26 Aug 2018 14:28:40
What was clear yesterday is that Guendouzi has already become a fan favourite after just two games. Yes, at times yesterday he got exposed and perhaps looked a little out his depth, but he plays with his heart on his sleeve and the crowd lap it up. Personally I do think our current formation is putting a massive strain on him, and I would like to see us play a midfield 3 with Torreira coming in to back him and Xhaka.
26 Aug 2018 14:33:57
EG, his problem is, he is pressing, his mate isnt, that's why he gets exposed. His tackle and interseptions rate is so high because of that. That can't be said of others. It amazes me how people can't see the problems are players not playing to the team orders and tactics are causing defensive problems.
26 Aug 2018 15:53:44
It's easy to read something into people's words they didn't mean but on motd last night Aaron said in his post match interview " the high press is what he wants " not what the boss wants or the manager wants but what he wants.
I could be a million miles off target here but it did sound resentful to me like Ramsey wasn't on board with our new system at all.
26 Aug 2018 16:45:34
Gunner ramsey to me has looked like a player who is not on board with the tactics or just playing his own game. He hasn't looked good so far, only in small cameos.
26 Aug 2018 16:53:59
For me Xhaka wasn't the problem yesterday Steve he was as exposed as Guendozi. The problem was Ramsey, Iwobi and Miti who contributed absolutely nothing to the teams defense. Ramsey may have talked about pressing after the match but I think he needs to watch a video on pressing as what he tried was pathetic. For me the balance is wrong, with the 3 attacking midfielders just not contributing enough going forward to compensate for the lake of defensive abilities. I would rather see 3 up top, playing both Lacca and Auby with Miki or Ozil competing for the other place, and playing the 3rd central midfielder instead.
26 Aug 2018 17:13:34
EG, I've said my bit on xhaka, but i disagree with myki, i actually thought he pressed and worked his position well. Again, it goes unoticed because he isn't being supported. He probably plays it well because he played that type of game for klopp. My opinion is he had a decent game yesterday. He made mistakes like most but i thought his team play when we didn't have the ball was good.
26 Aug 2018 17:35:54
I agree with you there Steve, he had a very good game yesterday and was by far the best of the attacking midfield, both in work rate and attacking. For me though, for what Ramsey or Iwobi contributed towards the performance was poor, and I think one of those positions needs to be sacrificed for an extra midfielder, especially for the next 2 away games.
26 Aug 2018 17:48:41
EG iwobi has had his one good game a season all ready. Lol.
26 Aug 2018 18:50:28
Just had a look at mykis stats, he attempts about 3.5 tackles a game, which is one of the highest in our forward line. Lacca was highest, interesting.
26 Aug 2018 19:33:14
Change is happening for the first time in over 20 years at Arsena, some we will like immediately some we won't.
We've not had radical change for so long it's going to take us time to accept everything that comes with it.
Under Arsene we went from being supreme to being adequate to being inadequate and were unquestionably in steady decline, it's taken Liverpool and Klopp 2 and half years to get back to being potentially competive and in football terms that's warp speed as United fans will tell anyone.
26 Aug 2018 19:44:04
62 - if we are to write off 2 seasons which is what I expect and happy with, let’s do the long term changes now. How many of our starting 11 has actually changed and of the players signed - how many will be in the side in year 3 and 4. Not Socrates or the right back. Let’s get a youthful side and start building. If we come 6th - would rather do that with a team that can grow than a team that will be dismantled two years later.
Just think our current plan and expectations have again been poorly communicated by the club and board
Most businesses or teams wouldn’t survive like that as they need to keep their customer or investors up to date with what’s going on.
26 Aug 2018 20:17:49
It would be brilliant if Dick came out and gave us a game plan
Like this season is all about finding out what I've got
Next summer will be about letting go of who can't adapt and brining in the type of players we need.
Next season will be where the journey really gets started and this season is mainly about prep work.
But would people really be any happier if he did or would people prefer to hope for unrealistic quick fix champions league spot this time round.
Liverpool and City are extremely highly likely to take up 2 of the 4 spots available, Spurs and United are way further down and although Chelsea have a new manager too they were runaway champions 15 months ago.
Top isn't and never was a realistic option for this season it's next season we really need to be well back in the top 4 race.