Ade Celebrates
Wenger lowers his sights for title
Ade Celebrates
By Boris Mellor
December 14 2008
Wenger believes that the draw against Boro was a step up, that earlier this season the team may well have lost. If he believes that he is certainly lowering his sights. I find that very reassuring, he has a plan that includes a roadmap of obscure towns in Eastern Europe. I've always wondered what people watch on TV on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, now's my chance to find out.
Ade Celebrates
December 14 2008
Wenger believes that the draw against Boro was a step up, that earlier this season the team may well have lost. If he believes that he is certainly lowering his sights. I find that very reassuring, he has a plan that includes a roadmap of obscure towns in Eastern Europe. I've always wondered what people watch on TV on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, now's my chance to find out.
In the grand scheme of things 1-1 at Boro is not a disaster, I have seen worst performances, it is a match that should have been won. Arsenal had far more chances. However when it is taken into account that Arsenal have lost five games already; that most of the squad were rested for Porto, then it just isn't good enough for a manager who wants to win the title.
The team is beginning to look inferior in all areas; firstly the defence cannot defend a lead. It was only last season (pre February) that if Arsenal scored first then they always won. Now the defence is a pushover for freaky goals and tap ins.
Defence
Only one defender had a perfect game yesterday, and that was Sagna. Don't tell me about his attacking not being good enough; he had enough to do carrying the other three on his back. They should club together and give him their wages, because they certainly didn't earn them.
I feel sorry for Clichy, I always rated him, but he is becoming more and more accident prone. Of course he should have cover, but someone must teach him about row Z. No doubt the prof will be sniffy about that, but it would be preferable to throwing points away.
Arsenal's defence has let in twice as many as Man U and Liverpool's, and three times as many as Chelsea. Sorry Arsene but facts like that make me a non believer.
Midfield
Apart from Cesc this is now stuffed full of mediocrities, and he is made to play out of position, as indeed all of them are. Most have the pace of a snail and the turning circle of an oil tanker. Without Nasri and Walcott there is no width. Diaby and Denilson are put wide, but like homing pigeons continually head for the centre of the park.
Strikers
It is not Ade's and RvP's fault that the midfield is incapable of scoring, but defenders are cottoning on to RvP. Push him wide and he will never score. He used to be able to score from an angle, but that was a long time ago. He got two against Chelsea because he was allowed to shoot from a central position. I used to know which was his chocolate leg with the soft centre, but now there are no hard centres left in the box. Both feet are equally soft. However he still gets a few, as does Ade, but if they don't score, and Nasri isn't playing, the goals dry up.
Reason for the draw
One or two players didn't seem to try that hard (Song's failure to chase back), but I don't subscribe to the, "they are a lazy load of gutless bastards theory". They tried hard enough; they just were not good enough. When Boro had ten men behind the ball they didn't have a clue how to break through. When the strikers got a half chance they waved a despairing foot at it. Unless the chance is perfect it is often wasted. Nor did enough players get into the box, it's alright yelling cross, but cross to who was a bigger problem.
Maybe the return of Nasri, Eduardo and Walcott can liven things up, but that may be too late. But that is the sum total of reinforcements we have to look forward to. Wenger can continue to talk about the miracle of winning the title, but I fear that a bigger miracle is required, and that is finishing in the top four.
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Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 12:35
Wenger lowers his sights for title
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 13:46
Liverpool (h), Villa (a) and Pompey (h)are the next three games.
Villa is a six pointer. 9 points over Xmas - how many will we get?
We got 7 out of last 9
Villa is a six pointer. 9 points over Xmas - how many will we get?
We got 7 out of last 9
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: karsene16 (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 13:54
Never thought i would say this but Villa is going to murder us they constantly attack at home, if Gerrard plays center i can't see song catching him.
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Eduardo da silva - IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eduardo da silva - IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 14:11
If teams attack us we have a chance. Depends who we have playing. But they will have to be up for it or get slaughtered
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Bring back Fabian cabballerro(who punches people in the face!) (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 14:24
yea im ohnestly beginning to think its 50 50 between us and villa now and it will probably come down to what happens in january at both clubs
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: AJ The Gunner (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 17:55
spot on. i really don't buy the theory that the players are not committed.they are simply not good enough.you can't force mediocre players to be world class players or even good players.they are simply never going to get better than what they are.instead they are wearing down cesc, clichy, sagna.the best way to get young players to come good is to let them play and train with world class players.thats how cesc came good.he used to train with viera, henry, gilberto, and the others.
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 18:14
Well put AJ, I absolutely agree.
