Also, it’s not always that a team is ‘reliant’ on heavy goal production from one player. If Henry didn’t exist, it doesn’t mean those teams would just score that much less. The others naturally score more in that scenario and it’s probably spread around more. Same with City and Haaland, but you’d much rather have players of that caliber than not. In both examples the team scores more with them than without them.
It depends on the player himself. When Henry was here his final 2 seasons, we were mega reliant upon HIM to score. But as soon as we sold him and started Adebayor, the team changed. They did score more and more evenly, but they would have never done that with Henry still there. Henry was too demanding in that time and probably hindered their overall output, like Reyes, who had a famous bad relationship with Henry. I prefer this Madrid side the last year over Cristiano's sides because the offense is more balanced and they aren't all working towards Cristiano's 89,000 goals per season. I don't even care to compare the goal tallies of those teams because Cristiano's sides were winning CLs but not coming close to La Liga, but the newer Madrid did the double. I think they played better football last season than any season they had with Cristiano.
Those teams after the invincibles were reliant on Henry because they were worse than the ones that came before.
How was Henry as regards injuries ?? I don’t recall him getting any bad ones at all .. Injuries are the only thing I worry about for Haaland especially these days with all the crazy reckless tackles now being tolerated by refs
I seem to recall the two seasons before he left for Barca, he missed matches with back issues, particularly his last season with us.
The end of TH14's career was plagued with years of achilles problems. I'm pretty sure it started while he was at Arsenal, continued at Barca and when he signed with NYRB there was a clause in his contract that said he didn't have to play on artificial turf because of this chronic injury. I believe this condition had significant impact on the latter part of his career and achievements.
Varies based on team composition and depends on what else the player in question does. For example, Henry scored a ton, but also assisted a ton and was involved in possession. Van Nistelrooy did nothing in possession, which is why United's scoring went down when they let him out of the stable. I think Haaland is somewhere in the middle, but his arrival has had a negative impact on everyone else's output. Looks like this year's City side shoot a lot less from open play than last year's side did (on the order of two shots a game, which is a lot).
Sad for Tomi & us. We probably won't have Eddie too. Not to mention Mo. I'm convinced that our fitness over the final 10 games is going to be the decisive factor. If we don't lose anyone else of significance to injury, and if the players we have now maintain their general fitness & form, I think we've shown that we have the other acumen required to do this thing.
Score effects, possibly. I’m speculating but if Haaland is helping them go ahead earlier in games, on average, it could explain a decline in shot output overall.
Not sure that follows, as in general, game states where low blocks are being employed less tend to lead to more shots for possession-dominant teams
And besides, it’s not like City take it easy on teams. The difference between their goal difference and ours is them scoring 9 against Bournemouth, and us putting away 4 and cruising the rest of the way
Usually when a team is in front for most of the game the chasing team takes more shots (relative to their normal output) and the leading team takes fewer (also relatively). But you’re right City aren’t usual in most senses.
I think the idea that trailing teams have more possession and chances is something that Pep and juego de posicion are actively focused on countering, as you say.
Arsenal the scummiest club. pic.twitter.com/ovPkpLRCvd— ًًً (@ibzsmo3k) March 23, 2023 Reports that Partey wasn’t involved.Then he arrives at the stadium looking fine.As usual, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. He’ll probably start then come off after like 60 minutes or be on the bench. We’ll see. #ARSMCI #AFC #COYG— Jay ⚽️🔴 (@JA_fc99) February 15, 2023
From a legal perspective, I don't envy the really difficult position in which the club finds itself. But I won't lie --- I find this all very disturbing.
So the insinuation is we faked his injury to get him off the pitch? I don't understand why we'd do that considering he's been playing with this over his head the whole season?
Plus the assumption that he was interviewed on February 15 is doing a lot of work there. The Partey situation is disturbing as hell, but what's being alleged is easily disproven: Partey was subbed off for injury on 2/4 at 60 minutes. Partey played 90 minutes on 2/11. Missed the Man City game on 2/15, not even making the bench. Missed the Villa game on 2/18, not even making the bench. Subbed on at 84 minutes against Leicester on the 2/25. He was actually injured.
After signing Jorginho, I speculated that one of he or Partey would likely be sold this summer if we also brought in Rice (or another young #6). While Partey is currently better than Jorginho, his performances have been strong and Mikel has praised him quite a bit. Assuming the unnamed person is indeed Partey, I think it is highly likely that he is sold this summer and all of this is swept under the rug. We will bring in someone young (most likely Rice) and will be content that if they falter we have a strong backup in Jorginho.
The insinuation is the police interrogation happened on 2/15. Remember, he arrived at the stadium before kickoff and people thought he may play.
But he missed matches before and after. And as @Super Llama asked, why would we have been concerned about this that particular day when he’s played all season under this cloud? The whole thing is unsettling, as @mebeSajid said above, but the allegation that Arsenal were doing something especially ‘scummy’ that day is not really supportable.
I wouldn’t think much of this if he didn’t arrive at the stadium that late. Missing after could be he was wasn’t in the head space to play after facing interrogation. I only quoted that tweet because it was the only one I could find, but there was speculation that he was being questioned before the City match.