Swans Eventually Routed But Maybe At A Cost?
Jan 14th, 2017 by 'holic
We took to the pitch at the Liberty with Gabriel switched to right-back, in the absence of Hector Bellerin, and the rest of our first choice back five in situ again. Olivier Giroud was retained up front with Alexis and Alex Iwobi notionally occupying the flanks.
To say the match started slowly is a huge understatement. It didn’t really get going until the 28th minute when Iwobi found Sanchez at inside-left and the Chilean’s drive drew a smart save from our old friend Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.
Eight minutes later a swift break saw us take the lead. Aaron Ramsey’s cross from the right missed all but Alexis on the left hand side of the box, and from his chip Ozil’s header was deflected into the path of Giroud who finished from point-blank range.
Swansea 0-1 Arsenal
The scorer signalled to the bench that he was injured following a coming together with Fabianski in the build-up and confusion reigned temporarily as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain prepared to come on, only for the Frenchman to change his mind. A scorer in his last five appearances and his last nine starts, his fitness is very important to us right now.
Ki-sung Yeung’s dramatic tumble when Laurent Koscielny withdrew from a challenge in the box earned a yellow card for simulation from referee Mike Jones. Replays confirmed the official made the correct call. The home fans, not having the benefit of those replays, booed loudly as the half-time whistle mercifully ended an awful half of football.
We were so close to a second goal when Ramsey accepted a defence-splitting pass from Alexis but Fabianski was equal to his effort. Our former goalkeeper was left helpless a minute later. Iwobi was the beneficiary of some smart work by Nacho Montreal and his deflected drive looped over Fabianski and dropped just inside the far post.
Swansea 0-2 Arsenal
On the hour the change hinted at earlier finally happened as Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for a still-struggling Giroud. Let’s hope the injury to his left ankle is not a serious one. Colin Lewin got to work on the offending joint on the substitutes bench.
Swansea were trying to make a fist of it but their finishing was poor, as happens to a team devoid of confidence and inspiration. Another deflected Iwobi effort in the 67th minute will have to go down as an own-goal by Naughton as the Arsenal turned the screw on deflated opponents.
Swansea 0-3 Arsenal
It got worse for the Swans when Iwobi’s cross was deflected into the path of the unmarked Alexis near the penalty spot and he volleyed home.
Swansea 0-4 Arsenal
Four could, perhaps should, have been five when Iwobi teed up Alexis again but the Chilean’s first touch let him down. It was his last act as he and Mesut Ozil made way for Danny Welbeck and Lucas. Alexis looked far from happy at the perfectly sensible decision. We’ll need him to be fresh for much sterner opposition than Swansea. The tabloids will doubtless make more of his show of petulance than may have been intended.
On the pitch Granit Xhaka fired one effort wide before drawing a good diving save from Fabianski. Sigurdsson’s tame effort in response was typical of Swansea’s afternoon. Xhaka, taking complete control of the second-half, fired another long-range effort at Fabianski.
In time added on Borja came as close as anyone to scoring for the Swans but his flying header cleared the bar. More worryingly Skhodran Mustafi limped off the pitch as a result of his challenge. Fingers are firmly crossed that he, as well as Giroud, recovers fully before next week’s meeting with Burnley.
In summary you can only beat what is in front of you. When Arsenal did find some semblance of form in the second-half we were worthy winners but that first-half performance, and it’s not for the first time in recent weeks, is a cause for concern.
161 Responses to “Swans Eventually Routed But Maybe At A Cost?”
Get in there. not our best performance but we won it well in the end. On to the next one.
First ?
Very good report by the way, Holic. We saw the same game.
Hope the chinese get Costa ..otherwise Alexis may be their next target!
Not a very convincing first half but the three points and a big away win with a clean sheet was what was needed.
Come on Leicester.
Alexis is getting rather diva like, getting very upset every time he is subbed even if it is just to save his legs and mouthing off at Ramsey and the rest of the team at Bournemouth. Wenger may need to gave a quiet word because this can isolate players in the dressing room however talented they may be. Nice to keep a clean sheet and to go above the Poo who have a tough one tomorrow
How did Leicester ever win the league last year. They are already down 0-1.
Another laborious first half, very little “football” to admire. I felt very sorry for the away fans at half-time and was jolly glad I hadn’t been tempted to make the trip to Wales.
Iwobi got hold of the ball after the second goal and ran the game. Swansea lost heart and we were completely in control of proceedings and could have increased our goal difference but for over elaboration in the box.
