Aston Villa v. Arsenal - Post Match Thread [R]

Discussion in 'Arsenal' started by yossarian, Dec 26, 2008.

  1. yossarian

    yossarian Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 16, 1999
    Big City Blinking
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Continue here.
     
  2. Blue'N'Gooner

    Blue'N'Gooner New Member

    May 29, 2008
    London
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    When the referee blew the whistle for a penalty i knew we wasn't going to win this match, we are just not there mentally. We've got to keep Gallas, Toure has been shocking all season.
     
  3. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    first, im going over the line ups last year... and Kolo the RB experiment started AFTER the Chelsea match, and he only played 2 matches at CB after he came back from ACN...

    secondly, outside of the penalty (which Abonglahor dived on) Gallas was good today... so it isnt 100% that both play poorly together
     
  4. G dot Ozo

    G dot Ozo New Member

    Jul 18, 2005
    NJ
    We've had this problem for a number of seasons now - why can't Wenger see it? Ever since Campbell lost it, we have been generally rubbish defending centrally, and aerially. All teams have to do to trouble us is hoof it long down the centre. Either our defenders will allow the ball to bounce, or you'll win the flick on and who knows what will happen from there. I'm tired of seeing it and it is the number one problem at this football club. The fact that Djourou is probably our best CB is worrying. It's not a slight on Djourou - I rate him - but he is still a developing player and is prone to his own sorts of errors. In time, I feel he'll be a top class defender for us though.

    If we can somehow work something out in Jan and get a CB who isn't cup tied, by all means we must. That will be difficult, but Utd bought Vidic in Jan so it can be done. But by next season one of Gallas or Toure should be gone, perhaps both. I'd lean towards keeping Toure as a 3rd or 4th choice CB and having one or two commanding CBs at the club. Create some competiton for places for once.

    Regardless, there is a real concern about the defending at this club. It cost us trophies last season, and this season it could cost us 4th spot.
     
  5. Match-Debater

    Match-Debater New Member

    Jun 5, 2008
    In the end, despite Villa's 1st half, I feel the Guners threw this one away.

    Gallas's careless tackle was a Boxing day gift for Villa, allowing them back into the match. The speed-merchant wasn't scoring from that angle. No need to go to ground whatsoever.

    Also, on his fmuch-favoured left peg, Persie could've killed it at 3-0.

    The 90 min winners then conceded to a rare strike from Knight's swinger. What were the chances....?

    Used to quite enjoy the Basil-Fawlty-on-crack antics of O'Neil, but on this occassion yearned to see Zebadee getting sparked!
     
  6. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Vidic was also looking like a flop when he was bought by United in January... it will take time for even world class center halves to look good in a new system...

    id rather we not sell Gallas or Toure...
     
  7. G dot Ozo

    G dot Ozo New Member

    Jul 18, 2005
    NJ
    Even if this proposed CB(s) takes a few games to settle, at least we'll know that it'll only be temporary. On the contrary, as long as Gallas/Toure are allowed to continue on we know that soft goals and moments of madness are going to happen at one stage or another. Surely you can recognize that our defense is nowhere close to being good enough to achieve what we want.
     
  8. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    im just saying that we shouldnt expect a central defender to come in and save the day next month... if anything... we need help with our attacking midfielders... with the exception of Kolo today, our defense looked good *people are complementing Sagna, but Eboue was very important in helping him out* and has looked good since Djourou came into the line up... even Silvestre put in a good shift today... we need some experience on the wing like a Rosicky or Hleb who would hold the ball for us, or just show for the ball like Nasri and Diaby didnt do today...
     
  9. wanye_stirrear

    wanye_stirrear Member+

    Sep 19, 2002
    Maryland
    You can say what you like. I think everyone knows that they were our starting CB pairing
    for most of last year. I saw this problem last year and pointed it out during the summer when people were saying that I was making it up or that it was a myth of some sort. This is not new.

    For them to have played well together, they both would have had to both play well. I agree that Gallas was good for most of the game (he struggled with a couple of aerial balls and direct balls as well), but how was Toure? These two guys individually have not played well at the same time in quite some time. That is what the "pairing" part means in the CB pairing. They do not complement each other although one of the two may have a good game from time to time.
     
