Beat Your Neighbour
Feb 4th, 2015 by 'holic
The North London derby. A match that has changed in significance to the outside world in the Premiership years. Somewhat surprisingly for this fossil it also seems to be a fixture that doesn’t retain it’s rating among some of our younger fans, a few of whom look more towards the Chelsea fixtures.
For the uninitiated the fact that this season sees the twentieth anniversary of the last time Tottenham finished above us in the Premier League has taken the edge off the fixtures. For those of us born in the pre-Sky era, the pre-all-seater era, the pre-all-ticket era the clashes with our nearest and dearest will always be the ultimate must-win matches.
No Tottenham manager, and sweet mother of Jesus they have had enough in the last nineteen years, has ever guided his rabble above an Arsene Wenger managed team. That has increased the ire at the other end of the Seven Sisters Road. They are without a top-flight title in nigh on 54 years, and have gone without an FA Cup for 24.
For all that though in the post-war era until the arrival of the Premier League the two clubs traded blows and urged each other to greater heights. Three years after the cessation of hostilities we won our sixth championship and a similar timeframe later, in 1951, the neighbours won their first.
We restored the six title gap in 1953, but the Lilywhites finest hour came in 1961. A double, their only one and the first in the twentieth century, so you can imagine how frustrating it was for them to witness us secure the first leg of our first double a decade later on the final night of the season at White Hart Lane.
For all that there are records of civil disorder at matches between the two clubs going back to the nineteenth century it was during the sixties and seventies that it accelerated, and the rivalry intensified.
I mention it only because the more sinister aspect to the fixture was born in an era when the match wasn’t all ticket, so large numbers of Arsenal supporters would descend on the Lane for the away fixture, and likewise the neighbours would arrive en masse at Highbury.
The arrival of an all-ticket, all-seater although tumbledown White Hart Lane, and the allocation of under three thousand tickets to the visitors has taken away some of the romance that always hung over the day out at the Lane.
Long gone are the days when friends and family members would sit together, best of enemies, and nobody would know until Arsenal scored and a few dotted about all areas of the ground would leap up together, but alone, in shared celebration.
Long gone too are the days when the boards of both clubs were driven to do better than that lot up (or down) the road. It may still be true at the Lane, but our motivation now is Mammon.
The lust for growth, and for ever-larger chunks of the Premiership and Champions League riches, have taken us to a remarkable new stadium, and a degree of consistency and support that has left our old rivals behind.
While our snouts are well and truly in the trough, Tottenham are among the runts at the back of the litter, nibbling at the leftovers we carelessly drop. A League Cup or two to prevent them from complete starvation.
For all that though I cannot accept that for any Arsenal supporter, regardless of age or background, that beating this lot isn’t still the sweetest of feelings in the humdrum of any season.
They may not be serious rivals, but they are still Tottenham. Never forget.
135 Responses to “Beat Your Neighbour”
Hello ‘holic and thanks for the preview. 🙂
Or should that be pre-preview?
Top 2 – now there’s a new target. Go for it.
OK – third then. 🙁
bt8b@108 from last drinks…surpassing myself is never difficult 🙂
‘holic, it’s a 0430 kickoff for me, but that just means i’ll be adding the irish to the coffee 🙂
let’s beat the bastards.
Nice preview H.
They are indeed there to be beaten, and well beaten.
I think our inspiration now is however Mammon, not our French mother.
Must be a French Spill chucker, eh? 😉
“They may not be serious rivals, but they are still Tottenham. Never forget.”
Indeed they are H’. Comical innit ? 🙂
Liverpool 0-1 Bolton. 😆
Mhist all Crucking Fighty, that spill chucker is killing this gucking fame.
I need a sub-ed…
i wondered about that, bath. couldn’t figure it out 🙂
trev, i was just about to post that, but didn’t want to jinx bolton. they’re now down to 10 men for the final 24 minutes, let’s hope they just pack it in and keep the lead. i would have to laugh if they won.
the mammon we worship: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/The_worship_of_Mammon.jpg
that worshipped by the chicken on a basketballers: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Mammon.jpg
Yep scruz,
Bolton going down to ten men has evened it up a bit. 😉
lol, trev. yes, indeed.
sadly, it looks like the jinx is on.
Kids brought up as T*tt*nh@m fans – more to be pitied than blamed.
Their parents on the other hand………..
Fine, old-school post, ‘Holic. Some of us, at least the longer in tooth, if indeed we still have our own, never do.