Ozil was obviously not fully match fit, he had a very quiet game, Kos was his usual immaculate self and Alexis was Alexis!
Let’s hope the HFB’s big toe problem is nothing to worry about and Mustafi is available for next week. We could also do with a fully fit Hector, Gabby is no wing back.
COYRs
First choice back five?
Bellerin would make my team when fit
are players from another planet ?
no
do we
despite our better righter intentions
tiptoe round these ponsy fuckers ?
yes
is alexis my favourite gunner
yes
would i slap his petulant scone without spilling a drop
yes
am i gonna shut my face ?
yes !
why ?
cos
Dear cba
is alexis my favourite gunner
yes
would i slap his petulant scone without spilling a drop
yes
Absolutely nailed it mate!
Well summed up H
That first half was a microcosm of 2 sides with the same plan,albeit approached from different perspectives,and until the first goal late in the half, it looked destined for a stalemate to half time.
Swansea players desperate to impress the new Boss,chased and harried and huffed and puffed,closed us down,got plenty behind the ball,but just didn’t have the quality to make a difference.
We,after 2 morale sapping away defeats at Everton and City,a last gasp draw at Bournemouth,and a last gasp win at Preston,were very circumspect in our approach,conscious of the importance of not doing anything silly,and keeping Swansea at arms length.
No telling what damage would have been done mentally if we had given up a goal to a team in the bottom 3.
Having led and lost our 2 previous away league games,there was clearly some tension in our ranks until that 2nd goal went in,and you could feel the confidence drain from the Swans players,and conversely improve in our ranks.
Doubling the scoreline was important for our goals tally,and the bonus was Mesut getting back into the swing of things,Danny getting more game time, another clear week ahead of us with no midweek game,and a few key players not far off returning to full fitness.
All in all a successful day at the Office.
Fed up with Sanchez now. The petulance is so play acted and attention seeking it is painful.
Go to China, if that’s what you want.
Richardr, correct. I’ve had a weston with the defence in the preview too.
I’ve chastised myself.
The proof reader is getting sacked too!
The only proof in here is 70%
(fogey time)
Cynic knows 🙂
So does cba too!
I’m in a fucking good mood. Not because we did something amazing today (we didn’t), or because other teams dropped points (they didn’t) but I love watching us winning. OK? Sometimes it doesn’t have to take more than that. The season is not just the point total after 38 matches. It is often just having a Saturday with good food, friends, wine and a fucking win against whomever, big or small.
I’m in a fucking good mood.
I will take the proof reading wages at 70 percent just to make sure the proof is reliable but wouldn’t object to a rise to 80. 😉
Have to say though that Gabriel has not been a liability in any of his starts at right back, and AW must agree because he is picking him in Hector’s absence.
Monreal has recrived undue criticism and continues solid. Musrafi and Kos didn’t give away much. Deserved clean sheet and deserved soiled sheet onntheir end.
Ooops, posted in the previous drinks long after the bar closed. Here it is again…
Welcome back Trev, I echo the compliments of others.
Apropos your ‘process’ dissertation I was reminded (tangentially) of Mark Twain’s quote … If pro is the opposite of con, then the opposite of progress must be Congress.
But back to football… Once again we have enough players in the physio room to field a reasonable crocked XI. Just missing a keeper I think. FFS someone DO SOMETHING about it. Or at least, AW, recognise the problem isn’t going to go away and sign a second squad of full internationals.
No, I know that’s not the answer, and hopefully the new AirFibr pitch at Colney will prove at least part of the solution (maybe even ALL the solution if we’re really lucky. Yeah right). These endless injury years have gone way beyond a joke.
Pretty routine performance today, considering how poor the opposition was. I got bored winning so easily and watchd the second half of the second half at double speed (game played at 4.00am here, so recorded and watched over breakfast).
That’s 11 goals from OG’s last 9 starts. Xhaka got a couple of long-rangers on target for a change (hopefully they’ll start going in again soon). Couple of nice smothering saves from Cech, which other keepers might have allowed to bounce out towards oncoming strikers. Can’t remember anything else worthy of comment. Oh, except the joy of seeing an ex Spud score an own goal!
Electrix Sanchez, sitting there with his hoodie over his head was as pathetic as the Gallas sit-in tantrum. He should be given a dummy to suck when subbed.
Hello All
Congrats ‘Holic on reaching the recent numerical milestone.
