27 Jan 2021 19:06:56
Have to say very well done to the team last night, and especially to Arteta. I stick with what I previously said, in that by throwing away the FA cup game, Arteta had put massive pressure on both himself and the team to get a result last night, but you can't argue with the result. Also big shout out to Cedric. IMO He has been arguably the worst player we have ever signed based on his performances so far, but in the last two games we have finally started to see what he can offer, which appears to be a lot. Still needs to learn how to take a throw on though! Finally another massive shout out to Holding. He again had a big game for us last night, and is starting to pick up on the form he showed when he first joined (and which was curtailed by a bad injury) . Yes I am biased with Holding, why, because he is English, and therefore I want him to succeed more than others, but also because I know in recent history our best success has always come with at least one Englishman nestled in the center half position. Let's hope Holding becomes the next leg in that history.
27 Jan 2021 19:34:31
Well said EG, the throw in thing is proper annoying me, bellerin. Soures and the other night ESR keep getting pulled up for foul throws, I’ve never seen it before and if we can see it surely the analysists at the club can see it?
27 Jan 2021 20:20:02
Arteta won't lose his job for not winning the fa cup but he would be under real pressure from fans media and pundits if we were to finish lower than last seasons 8th place.
I can see why he prioritised the league game.
Last night was a fantastic result amd hopefully will be followed up by many more like it.
Personally I'm still a long way from being convinced by Arteta but if he gets stick on the bad days he deserves credit on the good days.
27 Jan 2021 20:20:27
Good post Epping mate. Apparently Arteta has said on one of the websites, not seen it myself but his team selection in the cup game was defined by having 5 players injured.
Big fan of Holding for all the reasons you said. The throw in situation is quite scandalous really, Arteta and his coaching staff should be embarrassed by it, not that you should have to coach a professional footballer how to take a throw in. Big game Saturday, defining game really
COYG.
{Ed047's Note - considering we recently hired a set piece coach makes it even more incredulous
27 Jan 2021 22:32:08
MA response when asked if ESR is ok after coming off
“Well it’s one of the reason why he had to make five changes in the cup. We had five players that were not available to play I want to make that clear and the ones that did play today were to play some part of the game so we expect them to play with any precision 50 games every game and that age I’m sorry but that is impossible and I’m not going to do that with the hound playersâ€
Do we still question his selection for the cup lost?
{Ed047's Note - never questioned it personally, our form and results in the league are far more important this year for me.
27 Jan 2021 22:57:29
Far more important to have a Scot in the back four but I do like Holding.
It so nice to have some positivity albeit tempered as we’ve played the bottom teams in the form guide but you can only beat what’s in front of you
Looking forward to us taking positivity into our run of tough games.
Still angry about fa cup but at least we bounced back
Love the youngsters but still huge question marks over board, Edu and Mikel. The next half dozen games will be a proper indicator of Mikel’s ability to manage a squad, maintain high standards, selection, tactics and adapt to opposing team changes, all of which have question marks but also success in some.
Happy with young players and performances - well done Mikel and Squad - lots of positive aspects from last game.
28 Jan 2021 10:34:42
Is that true that we hired a set piece coach Ed? Is that why we are trying all these stupid corner set plays that never work?! I never understood why we don't just stick it in the box first time and hope for the best, as to trying all of these short corners etc.
{Ed047's Note - it was the guy from Brentford. He is supposed to be excellent.
He’s called Andreas Georgson and since he arrived I’ve felt we’ve been so much better at defending set pieces which we always seemed to struggle with.
28 Jan 2021 17:34:29
Are we getting a throw in special-ist also.
28 Jan 2021 17:45:28
Oh my apologies Ed, yes we have definitely been much stronger at defending set pieces! Do you reckon he works on tactics for attacking set pieces too?
{Ed047's Note - no need to apologise Colney, I’d like to think he’s working on everything, including throw ins, some are obviously working better than others.