Just trying to put the bullying that will happen again on Saturday in some context.
The undesirables of N17 have got much braver since thousands didn’t descend on them en masse.
Cheers H. I really enjoyed that.
I was explaining earlier to a non- football person that this is the second most important fixture of the season (obviously It’s worse to lose to them at home). They didn’t really get it- kept going on about Chelski and Manure. Who?
Never forget.
Thanks GSD.
What a shame you will never make it to the Lane in costume and escape in one piece.
It is now one of the few fixtures left where people cannot be themselves.
A real shame when so much progress has been made elsewhere.
Indeed H. Thoroughly agree.
That is certainly stunt work far beyond my level. I shall never try…
No desire to become extinct.
From previous drinks (posted before I realised the round was closed)…
It was the spuds we were playing when Theo picked up his year-long injury, Trev, AW wouldn’t bench him for a return bout, surely? I’m confident he’ll go with the starting XI against Villa. Alexis, if fit, more likely to sub Özilla.
Öskar
Excellent piece. Cheers ‘holic,
Also to repeat from previous round. A check of Physio Room shows Spurs have exactly Zero player out while we have 7, including our best Alexis. No excuses then for the lillywhites. Except our fit XI outclasses them of course.
Hoping for a fine day and a fast track and sufficient goal difference to get by Saints regardless even if they do beat Harry’s exes.
Öskar
Visiting the Lane in the Sixties and Seventies was uncommonly dangerous but very interesting. Seeing us win there was very satisfying because for the first few times I went there we always lost unluckily .
The last time I went was a 2-2 draw when Jenas equalised with the last kick. Beforehand I was in a pub in Tottenham High Road and the degree of animosity towards us was tangible . As I approached the bar I started speaking to one of the saddoes and incognito as I had to be I said ‘ why can’t Tottenham beat Arsenal?’. It was a lot of games since they had then. He answered’ bloody obvious mate they’re a lot better than we are’
That hasn’t changed nor will it on Saturday. Wenger detractors should observe what he has done in terms of the relative standing of the clubs. It may not be like it after he has gone!
Nice one ‘H. Even though the rivalry mostly gets to me through the internet(because in my neck of woods our tiny neighbours are not popular enough to have fans!) Its only one game that matters to me more than this one. I’ve already perfected my plans to take a sickie from work on saturday.
Let’s mash ’em & have ’em for lunch!
Up The Arse!
Arsene to bench Ozil on saturday? Never gonna happen. And rightly so.
Being an Arsenal supporter for almost 62 years and having lived in the Far East for the last 38 there were a few years when I was unable to get to London for “the local derby”.
However the most striking thing about this particular match day is the electricity in the air from the moment I wake up.
I would go to Victoria to meet my mate and everyone I would see and chat to experienced that same frisson.
It is Arsenal v. Tottenham and it is a very special day.
It’s history.
Who the hell are Clelsea?
Sorry; I can’t spell. I meant Chelski
How has the team evolved since we last played Spurs in September? One indicator is to look at our team that day and see how few of those players are likely to be in the team Saturday. Ospina instead of Szczesny; Bellerin instead of Chambers; Monreal instead of Gibbs; Coquelin instead of Arteta; Giroud instead of Welbeck; Cazorla instead of Wilshere. That’s more than half a team right there. There may be a chance for Chambo to be in the team but if not that is at least 7 changes, leaving only Mertesacker, Koscielny, Ozil and Ramsey from the first game, the last two having been missing from the team during most of the intervening time. September’s team was:
1. Wojciech Szczesny
21. Calum Chambers
4. Per Mertesacker
3. Kieran Gibbs
6. Laurent Koscielny
15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
8. Mikel Arteta
11. Mesut Özil
16. Aaron Ramsey
10. Jack Wilshere
23. Danny Welbeck
Cheers H! ‘The runts at the back of the litter.’ Yeah you really need to sort that fucking spell checker out!
Bt8b
That’s a very interesting point. The team had really evolved this season partly because of injuries and partly because of the emergence of new young talent . Other players like Monreal who will start have just forced their way in. I think the team almost picks itself
Ospina
Bellerin BFG Kos Nacho
Coq Ramsey
Sanchez Santi Ozil
Giroud
I think Theo will appear but probably from the bench
Subs might be
Ches
Gabriel
Gibbs
TR7
Theo
Welbeck
Flamini or Chambers
I just got jolted into this freezing morning by the world’s loudest fire alarm, and ran down 3 flights of stairs in just my undies to turn the horrible thing off. I have also just turned off my sleep tracker app, designed to rouse one during the lightest of sleeps with the softest of alarms – redundant does not begin to cover it. Welcome to Thursday!