Once again, thank you for keeping this place open and reasonably pest free.
Quick question: I am looking to travel to London in June for three weeks. Is there a holic out there who would consider a house exchange? We have a five bedroomed detatched house close to the beach in Auckland New Zealand. We would leave the car and all toys (Kayak,paddle board etc) for your use as well as the good will and patronage of our splendid neighbours who would welcome you with cocktails by the pool).
If you have a place in the London area please contact me at perrybd@xtra.co.nz.
And ‘Holic — my invitation to you and yours to come and stay with us here in Paradise remains open…….. indefinately.
Costa rumoured to have been offered £576,000 per week to play kickabout in China. The world has officially gone madder. I guess it’s one way for China to shedsome of its multi-trillion US$ foreign currency reserves, which it has to do to shore up the Yuan. Nothing to do with football of course.
IF you are a star. Personally things have changed a little here, which could threaten my bucket list.
I am, apparently, at risk of redundancy. From the company that froze my final salary pension scheme years ago.
Let’s see how things play out in this new world.
Holic — Look, it’s a long way I know. But worth it I feel. I would be delighted to help you make it a reality. You literally only need your air fare – we can take care of the rest. I sincerely hope that things improve for you and that one day we can meet in person. A couple of years ago I was in London (at the Norwich game, scene of the Jack Wilshire wonder goal). I did a few circuits of the Tollie in an attempt to find you but to no avail. One day mate……
Dont rule it out. My home brew is legendary……
Just home in S.Oz after a disappointing 18 holes & looking forward to seeing the game courtesy of Optus. To no avail…however the 4min highlight package, appeared to be just that from what I’ve read – above….anyhow a win is a win etcccc…
Old habits die hard and whilst its 50 years since i left school, my ability to not pay attention remains, so please accept my apologies if this has been previously debated….since when does a red shirt/white shorts clash with all white? The Foxes wore Royal against Chelski in almost funereal black…surely more of a clash. Is this just commercialism to sell more “away” strips or am i missing something? Whatever the reason i find it intensely irritating….any views or can someone enlighten me
Keep up the good work ‘Holic
UTA
Cheers H! I’ll take a win over the taffies, don’t mind if I do.
Hope work works out as you would wish, Guv’nor. You have entered the dangerous decade.
As for the game, I’d take playing patchily and winning 4-0 every week.
Malcolm
Puma decide which strip we will wear in away games. I don’t think they’ve got very good taste.
Chris,
I think the world has gone a bit mad but at least that very nice Mr. Obama is in the White House. We might be in trouble if a nutter got in there but that isn’t going to happen.☠️☠️☠️☠️
Holic
I left my job at age 50 and set up my own business. It was the best thing I did in my career. I hope you are able to realise that bucket list. I do hope you have the option to carry on if you want to but a man of your talent has plenty of options.
I’d have you writing the Arsenal programme like a shot! Good luck mate!
What TTG said. Holic you are the best. Think you will come good
Tippi tappy teams do not fare well against Koeman’s bunch.. should get some steel in our team next time we meet them…
I enjoyed your perspective on this game, Holic. Some well considered understatement when sterner verbiage might have been merited.
It’s difficult to quibble with Goonersince54’s view (I’m enjoying this mellow. very rational you, Sweeper) that it was a ‘good day at the office’. 4-0 from home – who wouldn’t take that? I would every time, but simultaneously, I find some of the stuff served up by Arsenal in the first half to be of massive concern (and not easily explained away by lack of confidence born of equally poor technical stuff in previous games, Clive). When we stink at the moment, we stink more stinkily than we have in recent seasons. If we start at the Bus Stop as we started yesterday, the result will not be a 4-0 away win. Hopefully we’ll have Bellerin and Le Coq back and Mustafi.1 (the non-serial-mistake maker version) back by then. Hopefully Danny Wellbeck will be firing on all eight pistons by then too.
Looking forward to catching up vs Burnley next weekend. If I recall correctly, it’s Steve T’s round.
There goes City’s goal difference…
😀 😀 😀
Citeh can’t defend – they have only got two decent defenders Kompany and Sagna. Their goalkeeper is rubbish. Might be worth evaluating Wenger’s achievement when the great Pep is struggling like he is. Can’t see them winning the league this season
The Xhaka-Ramsey pivot have played 312 minutes together we’ve scored 13 goals (one every 24 minutes) & conceded 2.
