Heaven help us.
https://youtu.be/4xgx4k83zzc
“so instead of getting to watch the best players in the world work magic we get to watch broadway danny rose try out WWE “
Zach, when Burnley went to Chelsea, were you hoping for a clean, fast paced football so their fans could enjoy the Chelsea players work their magic……… or were you like myself hoping they’d get lumps kicked out of them in a stop start affair?