  10. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    so we should just ignore the fact that Kolo was even behind Song at CB last year from after the Chelsea match onward? it wasnt MOST of the season... it was before ACN, and Kolo wasnt that good before ACN either... Kolo's play has been on the downside for 2 seasons now... some of us have talked about this for a while, but that was ignored...

    and I dont believe their were many saying that Kolo and Gallas could play together last summer... those including Wenger... so you are not on your own island there...

    now you are just using semantics... it is very possible for one to play good while the other plays badly... I never said they played well together, I said one could be good while the other wasnt...

    and I havent disagreed about them not complimenting each other... been saying it for a while... I just contend with both being poor individually while partnered..
     
  11. antifan

    antifan Member+

    Aug 14, 2004
    The Scottie
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Six defenders on at the end. Six defenders and they can't hold a lead. WTF?

    BTW Almunia is still utterly mediocre.
     
  12. G dot Ozo

    G dot Ozo New Member

    Jul 18, 2005
    NJ
    And I'm just saying that if we get up 2 goals v Villa midway through the second half, 2 goals up v Spurs at home, up v Liverpool at home, up v Hull at home, up v United last season, up v Chelsea last season, up v Liverpool 3 different times in the CL tie last season, up v Brum into injury time, etc, we should come away with the points. A title winning defense would have done that in minimum 75% of those matches, let alone the 0% we actually did do it in.
     
  13. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    his form has dipped a lot over the last 2 months... he doesnt communicate much, and even tho people blame Djourou for the Keane goal, the fact that Almunia didnt do his job to sweep away the danger like he was supposed to should not be ignored...

    if we go out and buy anyone world class, I would hope its at keeper
     
  14. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    not disagreeing... but saying that our midfield could have helped out...
     
  15. juanca

    juanca New Member

    Jan 30, 2006
    Land of the Free
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Again, we were playing the high line today, just inviting Ill-bang-a-whore to find space (like the PK), but today, Almunia did a good job of clearing danger. I think atleast 3 or 4 times he was quick to react and clear with either his feet or head.

    I cant blame Anyone.

    Would I like a "World Class" GK? YES!

    but what can we do, who are We gonna get? Wenger allready has fabianski, and that Kid vito mannone will probably be in the 1st team set-up next year.


    We need a few nicky butts, scott parkers, a few SWP...

    We need guys who look for the ball, who want to tackle, who want to fight.

    SWP is a midget, with 1/10 of the natural ability and skill that many of our guys "have" , Yet who wouldnt take that Kid over some of our players.
    I was pleased today with everyone, but these Pathetic mental lapses and Not giving two shites the last 10 minutes of games are becoming Really Irritating.

    We keep saying everygame is like a Cup final, yet every game, All these kids go to sleep. :confused: Im sure Wenger must be telling them these things, But what the Feck is going on:confused:
     
  16. wanye_stirrear

    wanye_stirrear Member+

    Sep 19, 2002
    Maryland
    I dont know what you are saying here. I am saying that they do not play well together and you seem to be saying that they did not play together after the Chelsea game (which was towards the end of the season btw) and when they were played together prior to the ACN, Kolo was not playing well. You have not said anything besides what I have said, which is when they are played together that they do not play well.

    This makes no sense, so I can't repsond. Did you mean to say that you do believe? If so, I never claimed that I was the only one saying it. I know Wenger pointed it out as well. If others on this board were saying it, I do not remember them speaking up during the summer, but I could be wrong. BTW, I have noticed this in many of your posts, but never pointed it out. There and their are two different words.

    EDIT: I re-read this, and I think it is the those including Wenger part that was confusing me since the way that it is written "those" represents people that were saying that they could play together. Anyways, I think I get what you mean.

    Who cares if one plays well if the other one does not? We need them both to play well otherwise the CB partnership is close to useless. They need to work together. I am saying that when you have a prtnership that does not work well together for whatever reason, the individual players can look badly. I am not blaming Gallas for Toure's form, but Toure's form did dip once he was forced to play in this dysfunctional partnership.
     