City back four a shanbles and Clichy a prominent feature of it. Who dat?
Still can’t believe we lost to that lot…how much did John Stone cost again?
Am I the only person who doesn’t give a shit about Wayne Rooney and his Man U goal scoring record ?
Good results for us today
Great end to the week, City lose and Manure and Pool drop points.
coulda been worse
?
.
blatant non football twaddle alert
cynic iffin yer in the ether
what ye watchin now ?
any recommendations
.
my recommendation
buy a fire stick everybody
them as hasn’t
buy one
buy one now
Thanks for the “enlightenment” at 30 TTG…how disappointing…bit more of the “AFC class act” down the gurgler
cba – I have been watching various things. Lots of Father Brown, as I had three series (including this one) stored on the telly box thing.
The 1950s BBC version of Quatermass and the Pit got watched last week and it is still brilliant.
I had the Welsh language version of Hinterland (Y Gwyll) saved on the telly box. Always good that, if you’ve never seen it.
I’ve got Shetland on DVD to finish off, which is all right but nothing special and I’ll be watching the complete run of Man About the House when I can be bothered.
I’ll mostly be catching up on films recorded off the telly this week though.
I don’t watch “new” telly though. The only things I can be bothered with are Ripper Street, which I can’t get series five of because I can’t find it anywhere to download and I’m not paying Amazon for a stream and I watch Endeavor, but I always record that and wait about six months to catch up.
dubious drinks committee ruling ?
first.
name-ist
toby
second.
very considered-ist
“whomever” usage
third.
i rest my not inconsiderable case
.
.
whomever ?
sweet merciful mother o fuck
ahh
shiteballs cynic
sorry
was on one
god bless the mighty landlord
for affording them that wanders
the opportunity so to do
Nice report Boss.
Everything at the moment is just so Arsenal. Swansea was just so typical of where we are. A poor side and we struggle for large parts of the first half. We dominate the second and still have to require two own goals for some breathing space.
I will take a 4 nil away win any day of the week, but there are many kidding themselves when they start thinking about how good we actually are. I just hope our NBT from Hendsford turns out to be a world beater.
Whatever Alexis wants, give it to him. He is top drawer and the heartbeat of this side. I dread to think where we would be if he was out for another sustained period
As Clive said above re the next games.
Burnley and some belated birthday fizzy pop.
agreed steve
but real life
a grown man
sticking his bottom lip out
like wee scalextric does
fuck off
ye would give ‘im a dry slap
Good to see Citeh be so rubbish, but would greatly appreciate it if they would perform up to and even beyond their press clippings this upcoming weekend at the Etihad against tiny tots.
Can’t be a bit of Scalextric. What a hoot.
Rumours circulating that Santi may well be out for the season??
Only Arsenal
santi so important
as we’ve seen
only Arsenal indeed
Evening Steve
You may well be right re Santi.
On Premier Injuries website,he has gone from a return date of mid Feb to Late March,and now has no return date at all.
Precious Wally has gone from a return of 14 Jan out to 31st,and only a 25% chance of that.
Gibbs has gone from 7th Jan to 22nd,and only a 50% chance,Coq is a 25% for 22nd,Hector is a 50% for 22nd,and Debuchy and BFG have gone from 14th Jan out to 31st.
Giroud currently being assessed re ankle injury.
Only at the Arse.!!
And it will be armour plated shin pads front and back this Sunday, for the visit of Burnley.
As the odious thug Joey Barton will be on the pitch at some stage,having joined them from Rangers.
Which tells us all we need to know about the quality of player Sean Dyche is happy to have at the Club.
He came on as a sub yesterday against Southampton and scored the winner,so expect him to get plenty of minutes against us,with a licence to kick the shit out of anyone who crosses his path.
Evening, Clive, Steve T, cba, Bayonne Jean and any others in.
Eight points off top, one off second and 51 still to play for — assuming we can maintain enough fit bodies actually to put out a team for the remaining 17 games.
At this point last season, we were top on goal difference but with one point fewer than we have this term. The Chavs had 24 points, less than half the 52 they have this season after 21 games. The neighbours had nine fewer than this season and the Scousers 14 fewer.
We’d scored 37 and conceded 21 after 21 games last season, against 48 and 22 respectively this.
In short, while we have mostly improved our numbers on last season, others have improved more (except Leicester — 22 fewer points than at this point last season).
clive
iffin yer still around and about
while back
i was rude to you
and for that i apologise
not my normal rudeness
sorry
Evening all.