Anyway,
I expect TTG’S team to play. I wouldn’t drop Ozil in a thousand years. He is no luxury player we use when we can afford to. He is vital to our style.
Someone rightly pointed out how hard it is to take the ball off of Santi. Ozil the same (although his two-footedness gives the Spaniard the edge in the centre). Santi is in peak form and although Ozil is playing very well since his return he is still improving.
I am really excited at how much stronger he looks. This is new to him and I expect a player of his intelligence to work out how this extra strength can be integrated into his game. He does not know exactly how to use it yet but he will learn. See God.
One Santi/Mesut can be swapped for pace later in the game. Would not be surprised to see Theo score from the bench.
Esso. Heh heh.
One ‘of’ Santi/Mesut.
Also, I was texting someone yesterday and my spill chucked ‘tutorial’ into ‘Tutu riot’. Brilliant. I thought the infamous some on here might appreciate it…
I did confuse the hell out of the text’s recipient by refusing to edit it though!
That’s the team and bench for me too TTG. No way is it sensible to start Feo over Mesut.
Feo and TR7 to come on at 70 minutes to run the runts ragged.
Heh Esso @30. Top comment. 😀
GSD @30, you have an inferior spill chucker. Top quality interpretative software now goes straight (?) past ‘Tutu riot’ to ‘Wolfie arrives’. Tutorial it is not. 😮
Great post H, thanks! Getting excited now…
Top Post Ttg:
That would be my team too though I find it harsh that lads like TR7, Oxlade and Welbz who might not make this game despite playing well so far this season.
As for Feo: I think he needs to seriously adjust his game. There has been a wholesale change in the work rate that is now applied since the introduction of Sanchez and Welbz to this team. And its having a serious knock-on effect with other players. For example, Oxlade and Giroud have adjusted and upped their work rate now. I just don’t know whether Theo has it in him to make that adjustment? But he needs to get it right because I’m not so sure we’ll be as eager to renew his contract this summer as we were during his last round of negotiations.
Bath. Hah hah!
Joe. I think you are really getting at something there. Imagine if theo did work like Alexis. He’d be a monster. Everyone would hate playing him. I am not sure that he thinks it is necessary. I reckon he’s decided if he bangs in enough goals then that’s his thing and the rest can do the work. Which was probably true for the last five years. If we can no longer find space for such a player it is not a sign of a decline in his quality (personally, once he is back in the swing, I expect him to be the best he has ever been) but it is a sign of how the standard required to make it at Arsenal has once again risen.
Top four is not the target. League and big ears are. We are accrueing the players and honing the style that will see us challenging again. With or without Theo.
I did not expect to be writing that post ever. I also hope theo bucks his ideas up. But if he does not it won’t be the blow it would have been last time he eventually re-signed.
He lost the ball in our half against Villa. He buzzed back and put himself between the ball and the player. He was set on his toes, focused, showing the world how hard he was ready to fight to win back the ball. Then the Villa player dribbled five feet around him. He watched him go by. Terrible.
Either put in a shift or do not. He just pretended he was interested, went through the motions but he was never really getting the ball. Or interested in doing so. Just in looking like he had done his bit. It defined the phrase ‘token effort’ and was the exact opposite of the Coq moment I highlighted in the last drinks. My worst moment of the match.
If you aren’t going to help out then don’t pretend to. If Coq sees you there he will probably react differently as he will assume you will try to get the ball. If you just get the hell out of the way then he’ll win it back himself. Token efforts are dangerous and cost goals.
Sort it out Theo.
What are you going to beat him with H?
Bt8b. – interesting.
Ttg – that’s probably my team too,
although I have a slight preference for Tomas Rosicky over Aaron Ramsey.
A heavy wit, Cynic. 🙂
Alexis out for Saturday. Fcuk
Now with latest news, we know that Sanchez is out, chambo as well, and welbeck back. The team will be exactly tha same than last week, except for the subs. 11 start
Ospina
Bellerin – Per – Kos – Mon
Coq – Ramsey
Walcott – Cazorla – Ozil
Giroud
Subs : Szczesny – Gabriel – Gibbs – TR7 – Welbeck – Chambers – Flamini or Akpom (i think Akpom for the offensive add that only welbeck can bring) maybe flamini instead of chambers.
