IDK. I'm not saying he's not running on fumes these days. And I'm concerned about him picking up an overuse soft-tissue injury, BUT I actually gave him credit for how he maintained control, held off the defender and played a perfect ball to Marti. That missed opp was not on Timber. The GK was coming out quickly and it demanded a quick first-time shot. Period.
Had a chance to really stretch the lead and we go 2 in 5 instead. If we don't win the title we will be looking back at the Forest draw and today's draw and we will have no one to blame but ourselves. It's been over half a season and our attack is still really struggling to adapt and create regular quality chances. Either change the formation of move players around. If Gyokeres is on the field Saka and Martinelli should be on other sides to put through balls in. No point having them inverted unless Kai or Jesus is up top. Either way unless things change I worry that we will lose the Carling Cup and then to City at the Etihad and our season will completely fall apart.
Really hope it's all kids in the FA Cup this weekend, and guys on limited minutes like Norgaard. Really need to come out and make statements next week against Wolves and against Spurs. This team at times looks afraid to attack especially directly and battering Wolves and Spurs goes a long way to helping that. What we can't afford is a replay of the last time we played Wolves...
I'm more optimistic. Looked like a contact injury/knock. He wasn't 100% afterwards but he played the final 20-25 mins... not at his best but seemed to be moving pretty freely. Give him a rest against Wigan and I think he'll be back fit for Wolves in 6 days, or worst case Spuds in 10 days.
We were lucky to leave with a point and with Gabriel Magalhaes not getting a red. Just move on to the next man. Running on fumes but we gotta just do our job and win this thing. It is what it is.
I don't think it's the schedule, I think it's just confidence, fatigue, pressure, and injuries that have to be navigated. As much as Brentford had chances to win the game, we had a chance to go up 2 and then who knows what happens.
And I've seen a fair share of matches when Pep is bouncing up and down and remonstrating with every touch.
Yes, and they have enough senior guys to ignore his nonsense. I don't understand these constant comparisons to Pep. Mikel ain't Pep, and this team ain't City. We just gotta figure it out, at some point and hopefully it's this year. Him jumping up and down isn't the issue IMO the issue is that the players aren't figuring shit out on their own. At every club no matter how great the manager there is a point where players have to figure shit out on their own, even with Pep or Klopp, Mourinho, Wenger all of them. This is now on the players, at some point they have to want to do something. It's not Mikel's fault that players freeze up in the moment. Make the wrong pass, make the wrong decision, make the wrong run, or take a touch when they shouldn't or shoot when they should take a touch. At some point they gotta compose themselves, and take what is in front of them. I hope they do, they deserve it, but life ain't fair. You gotta go and win it on your own.
That's what I said---didn't know I had to spell it out explicitly. When it's Klopp snarling at the ref, pumping his fists, and screaming at the crowd (see----I didn't use Pep as an example this time), it's "oh what a firebrand, no wonder his players run through walls for him, etc. etc." It's a narrative commentators love to latch onto but it has only marginal affects on what happens on the pitch.
Yeah of course you ain't got to explain, I think, and this where I have to get back on Super Mik's ass(pause) because he doesn't get the type of players that would be likely to say ******** this guy and we're going to do what we do. So it's a lil of this and a lil of that? INNIT? He gets guys who are not prone to do their own thing, so here we are What I am praying for that someone just gets tired enough of the dumbshit to do their thing. IMO thats what it will take to break this title drought. Again, just my .02 and once that happen maybe Mik lets go of the control freak shit and the players feel more confident. Im saying that based on things Ive seen recently in other teams.
Especially considering it is apparently fine for Ajer to have both arms wrapped around him from behind and throw him side to side at all times.
Strangely enough, I actually enjoyed this game. I thought the level wasn't bad on either side. We just didn't do enough to secure the win, but we know the team has this weakness.
It was very intense, one of those games that if you win it it just sends you to another level but if you don't the expenditure can be devastating. Both teams had chances.
Hmm. I didn't see that, I saw follow-through contact to his knee. Knee hyperextension seems to usually happen when someone lands on a leg with full force/weight. I did not see that. Did you? How are you so sure it's a hyperextension injury? p.s. If you're right, my optimism continues, as IMO hyperextensions usually resolve relatively quickly. Edit: I heard Arseblog mention hyperextension so I guess you're right. But I really didn't see that at the time.
A combination of face, hair, expression. There's something odd about Andrews in this way. And not very football-manager-ish. But I'll admit he's not a spittin image of Eraserhead. Maybe there's someone else in my head who's a better match, but that's what came out.
This post touches on something that I was thinking of regarding Eze. This morning I found myself thinking "Why has Eze been such a nothingburger for us?" (when he was far from that at Palace). Then I started listening to my first pod of the morning: Arsecast. They were discussing Eze, scratching their heads really, grasping at straws. Lack of confidence? Lack of a settled side due to injuries? Etc? But one thing that Andrew said that kinda resonated, and I'll paraphrase: Is Arteta throttling him too much? Not letting him be an improvising free-agent, and do his own thing? As per some recent discussion, I doubt it's a simple black-and-white, single-factor explanation. It's likely more gray. And we may never know. But it's surely a surprising conundrum what a triple-decker nothingburger he's been. NLD notwithstanding.
I think that some players just are not meant for big clubs, because the reality is what makes you good enough to do whatever it is you're doing at a small irrelevant club with no real mandate for excellence is different than what you do under the lights. Add with that the demands out of possession and tactical rigidity of Arteta it is a lot different. We don't give enough thought to environment.
Arteta on Eberechi Eze: “It’s not easy when you move to a new club and when you play against a team that is like Brentford”. “The ball is a lot of times NOT on the floor and especially for creative players, it’s more difficult”.