The question Clive has to be, why??? Why are we the only team that seems to consistently fall foul where injuries are concerned? Why do we have so many with predicted return dates that end up suffering the Arsenal Setback??? Does anyone actually remember a player out with an injury that didn’t have a setback in their recovery.
Ned. Great stuff as always but the sad fact for me is that if I was offered 4th now, then I would take it. That’s assuming that the Hendsford Hurricane doesn’t take the league by storm and single handedly lead us to glory???
‘Whomever’ has its place in lexical semantics, cba, just not how Toby used it. Somehow I don’t believe you’d be interested in a lengthy explanation, so I’ll leave it to Google for anyone who is.
And while on the subject of landlords, here’s a song for ye … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SybZrbeBQ3I
Above could be the first offering for a dubious drinks committee ruling… 😉
*moooooooooooooooooooooons chris*
I’m just happy y’all (see the joke here?) have some semantics to discuss. Me, being of Swedish birth, and also a bit drunk when posting the above-mentioned and now thoroughly proofread post, will answer with a simple cbaism:
cba
i’m happy
hope you’re happy too
sorry not sorry
cba
You rude. ??
Never.
Paragon of Virtue
Butter wouldn’t melt
Pisshead
Anarchist
Antichrist
Fellow Gooner
All sins forgiven
My first girlfriend was Irish
My first boyfriend was Irish
My first car was Irish.
My first Probation Officer was Irish.
so which one o you arselickers is buying
?
moooooooooooooooooooooo
Bartender, a double for cba, please!
Of whomever’s choice.
?
Cheers, Holic !
Sorry to hear things are a bit iffy.
Must try to get to The Tollie in time for a Guinness with you soon. Been too long.
Black scarf wearers may want to look away but …….
I wrote a comment in the preview drinks about one particular choice of words made by Arsene Wenger, namely his insistence that the team should “focus on the process” of playing.
Coincidentally, that same day, I stumbled across an interview I missed at the time, which he gave back in October 2016 to Ian Wright, Sol Campbell and William Gallas. I can’t remember where I found it but it was a lovely thing to watch and, as ever, I found myself totally captivated by the man.
Relaxed in the company of allies, and very probably friends, the smile returned to Arsene’s face along with a fluent form of English which often deserts him in the hostile atmosphere of the post match interview.
The subject which grabbed me, summed up both Arsene’s management philosophy and his intelligence, which is surely unchallenged in the mad world of top level English football.
Ian Wright commented that he had only ever seen the manager “lose it” once in his time at Arsenal. We had been 0-1 down to Liverpool at half time and Wenger ranted at the players in the changing room.
“We were quite scared”, said Wrighty, “we went out in the second half and won the game. We wondered why you didn’t do it more often. Why do you often not say anything for the first ten minutes at half time ?”
Arsene’s paraphrased reply was that, well, whatever the manager says or does, the game is all about the players. It is eleven versus eleven, so in every situation there are a billion possibilities.
Every time a similar situation arises, there will be small details that are different – players will be considering different things that they can see happening, so it is very difficult to say you should have done this, or done that particular thing.
The players, he said, have to make the decisions and that is what makes the difference between a good player, a very good player and the very best players.
The best players consistently make the best decisions.
That is what he looks for.
It is impossible to watch and listen to the man in these situations and not think how extremely lucky we have been to have him. Respect oozes from Sol Campbell, something more like love from Ian Wright and even William Gallas turned into a smiling, amiable fella in his company.
Asked what he hoped his legacy would be when he eventually leaves, Arsene said “that the club is in a good position to go forward”.
The man is clearly a master of understatement too.
LPAG
Ooooooohaaaaaaahhhhh 69
My favourite half-time ‘pep talk’ came from the legendary (in Australia anyway) rugby league coach Jack Gibson who, after a less than impressive first half display by his Parramatta team, walked into the sheds, said “Well played GIRLS“, and walked out again.
Parra won the game.
Or, as AW might say Bien joué les filles…
Cheers, Chris,
Just had a look back in the previous bar.
The interview Trev mentioned. One can safely say there would never ever be anyone quite like him. https://youtu.be/QmdKjwiU_K4
The thesis of how we lost to the Shittehzens is still very open and contributions would be appreciated.