The good new is that in max 10-15 days, we have wilshere back and available, sanchez back (hopefully before), ox not far and Gnabry is already planned to play with the youngs on monday (even if the first team does not need him for the moment). Wenger will probably have a headache for the Monaco clash in 3 weeks !!!
Alexis will be a miss, huge miss. He brings in the efficiency needed in such big games, say must win games. His defensive work rate along with his obvious attacking brilliance will be sorely missed.
Expect the same squad as the villa one on saturday but we just may have a toss up between Ozil and Rozza with the scales slightly tilted in favor of Mesut.
Spuds will be happy without Alexis but even without him, we should be able to win this.
Joe. Spot on about Welbeck’s work rate being in Alexis’ class.
Welbz not ready to start this game I’d imagine but i would generally much rather have him in the team than theo. He works so much harder (and effectively) and we look much less likely to concede. We have enough in attack to score goals bur we need a clean sheet as a platform.
My feeling is that with Welbz we are more likely to win 1-0 but with theo we are more likely to lose 3-2.
Back to the drawing board! No Alexis but I think Theo has a good scoring record against the Totts and might find the reception a bit tasty on Saturday would come in for Alexis. Although based on his sensational goal last year TR7 would be a very decent alternative.
COYG!
Back to the drawing board! No Alexis but I think Theo has a good scoring record against the Totts and might find the reception a bit tasty on Saturday would come in for Alexis. Although based on his sensational goal last year TR7 would be a very decent alternative.
COYG!
Vinay, Mehdi and others, we all have our starting eleven preferences and Arsene would choose the team he thinks can best deliver his tactics on that day, but why do we all expect Theo to be an automatic choice in this first eleven? It is an entirely different team than the one from which he was sidelined due to injury, and based on recent evidence he is not close to his pre-injury form, and moreover the team ethos has changed dramatically. Where earlier players like TR7 used to stand out for the relentless pressing and work rate now with Alexis showing the way it has become a norm. Off the ball work rate and discipline of this team, the pressing and tracking back have improved significantly where players like Ox, Santi, Giroud improving those aspects of their game and Welbeck (for all his indecisiveness down the middle) already bringing in those qualities.
As Joe & GSD mentioned above, hovering in the opposition half waiting for a through ball and using the pace to get behind the defense and score a goal or two is not going to be enough. Unlike the last few years where Theo’s goals and assists were pivotal for our success in the offensive department we do not at all have to rely on him, and he needs to raise his game and become more of an well-rounded team player to claim his place in the starting line up.
Doctor Faustus, i put the starting eleven in think wenger will choose and, due to injuries, it is also my preference. And i expect Theo will be in the first eleven because we know that Ozil and Cazorla will be in too, and with only the real forward Giroud on the field, theo is the only other one fit and available which can bring another bullet in the attack frond. Considering that ozil, cazorla and ramsey are much more midfielders than forwards. Rosiscky as well. Talking about him, i love this player but i do not see instead of who he could play => Coq is the natural DM, Cazorla is unbelievable and essential, Ozil is highly appriciate by wenger (even when he’s out of form but fortunately he’s in a good run), Ramsey is coming slowly to his best and does never tire so there is no place for the little mozart but he can bring something with his pace if he comes in.
Nice one, ‘holic 😀
For some reason I thought it was FA Cup weekend this week.
Mehdi @ 50: Good reasoning. Thank you. If Alexis were fit — is he not really? I know Arsene said so but he also said Alexis is hard to stop or something like that 🙂 — I would have said him and TR7 before Ozil (a bit sacrilegious, but Ozil is just returning and the pace of the NLD may catch him a little rusty) and Theo.
But with Alexis out, you are right that theoretically speaking there is a need for a fast outlet for counter-attacks. But here I think Ozil or TR7 are no less counter-attacking players than Theo despite not being so super-fast. Some of Ozil’s finest counter attacking moments in Arsenal shirt came without Theo: assist to Giroud vs. Sunderland or Napoli, his own goal against Napoli, assist to Giroud against Villa. And TR7 in addition to being a master of the high-press is also a very effective tempo-changer, would allow Bellerin to flourish offensively down the right flank by providing him defensive support and releasing him from deeper positions with those delicious outside-of-the-boot passes. The problem with Theo on the right now would be that we will need to pay extra attention to the right side defensively, thereby losing some of the mobility in switching play horizontally.