  17. wanye_stirrear

    wanye_stirrear Member+

    Sep 19, 2002
    Maryland
    Not that I disagree, but what made you point this out now? I don't recall him making any big mistakes in the game, and neither of the goals was his fault.
     
  18. G dot Ozo

    G dot Ozo New Member

    Jul 18, 2005
    NJ
    I agree, and I feel that Song coming off was a turning point, he could have helped take some of the pressure off. Wengers' teams need to control possession or else we don't stand a chance, as the defense is not rock solid. This was the case last season too, the only difference was that the midfield was class and masked the shortcomings of the defense for the most part. We have a worse midfield this season and that means our same poor defense will come under more pressure. I'm only having a go at the defense becuase we've been poor for much longer, and we know that the midfield can be enhanced simply by players returning to fitness. You can't say the same for the defense.
     
  19. Schu419

    Schu419 Member

    May 17, 2006
    PA/NJ
    All the whinging is a bit much. I too felt like we weren't going to hold on, but that was nerves from previous collapses this year. How many real chances did Villa carve out in the last 20 minutes? Hardly any. They got lucky in multiple ways on their only real chance, as Zat Knight had a fantastic first touch and a great strike to tie it up (you wouldn't bet on either happening).

    We played well missing our most important player, our best goal scoring CF, a starting CB and our starting right winger. This tie absolutely gutted me, but we are only 3 points behind Villa with exactly half the season to go. Hell, we're only 10 points back from the leaders. This is not the end of the world - well, maybe it is if you somehow still thought we could win the title, but I haven't had any sort of expectation of that in a couple of months. We showed some solid defending and some good taking of chances while down men and away from home. I say Well In to the boys out there today.
     
  20. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    im going against the notion that Kolo was our starting CB most of the year, which is what you said... and wasnt true...

    :rolleyes:

    if you want to believe that you and only you was talking about Kolo and Gallas not being a good pairing last summer on this board, then fine... you are very wrong, and if a poll was being done, I bet you 75% of the poster on this board was saying this... but you can believe that you were the only one banging this drum...


    again, im not disagreeing that they are a bad pairing... im just disagreeing with your statement that they both play bad as individuals when together... its not that serious... its just semantics...

    and I disagree about Toure's form dipping because he is partnered with Gallas (not saying you are blaming Gallas)... it wasnt good with Senderos or Djourou from the start of the 2006-7 season...
     
  21. juanca

    juanca New Member

    Jan 30, 2006
    Land of the Free
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    ^^^^^

    Arsene Knows!!!
     
  22. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    with a high line (like we usually play) Almunia needs to come out and sweep aerial balls like the one that led to the Lea goal... he did that at the beginning of that match...


    and tbf, Gabby was not dangerous at all today because of that line...
     
  23. wanye_stirrear

    wanye_stirrear Member+

    Sep 19, 2002
    Maryland
    If you say so. I was on and off the board during the summer given one poster's excessive posts. I just remember two heated debates about it during the summer and remember being the only one with this point of view during those exchanges. I will concede that others may have stated it at other times. I really don't care. I wish I were wrong in this instance, so I definitely am not trying to pat myself on the back or anything like that. I was just pointing out that this is not a new issue.
     
  24. luvgunners

    luvgunners Member

    Dec 22, 2008
    Cornelius, NC
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I know we weren't that bad today but i'm still disappointed. We were up 2-0 and can't even hold them off till the end. Don't want to believe we just let the victory slided out of our hands. What a game!
     
  25. Val1

    Val1 Member+

    Arsenal
    Mar 12, 2004
    MD's Eastern Shore
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    This whole team is utterly medicore. Lots of good players, but no one who is a real lock-down, money player. This was a game we had to win. We got a draw, away, so that is OK, but great, even just good, teams find a way to win games they are 2-0 up and 4-2 up.

    We've played 19 games and only won 9. For a team supposedly one of the Top 4, that is a decidedly mediocre record. About the only positive I can put on this team is that we've got a much better goals differential than Everton and Hull.
     

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