Nothing much of note for me except that Ollie made it 5 in 5(that could mean a 5 star player till the end of the season, hopefully). Then Iwobi remained a stinger in the butt of the swans. Then the clean sheet of course.
How the English FA lets Burnley get an undertaker on the pitch is something of serious concern. Am scared to shit about his return, the very personification of dark arts.
I can’t remember the last time we benefitted from wildly deflected own goals so personally I’m delighted that we finally got not one but two. Hell, I’d be happy to win by an own goal every week.
At least it, usually, means we’re getting shots or crosses in which some observers usually bemoan the lack of. I’d especially like a few more own goals our way in upcoming fixtures against the Chavs and the Germans.
Thank you in anticipation.
UTA.
Interesting take in today’s Times which says we looked a totally different team after Sanchez switched to playing upfront and slaughtered Swansea with Ozil, Iwobi and the rest buzzing.
Beforehand we had looked very stilted with Olly upfront on his own. But he scored and we were 2-0 up. It’s a conundrum for Wenger to solve
No conundrum for me. We look a better unit with Sanchez up top and in my opinion it’s that switch of position for him that has led to the outbursts as much as being subbed or not winning games we should.
He may be a childish, sticky out lipped, Stevie ME type, but he’s no fool. He knows his best position for both himself AND the team.
I would go as far as to suggest that a recent rumour that he’ll only sign a new deal if Wenger goes, combined with Giroud extending his contract, may well be what pushes him out of the door.
I have mixed feelings. I don’t want a stroppy child at the club but we’d be nowhere without him.
Some interesting stats on transfer values from the statos in Geneva. They calculate Alexis to be our most valuable player (if only the 20th most valuable in the big-5 European leagues) and Hector to be our second most valuable (and the most valuable full back playing in those leagues).
http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2016/172/en/
We are a lot more mobile with Sanchez playing up top rather than Giroud, which may be why we seem to start slower when Ollie G starts.
Interesting table @80. Market efficiencies and inefficiencies sprinkled throughout, it’s just hard to know exactly where they lie. Pretty sure Messi is not worth the assigned value though at his age. Way down the list, in the 80s somewhere, striker Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid and Argentina is rumored to be the next Sergio Aguero but his Wiki page says he has a “heart tumor” which may or may not be a condition known to medical science. He is 21 years old though, and don’t all the great strikers have a career path that includes Atletico Madrid and Argentina?
Delusional ramblings over.
Ned @80
I find Pogba’s value utterly ridiculous .
Mesut isn’t too knackered after Swansea.
He spent yesterday in Marrakech!
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2017/01/205943/mesut-ozil-poses-cobra-morocco/
Cobra venom has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a pain killer, and in particular for arthritis. Ozil may be more crocked than we think…
bt8b, Ttg, this page outlines the methodology for determining the notional transfer fees.
http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/mr/mr16/en/
It also makes the point that the model used has an 80% correlation between predicted transfer valuations and actual transfers but also notes that a relatively small number of the highest value players actually move clubs.
It does though have lists of 25 players most likely to be transferred. Thankfully, none of ours are on them.
Oops. Take that back. Just notices that Mustafi is no 11.
But have him listed as a Valencia player. So their prediction he would move was correct.
Re Dummy spitter,
Alexis may well have had other things on his mind,as he has today pleaded guilty to tax fraud whilst at Barca.
Upwards of a million large ones apparently.
Pleaded guilty to avoid a trial.
Has already paid back a large wedge,so probably fines to be added.
TTG @ 78
Agree with Cynic @79 & Ned @81,and i am sure most others in the bar,
that we are so static and slow in our build up with Ollie starting up front.
Ollie i am afraid is yesterday’s news as far as a run on position is concerned.
Supersub should be his lot,unless injuries are such that we have no other option.
Alexis drives defenders mad with his speed and absolute determination to chase down defenders and put them under pressure.
They also have to play much deeper,which opens up the space in midfield.
If Alexis isn’t back up front,and we start in the same slow ponderous manner we have been doing recently,then i fear for our prospects against Chelsea/Bayern and Liverpool next month.
i’ve noticed a recent worrying trend
of
multi – posting
it’s not big
and
it’s
not
C
l
EVER !
Now that’s keepy-uppy, cba!
Have to agree with Clive agreeing with me. Alexis up front makes us much more potent. Ollie G is plan B, for when we need one.
the drawings for my honey factory were stolen
i’ve no plan b
The hastily cobbled together adjudication panel for determining penalties for blatant self assists,have after a quick cuppa and a mini swiss roll,decided on a 10 match penalty for this most egregious example.