Walcott or Rosicky. That is the question, with AOC out for a while yet.
I see Bielik and Gnabry will be in the team against Newcastle in a few days’ time. That one would be interesting to see.
8 ball @ 53: Yes, Arsene seems to be rather impressed with Bielik’s progress so far.
Dr Faustus, I’m okay to say that Theo is not very reliable on the defensive front, but can we say that ozil is ? Theo will be involved as a player who knows the importance of the derby and will be 150% but with ozil it’s much more ups and downs. Ozil will be in the line up, the tactic will turn around a 4-4-2 in the attacking mode, but how it will turn defensively ? Hopefully a 4-4-1-1 with high pressing. The offensive and defensive pace of Sanchez will be missing, but I hope not much !! Let’s win this game and have a have 3 other games affordable (hopefully).
(Sorry for my english)
Mehdi @ 55 — Your English is fine. No worries. And you are right that in absence of Alexis the choice in an NLD may become between Theo and Ozil and not Theo and TR7. It all will depend on the kind of tactics Arsene wants to use, and how he plans to manage the game. Theo coming off the bench for the last thirty minutes is a terrific prospect, and Ozil can be relied more to retain possession and keep the game moving.
Anyway, these are all good problems to have. We might actually start an NLD with a fit Ozil and/or Theo on the bench, and our top scorer unavailable, and still be confident that we will start with a superior eleven. 🙂
No complacency though. If we do the defensive side well the forwards will get us the goals.
cba.
I have a feeling this article won’t teach you anything you don’t know so maybe I should dedicate it to the rest of the drinkers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/world/europe/a-matchmaker-and-a-festival-keep-an-irish-tradition-alive.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
Still, there is a lot of stuff in there that sounds like it could come in useful sooner or later, like the part about eating pig with the farmer’s daughter. 🙂
Apparently Bielik is tearing it up in training and has everyone raving. Might be ready for the Champions League Final this year?
Mehdi, a pleasure to see you here in the dark side. 🙂
‘holic
howdy
love it
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esso
runt-cunt
proper chuckle
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sprs
fuck em
.
UP THE ARSENAL !
Ospina on keepers he admires:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150204/ospina-i-admired-seaman-and-lehmann
Here is the mad dog at the top of his list, the incomparable Rene Huigita
http://youtu.be/QlsbkdE7gNQ
Includes the famous ‘scorpion’ kick and some short shorts about 6 mins in that even Wolfie would have had trouble getting in — whether or not there was someone else wearing them at the time…
Argggh, spill chucker! Higuita
A lot of rot written about Theo, imo. He was up and down the field against Villa. It was he who collected the ball from the RB position behind Bellerin. scooted past a couple with his speed, and passed on to OG who passed to Özilla who passed it into the net in a movement reminiscent of the good ol’ days of Wengerball. He is vital to AW’s attack and needs all the game-time he can get to polish his sharpness.
I expect to see the same team that started against Villa.
A draw would be an okay result, but a win is possible and a big win not a total fantasy. Bounce of the ball could decide all.
Öskar
Oskar,
Theo might have been up and down the field against Villa but, for the majority of the time, it was to very little effect, certainly in the first half.
Sure, he ran back a few times but then stood and watched the player he’d caught up with do whatever he wanted without putting in any sort of challenge at all.
Often when Bellerin or Mertesacker were looking for an out ball up the right wing, Theo was watching from the centre. Interchangeable forwards are all well and good but I cannot see the benefit of Theo occupying the central space with Giroud wasted on the left wing.
Theo’s first half was awful and it was only really a horrible looking tackle – from Clark, I think – that seemed to spark him into life. It either made him angry or restored his confidence that he could withstand a crunching challenge, but he was suddenly a different player.
Finally, he began to run at defenders again, culminating in his brilliantly taken goal. That Theo I would like to see on Saturday but, as GSD said in a fine pist above, he has to defend a lot better than he does.
I have been a constant defender of Podolski in this bar, with reference to his lack of defensive effort, but Alexis Sanchez has shown us all what is both possible and required to become winners. To compete with players like Alexis and The Ox, Theo is going to have to like it and lump it.
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A. 12 cows
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Q. How much does it cost for me not to part yer hair with the leg of this table
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Evening cba,
Who’s your ire aimed at ?
A question I was about to ask too Trev.
Evening cba.