The experiment has failed. Keep the best get rid of the rest and buy some experience
The experiment has failed. Keep the best get rid of the rest and buy some experience
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Marsberg (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 20:53
Some have been singing that song for two years,at last people are waking up,lets hope its not too late for us to really fall into major decline.
Always Arsenal, Arsene,and Arshavin
Always Arsenal, Arsene,and Arshavin
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 21:10
Last year we narrowly missed the title.
The facts have changed we are not as strong as last year.
Squad has been weakened. flamini not replaced. Rosicky long term injured, Walcott longterm injured, Eduardo out long term.
All those are players who featured in Wenger's plans.
Wenger needs two replacements, plus a centre half. Then Eduardo and Walcott come back that will be like having four extra players.
The facts have changed we are not as strong as last year.
Squad has been weakened. flamini not replaced. Rosicky long term injured, Walcott longterm injured, Eduardo out long term.
All those are players who featured in Wenger's plans.
Wenger needs two replacements, plus a centre half. Then Eduardo and Walcott come back that will be like having four extra players.
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: ArsenalForever (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 21:47
Quote:Wenger believes that the draw against Boro was a step up, that earlier this season the team may well have lost.
he actually said that padre? that goes to show that even he doesnt have confidence in this team
i would be really scared about the future of this club if wenger doesnt make changes to this team asap
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Ares (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 21:49
Quote:Marsberg
Some have been singing that song for two years,at last people are waking up,lets hope its not too late for us to really fall into major decline.
Not all fans
Last Season There were fans who wanted to Ship all our most experienced players out of the club and sign four or five players in one season. Whilst promoting the youth players Theo and Bendtner to the first team in the same season.
Madness.
Some fans wanted to clearout the up and comers and sign four experienced players denying Theo and Diaby a run of games. At the time we had Rosicky RvP Adebayor Eduardo Lehman Cesc Diarra Flamini Hleb Gilberto on the payroll.
Some fans thought the squad was strong and needed only a CB
Some fans thought the squad was strong and needed only a CB and David Villa.
Some fans thought most if our squad stayed fit most of the time we wouldn't need new signings.
This season is an entirely different matter All Fans recognised the need for A CB A DM An AM to replace Hleb and cover Rosicky
Some fans were for an injury free striker/Villa/Benzema etc some were confident in Bendtner Rvp Adebayor Theo Vela Edu if most of them stayed fit most of the time.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:14:21:53:37 by Ares.
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 22:17
Good post Ares. I always argued for a replacement for Flam and another defender. Unfortunaetly I really thought Rosicky would come back. But he wont this year, amd probably not next.
Nasri is a good replacement for Hleb, but like Hleb gets kicked about a lot. Nor was it expected that we would lose Walcott.
I probably thought Nik would make good back up. Not convinced anymore.
Nasri is a good replacement for Hleb, but like Hleb gets kicked about a lot. Nor was it expected that we would lose Walcott.
I probably thought Nik would make good back up. Not convinced anymore.
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: eduardo (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 23:08
The Wenger statement after the game that worried me was him thinking boro would run out of steam in the final fifteen minutes and so we would then win the game late on. If a manager is waiting for the home team to get tired so we may win then we are on a loser. Was it this stupid belief that caused Wenger to wait till the 80th minute to bring on his one and only sub
Just a couple of things I would find fault with in the article was the statement that most of the squad was rested midweek, this is wrong, not even most of the starting 11 were rested midweek, six of them started in Porto, Almunia, Gallas, Djourou, Denilson, Diaby, Song
Secondly I think Djourou played well, even as well as Sagna
One thing that I find annoying in the media was all this bull about boro clearly deserving the draw, they had half the number of shots on target and indeed half the number of shots and them the home team, theri goal came from a blocked clearance that could have gone anywhere, yets its all deserved but West Ham get a draw at Chelsea and it was lucky, same with Hull at pool and spuds at home to manure, seemingly only teams playing Arsenal deserve their results
Just a couple of things I would find fault with in the article was the statement that most of the squad was rested midweek, this is wrong, not even most of the starting 11 were rested midweek, six of them started in Porto, Almunia, Gallas, Djourou, Denilson, Diaby, Song
Secondly I think Djourou played well, even as well as Sagna
One thing that I find annoying in the media was all this bull about boro clearly deserving the draw, they had half the number of shots on target and indeed half the number of shots and them the home team, theri goal came from a blocked clearance that could have gone anywhere, yets its all deserved but West Ham get a draw at Chelsea and it was lucky, same with Hull at pool and spuds at home to manure, seemingly only teams playing Arsenal deserve their results
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: ArsenalForever (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 23:11
our goal came from poor defending
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Ares (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 23:36
Our goal came From:
Whilst the ball was alive in our final third and before Clichy had moved to clear the danger our Defensive Midfielder was jogging forward towards the centre circle in anticipation of the ball moving forward.