*taps mic*
“Is this thing on ?”
a bit flamboyant wi blogs smiting stick , ‘hol
tyranny can’t win !
.
RALLY BOYS , RALLY !!!!!
it’s all fake , people
.
the man’s a fuckin nutter !!!
i’m watching you swindon !
Stunning century cba, I don’t know how you do it.
What?
Oh.
Yellow card 🙂
yeah
all nicey nicey now
.
(can i post under my real name now , [that everyone s lookin] )
?
????
Agree with everyone who agrees that we are much better with Alexis up top than with Ollie G.
Giroud may have been starting recently to persuade him to sign the new contract extension but it is no coincidence that that period has coincided with some pretty turgid first half displays.
He has a very good return of goals in those games but we are a much better and more threatening team with Sanchez leading the line.
Noted that cba posts in the bar like Andross Townsend plays actual football with the ball ?
oh fuck
the cleverest person on here
reminds everyone
how clever they are
and
trev comes along and deflects attention
.
*preens*
Looks like I’m on my own with preferring OG up front, oh well.
I doubt the slow starting has much to do with OG, who can’t do a lot without the ball. What we’re missing is Hector and Theo’s speed, or even that of Ox or Lucas, both of whom are behind Iwobes in the pecking order. It’s not hard to look lethargic when there’s no speed in the team.
Plus Alexis trying to do it all himself a lot of the time and Iwobes energetically running down blind alleys or passing the ball indifferently don’t exactly help us look dynamic. The one thing we do seem to have is fitness, which may be an odd thing to say given our physio room stats, but those still uninjured usually finish strongly in games. Which may beg the question, Are we too tuned up physically? Overtraining straining those soft tissues?
i’m fightin outta Ducky Nomarks gym at the minute
.
*taps nose and two step shuffles*
i coulda been an east ender
Those notional transfer fees seem mostly based on age, Ned. Gotta feel sorry for CristiaNO ranked so far below his ego. And hector and Shkodran Leader ranked so far above Mesut, whoda thunk it!
To be taken with a large handful of sodium chloride.
he means salt
he’s hilarious
It would appear that Alexis Sanchez and BTM share the same accountant???
Just saying.
?
the mighty steve T
now him
him
i like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omJZ3z5PYSY
Awesome choice big man.
Now that does warrant tongues.
?
My music heroes.
And one for you my old son.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iymtpePP8I8
it’s sure got a funky beat
i give that song a polite nod
.
?
she doesn’t allow me any more
?
ye saw nothin here !
*googles solvents*
*buys ‘Spadework for Dummies’ *
“what’s that incredibly handsome cba ?”
ye fuckin gurglin
like it and hate it when herself is elsewhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CynLdVRN8ZM
Whatever happened to…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV_8Bqaqb2w
chris i boked in a near empty emulsion bucket
by my bed
Is it a competition
cos i know who’d win
.
.
you
No idea what you’re referring to, cba. But I’m sure you’re right. Or near enough anyway. Or nowhere near perhaps. There’s a drink under the bar for ye…
Looks as if the Corporal is off to the Palace:
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/crystal-palace-reach-agreement-with-arsenal-over-permanent-deal-for-carl-jenkinson-a3441821.html
Have we bought anyone yet?
I only ask because looking at the constant problems with the treatment room the chances of a “like a new signing” being available at any time soon may be slim. Not including Danny of course who is a permanent like a new signing.
A doctor would be good, Steve T…
In local news, Ryman ending Isthmian League sponsorship after 20 years.
http://www.isthmian.co.uk/record-breaking-ryman-era-to-end-34729
Just the one Ned?
A doctor each you reckon Steve?
Not sure we could afford that many.
Our treatment room must be the size of an average hospital?
Ollie G listed on Premier injuries as only a 25% chance of playing this weekend.
Which would be a blessing in disguise.
Allowing Alex back up front.
Steve T,
How long is it before a “like a new signing” becomes a “like a same old record” ?
Clive,
I wouldn’t actually be pleased to see Ollie G injured because he is a damn good super-sub.
On the other hand, Alexis up front combined with the pace and work rate of Lucas Perez is something I would really like to see. Hard to understand why he is so little used as he always seems to have a positive effect on the game when he does get on.
Trev @142:
“Alexis up front combined with the pace and work rate of Lucas Perez”
is something I would like to see too.