Two fine gents in tonight, and me too.
Haha.
Evening Holic !
Oh no
‘hol and trev
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usual disjointed rubbish here
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twas 8balls article
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MAGAZINE were just on tg4
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fuck takes me back
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jimmy ruffin on too 🙂
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oul squeezy’s show repeat
Great Post @ 64 Trev.
been a bit unwell recently
tippy toeing back
unintentionally with bullshit
apparently
fuck
.
🙂
Tippy toe back as you see fit, daft bollix.
There will always be a welcome for you here.
On Theo I’m inclined to agree with Oskar. Like all players he has strengths and weaknesses but his offensive strengths far outweigh his defensive weaknesses in my mind.
Rumbles that Tim Sherwood may be managing QPR for the remainder of the season. Pochettino to manager QPR after him?
aaah
R.I.P.
JIMMY
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cheers ‘hol
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still weak as diluted water
but
never miss a post
looking forward to the sprs post post
🙂
Cheers 8ball, I’m not alone here after all!
Trev, if you’re going to base your selection requirements on Alexis I fear you’re destined to be disappointed. As 8ball says, Theo’s strengths (not yet fully returned after layoff) far outweigh his lack of Total Football nous.
The system suited the Magical Magyars and Dutch Masters perfectly, basically because they had a number of unique players available. But few players today are taught to be that adaptable, not least because the game is played at a considerably faster pace. They can’t all be Alexises, sorry. Not surprisingly the closest thing to Total Football in recent times was the Spanish Tika Taka, and that has had to be dispensed with too.
Leave Theo to do his thing, and that includes doing the wing dashes that get the FBs out of position in the first place. Having attacking players supporting defenders is arse about face in my view.
Öskar
Theo has never tackled much, he jockeys.
Unfortunately he doesn’t do it very well, but he’s good at passing the man on to the right back. 😀
Also not at all bad at nicking the ball in the opposition half.
But should do more defensively and certainly be more alert to the runner, even if all he’s going to do is get in his eye line and put him off. Norman Hunter he ain’t though.
The emphasis on defence is getting a bit out of hand, imo. We now have two CBs where we used to have one, and also have to have a DMF (or two) in front of them. That makes 5 or six players plus the keeper basically defending, and now you want at least two more expending energy back-tracking?
Since when was Arsenal a bus-parking club? Bring back the days (the most successful in our history) when it didn’t matter how many they scored because we would score more. Not literally of course, it always matters how many they score. But at least the defenders knew what their job was without getting distracted by forays into enemy territory.
Öskar
Oskar @ 79: The idea is not defending as in tackling deep in your own half or making goal line clearances (though those don’t hurt when needed, just as the goals by Koscielny don’t hurt either), but offer discipline, consistency and predictability in terms of shape and positioning especially when we don’t have the ball. I like Theo a lot, and as you said his moments of excellence in a match have strong impact on the outcome, but he causes problems to us as well when we don’t have the ball. It is okay for a top 4 team, but not good enough for a CL aspiring team, especially today.
The reason football now demands — and here I am paraphrasing Arsene, who has been saying this a lot recently — so much more positional compactness and collective defending is because the level of athleticism and technical abilities have both increased tremendously in last decade or so. And a player who doesn’t take his positional responsibilities seriously when we don’t have the ball can be a liability.
Another thing about Theo is he is excellent in relatively open matches, often piling up on the goals, but rarely scores a solitary winner in a tight 1-0 or 2-1 game where he is being constantly pressed and hurried or the defense match him on pace, not necessarily individual’s but just by covering him intelligently. He will need to get better in those situations as well and offer something more, either become a better dribbler or better at holding up and then releasing a through pass.
It is just that when he is not making those match-defining impacts these weaknesses become so starkly obvious. Everyone can get better, doesn’t mean that they are bad to begin with.
Oskar. Just because I agree with you on Theo doesn’t mean I’ll agree with you on Mesut. Sure wish he would throw in a few two footed tackles here and there though. 😉
No-one is perfect, 8ball, and I do make allowances. 😀
Öskar
When we don’t have the ball, Dr F, it’s the job of the defenders to get it back, or at least prevent the opposition from using it efficiently. If four backs, two DMFs and a keeper aren’t sufficient there is something wrong at the back. Asking two of the remaining four to help out in defence as well doesn’t work for me, sorry. Horses for courses.