And so it was Our DCM left Tuncay unmarked and moved forwards Diaby was jogging backwards towards Clichy
Clichy found himself isolated Tuncay lurking in his peripheral vision And Two Boro players on him. he had two options play it off one of them for a goal kick or out for a throw. his clearance was intercepted teh ball was passed to Tuncay with plenty of space and time to cross if he wanted to take a few touches he didn't but hit it first time for Ali to head in.
That goal is down to complacency in midfield. I saw the power Tuncay put on that ball any contact from Gallas Djorou or Ali or Sagna would have smashed it in As it was Ali threw his body and got his head on it and it smashed into the net It happenned so fast When The ball leaves Tuncays foot and Lands in the back of the net its just over a second. on video playback
That goal could not have gone in without Song's contribution from midfield It can be argued had Diaby sprinted to help Clichy There wouldn't have been a pass towards Tuncay in the first place.
I don't blame Gallas for that goal rather Ali claimed it than he scored an own goal.
Whilst the ball was alive in our final third and before Clichy had moved to clear the danger our Defensive Midfielder was jogging forward towards the centre circle in anticipation of the ball moving forward.
And so it was Our DCM left Tuncay unmarked and moved forwards Diaby was jogging backwards towards Clichy
Clichy found himself isolated Tuncay lurking in his peripheral vision And Two Boro players on him. he had two options play it off one of them for a goal kick or out for a throw. his clearance was intercepted teh ball was passed to Tuncay with plenty of space and time to cross if he wanted to take a few touches he didn't but hit it first time for Ali to head in.
That goal is down to complacency in midfield. I saw the power Tuncay put on that ball any contact from Gallas Djorou or Ali or Sagna would have smashed it in As it was Ali threw his body and got his head on it and it smashed into the net It happenned so fast When The ball leaves Tuncays foot and Lands in the back of the net its just over a second. on video playback
That goal could not have gone in without Song's contribution from midfield It can be argued had Diaby sprinted to help Clichy There wouldn't have been a pass towards Tuncay in the first place.
I don't blame Gallas for that goal rather Ali claimed it than he scored an own goal.
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 15/12/2008 07:31
Fair enough Eduardo, but Clichy, Sagna, Adebayor and RvP and Fabregas were rested. Goalies dont use up that much energy in a game, nor does Song. So that makes it seven rested.
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 15/12/2008 10:53
I cna't said anyhting positive and will not said it.
Regardless of what happen, with existing players, and/or new buys, Arsene Wenger stil need at least 2 months to gell 'em.
I can see this existing team getting better and gel somewhere in March 2009.
As of now, we don't have a TEAM.
Nothing more for me to say except in March 2009 when the TEAM finally gelled.
I wil leave it to Lady Luck as to whetehr we are still title condtender in March 2009, franticaly fighting to be 4th or just sinking towards mediocrity, mid-table and relegation zone fast.
Lady Luck is pretty kind to us so far, and Liverpool will be ready for us.
Without Walcott and NAsri, and with this bunch of strangers playing that can't string together 2 decent forward passes together, with Wenger still sticking to 4-4-2 without the French Spine, we need Lady Luck to ensure Wenger will put out the correct team, if he sitl got a tEAM.
Forget about what Wenger said in public.
He knew what is wrong with the team.
The problem is that at the moment, he does not have a TEAM.
I will render my verdict in MArch 2009 as there is nothing positive to say about the present group of players, including Fabregas and Clichy.
Regardless of what happen, with existing players, and/or new buys, Arsene Wenger stil need at least 2 months to gell 'em.
I can see this existing team getting better and gel somewhere in March 2009.
As of now, we don't have a TEAM.
Nothing more for me to say except in March 2009 when the TEAM finally gelled.
I wil leave it to Lady Luck as to whetehr we are still title condtender in March 2009, franticaly fighting to be 4th or just sinking towards mediocrity, mid-table and relegation zone fast.
Lady Luck is pretty kind to us so far, and Liverpool will be ready for us.
Without Walcott and NAsri, and with this bunch of strangers playing that can't string together 2 decent forward passes together, with Wenger still sticking to 4-4-2 without the French Spine, we need Lady Luck to ensure Wenger will put out the correct team, if he sitl got a tEAM.
Forget about what Wenger said in public.
He knew what is wrong with the team.
The problem is that at the moment, he does not have a TEAM.
I will render my verdict in MArch 2009 as there is nothing positive to say about the present group of players, including Fabregas and Clichy.
Re: Wenger lowers his sights for title
Posted by: Optimistic Gunner (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2008 15:52
What a mess AW has made.
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