Trev.
I guess we will keep hearing it for as long as we constantly seek to have long term injuries? It’s almost as if the club don’t actually mind? It almost suits them.
If I were Cristiano Ronaldo I would commence shaking in my boots at this news.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38650163
In what way would a succession of long-term injuries suit the club? Pretty please?
Why’s that, bt8, had he been transferred to an English club on the quiet?
Depends how retrospective the bans are, Cynic. If the committee is given enough staff they could review all diving done this century. 😉
Today’s news is that Hector , Le Coq and Gibbo are back in full training. Initial suggestions were that HFB was not badly injured but he now appears to have heart his toe(s) .
That’s pretty positive by our standards
Evening all. Plan is to write the next piece after the Saints v Norwich tie tomorrow, followed by a Burnley preview on either Friday evening or Saturday.
Some excellent drinks there, thank you.
Trev @ 142
Neither would I.
But it does give the Boss an ” out ” to rejig the front line .
As it is,it would be difficult for AW to say to Ollie,
” Sorry old son,i know you are scoring goals like they are going out of fashion, but we are just not playing the fast free flowing football we were when Alexis was leading the line,and if we want to really challenge for the Title,you are going to have to sit on the bench for 70 minutes.”
we are just not playing the fast free flowing football we were when Alexis was leading the line
You mean when we played Everton and Man City? Or before that when Theo and Hector were fit and as instrumental in getting the team rolling as Alexis? Alexis is our best player, I agree, but he’s not God and TH14 rolled into one and has a bit too much weight of expectation on his shoulders, imo.
Chris @152. Very valid point. Hector and Theo have been big misses to our attack. Personally I think Alexis should be leading the line against most opponents but HFB can have a big impact as a starter in that spot in selected games and as an impact substitute in every other one. Alexis and AlexIwobi in rotating left wing of the beehive when HFB is in there.
Chris
Both Hector and Wally played at Everton and City,your post at 152 implies they didn’t,unless of course you think they weren’t fit in either of those games. ?
I would argue both those defeats came from defensive errors,which i doubt would have occurred if Mustafi hadn’t missed both games with injury.
As for your comment that Wally was as instrumental as Alexis in getting the team rolling,this would be the same Wally that has been masquerading as a top flight footballer for the past 10 years.
This along with your desire to have Ollie playing up front with Wally on the wing on a regular basis,beggars belief.
Ollie was only ever bought in the first place as an assistant to RVP,who promptly pissed off to Utd,leaving a B grade striker as our number 1 striker.
Yes he has scored quite a few goals for us,but i prefer to remember the ones he has missed over the years in crucial season changing games, twice at Chelsea,and Chelsea at home to name just 3.
He is a good honest striker,nothing more nothing less,but that is all he ever will be,and if we want to challenge for anything this season,then he has to be on the bench.
The takeaway quote from this article (See the entire article if you prefer some context: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38651616):
“There are no checks and balances on the president’s authority to launch a nuclear strike.”
If you prefer only a minor amount of greater context from the article, there is this:
“The secretary of defence could, in theory, refuse to obey the order if he had reason to doubt the president’s sanity, but this would constitute mutiny and the president can then fire him and assign the task to the deputy secretary of defence.”
I would hate to say we are fucked, but it seems we are.
bt8b: the only hope is that the generals take the batteries out of the big red button on the president’s desk…
This is from the Star but it shows whomin the League has been worst hit by injuries. There appear to be five clubs who are worse at preparing players than us
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/579351/Premier-League-injuries-clubs-statistics-unluckiest-sportgalleries
Good note Clive @154. That telly of Chris’s has a very distorted picture!
TTG
I would love to see Iwobi and Perez on the flanks,and Alexis through the middle against Burnley.
3 players with intelligence/technical ability,and speed,as in thought,not necessarily in motion,Alexis the honorable exception.
So it is Southampton in the next round of the FA Cup.
That should mean we get to the final.
As noted in a previous drink, we have never lost to Southampton in the FA Cup — and made the final every time we have played them.
Won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the 1927 semi-final (the year we infamously lost to Cardiff in the final);
2-0 at Highbury in a quarter final replay in 1979 (the year we beat Man United 3-2 in the final) and, of course,
1-0 in the Final at the Millennium Stadium in 2003.
Had my bid in for a ticket for the next round of the Cup but sadly the Canaries couldn’t oblige, pity.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>