Öskar
Otoh, it makes a lot of sense for OG to add his height to defend corners and frees, as it does for Per and Kos to add theirs to our corners and frees. But I don’t want to see anyone out of position on a regular basis.
Öskar
Doc and Trev in particular with excellent stuff I agree with.
Bayern Munich. Barcelona. The two best teams of the last few years (which is more relevant to football as it is today than saying we should play like 1950s Real Madrid or any other team operating under different parameters.)
Both would be horrified by Oskar’s suggestions on how a team should defend. Unless they were about to play that team, of course…
And if you are counting four backs, 2dmfs and a keeper as the defensive unit but simultaneously don’t want people out of position presumably you want no overlapping runs from the full-backs and Ramsey not to go past Coq? I really don’t get it Oskar. There must be a reason no successful team sets up like this.
Horses for courses is a sensible thought. But aren’t we trying to win the race?
For all that I have enjoyed all the goal-fest thrillers down the years I would much rather put Villa-level opposition to the sword occasionally and win a championship based on a string of victories by the most famous scoreline in football.
Theo is not the player for that. He we will you games not championships. Unless he adds to his game. It is entirely up to him how he works to become a better player. Good luck to him.
His strong points are very strong. But if he thinks he can rest on them he will be out on his ear.
Still Oskar, if he goes anywhere we could always take a run at Reus… Happy gooners all round!
He will win you games…
Every time we try to outscore top opposition we get battered. We finally show that we can be more defensively effective, as a unit, and provide ourselves a platform for our top offensive players to win us games and I am all for that.
We can’t just send Theo out to outscore the Man Citys and Barcas of this world. We have tried it often and this tactic demonstrably does not work.
Everyone up on Einstein’s definition of madness?
Okay. I think that is the purge over.
Although re-reading my own posts I am struck by one thing. It is definitely my day off! Wink.
Great posts GSD. I agree 100%. Nothing to add. Carry on. 🙂
I would hope we go out in every game trying to outscore the opposition 🙂
Redknapp took over a club in the bottom two of the Premier League going into an away game at Sunderland, and he leaves a club in the bottom two of the Premier League going into an away game at Sunderland.
A troubled QPR fan speaks on Redknapp’s myth and our old friend Mark Hughes. A decent little read for a Friday.
http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/37757/
Oskar,
I do appreciate that Alexis is an exceptional player and not everyone can be as good or phenominally durable as he is. However, he has shown us what can be done and there are already others who seem to have been inspired by the standards he sets.
The Ox has said as much, Hector Bellerin is showing tremendous speed and determination and even 34 year old Tomas Rosicky is a non stop Duracell bunny on the pitch.
I’m not Theo bashing – I would love to see him stay fit and consistently find his top level. As a central striker, I wouldn’t expect to see him chasing players down in front of our own back four. As a winger he has to contribute more, otherwise I think he will find himself watching The Ox in his position.
Happy old man his morning – Just got a ticket for the first Replacements London gig in 24 years on June 2nd – getting to see them again is like scoring a cup final ticket for me.
Now just to make my weekend perfect can we put in a great performance and beat this ‘orrible lot good and proper ?
Need to be straight into them and play like we did against City…no ‘hanging on at the end’ against them this season that’s for sure…
DR F 56, I can not agree more with your last sentence. With the players with have up front, they will get some opportunities to score for sure. But we are a little bit short on the bench with only welbeck just coming from injury, that’s why I think Akpom will have a little place on the bench too. Rosicky can bring the pace in the middle, Gibbs and Chambers or Flamini can come in to secure a win then the balance between the offensive and defensive possibilities is respected.
Good match I’m afraid too miss the game or a part of it because of my dad birthday and a family lunch 🙁 so sad !
Will try to be at home to see a hopefully victory !
Goonerholic 59 , Thank you 🙂
It’s a pleasure to talk with people who are passionated by the same team !
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere is “not a smoker” after a picture emerged on social media of the midfielder holding a shisha pipe.
Ah… the Bill Clinton Defence.
Cynic is on form today.
I wonder if he fancies a goal?
*Dribbles up and down the pitch, beating every player twice, including his own team mates, juggles the ball from thigh to thigh for two minutes then spins to deliver a cross with an Ozilesque heel*
And it creeps in at the far post for a GOAL
Classy stuff Cynic. Although having nutmegged me once I’m not happy you came back round on route to goal and did it again. Cheeky bugger.
And cheers for the QPR link. Great read. I shall forward it to a hoops fan I know and see what he thinks.
Mehdi. Good posting. Cheers.
Your English is good. No worries there. And you are improving mine… ‘Passionated’ is a great word- no excuses for not making that a regular one. I love it!
Same team except Rozza playing instead of Ozil is what i feel will happen tomorrow.
I believe the bench strength of the teams will decide the game and that is where i believe we have the definitive edge. We will have a Welbeck or an Ozil to bring on to the pitch whereas spurs may have to do with the voodoo man adebayor.
Cannot wait for the game and it promises to be a good one. Now end of the day for all of the bragging, lets get the 3 points please. 1-0 to the Arsenal suits just fine.
P.S- Alexis to come off the bench and score the winner???
Vinay.
He is so good I would not put it past that boy to score the winner even if AW doesn’t even name him in the squad…
Lovely stuff, H.
The NLD will always be THE MAIN game for me. The spuds and cska fulham will forever be teams I can never wish well, but spuds just edge it in the stakes of teams that must fail.
Cska fulham on the other hand, is the most despicable team ever in football in my opinion, a story for another day.
Sanchez seems to want to play at all costs even when ‘injured’. Someone in the previous drinks hinted that AW dodges selection difficulties by claiming injuries to key players. That’s how I read it anyway.
Whatever team we put out on the day, let’s just hope they get what it means to beat the tiny totts.
There’s an interesting piece on 442 here(I hope you don’t mind, H)
:http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/will-tottenham-ever-actually-overtake-arsenal?
As for the game tomorrow, our new found strength in depth offers up myriad permutations for the starting XI. We have a very capable squad and should have enough to deal with the spuds at any time.
Whoever gets the nod on game day has my full backing and with the kind of competition in that team now, only a dullard would take his chance to perform for granted.
COYG
Afternoon all from a sometime poster but always reader from the allegedly(!) less attractive end of Seven Sisters Rd. Could go either way tomorrow I reckon. Re Walcott, in my mind he always plays well against Spurs. His pace and ability to break a defensive line, particularly a high one, makes him a massive threat tomorrow. I wish those of you attending the game a safe yet disappointing day…
In case you have missed:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150206/coquelin-and-akpom-sign-new-contracts
Great new in my humble opinion.
@109, “news” even …
Great news indeed on the contract signings! 🙂
Gunnersaurus (103), thank you 🙂
This is what we are !
Cheers
Cheers Dave- always a pleasure.
Certainly one of Feo’s best features, from this side of the fence, is how much he gets up for playing your lot.
Getting pretty tense now.
“Goonah was born with a passion, love and hate
A restless spirit with a need for a mate
But there was somethin’ that was missin’, somethin’ lost
So he came with the answer, here’s what it cost
One part idiot man, one part wild
One part cunt, one part child
I give you – Spudphrodite!”
Gunnersaurus. You think you are getting tense? Just imagine the Spuds right now. If you need a visual aid I am happy to help. 🙂
https://fatkidsuit.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/finger-in-socket-11.jpg?w=300&h=225
There’s a man in the news who got a coffee jar stuck up his arse. Did his wife say it was grounds for divorce?
Heh 8ball.
Cynic- she claimed to have had enough. “That’s my latte!”
Only if he spills the beans….!
😀
In an instant, Cynic.
You can’t turn us off now Cynic. It’s all coming out. No filter.
You taking the mocha out of Cynic, GSD?
Don’t think so NBN. Can’t really remember. Affogato…
Looking forwards to tomorrow now. We should see some flat (lily) whites!
And if we don’t get a result we can always question Stan’s ownership. Skinny americano.!
All these milk based coffee jokes are a bit rich. Making my head soya…
Alexis vs Theo? Triple shot vs decaf.
Enough?
I guess with coffee jokes you can machiato many…
My flatmate has just got in after stopping off at the supermarket on his way home. With no prompting, as a treat, he has bought me a coffee cake!
Crazy world.
Your flatmate not Joe by any chance?
‘Fraid not.
He is a proper football fan though. Irons.
So he’s on our side tomorrow.
NBN. Bit slow there.
I just got that…
I’m a tea man, me.
http://www.thegreatbritishdiet.co.uk/Images/TunnocksTeaCakesMilkChocolate%20%288%29.JPG
a cuppatino for cynic
.
enjoy
Then you will enjoy this Cynic.
Note- contains some naughty words.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FtK_vfp8po8
Evening all. Great work GSD. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>