£12M Defensive Midfielder In January? 3-0 And We Royally Mucked It Up!

Morning all.

Gossip:

Christoph Kramer, a German 6′ 3″ defensive midfielder is being linked to us this morning. He’s currently on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach from Bayer Leverkusen. He’s 23 years old and represents the German national team.

And boy don’t we need a defensive midfielder, and a central defender or two at least!!

Last night – what an absolute disastrous, naive and incompetent showing. 3-0 up and cruising. Arteta buried home from the spot, his first in the Champions League. Alexis battered his free kick into the defensive wall, the ball came straight back to him and somehow, he volleyed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Outrageous, but that’s how good he is. Oxlade-Chamberlain looked to have secured all three points with a superb finish after cutting in from the left.

Anderlecht hadn’t arrived to park their bus, they were having a go when they could and even at 3-0 down, none of their players believed it was all doom and gloom. Perhaps they learned from the home tie when we robbed them of all three points at the end.

What did our illustrious leader think about our collapse:

You have to give them [Anderlecht] credit because the fought until the end and we had a poor defensive performance from the first to the last minute today. We never felt comfortable and somewhere we got punished because of bad luck.

The first goal was offside but defensively our performance was not good enough to do it. Secondly at 3-0 we thought the job was done and it was a combination of switching off and fatigue as well. You could see we couldn’t win the challenges and they finished stronger and sharper – we got punished. It’s very disappointing but overall over the two games we got four points. I think we are well paid for our two performances.

Yes, the first goal was miles offside of that there is no doubt. The goal gave Anderlecht a lift, a huge lift while we went to pot, just as we often do when a decision goes against us!

Fatigue? Rubbish, a poor excuse.

What was clear is that once again, we can’t defend. Our midfield is not balanced, we have no leader and when things were going against us, we had a manager who sat on the sideline doing little about it. His sidekick was no better but then they never are are they, they are not allowed to be.

3-0 and they thought is was game over? Well that sums how arrogant and complacent the manager was and some of the players.

So, what does Wenger put the defensive problems down to?

I think when we lost Mikel Arteta we lost out because he was one of the few who defended well. That didn’t help. Apart from that maybe we underestimated subconsciously Anderlecht and got punished. In the Champions League you need to be at the mental level or you get punished and certainly we were not.

No, it’s not all about Mikel Arteta, although we did look more disorganised once he went off. It’s about approach, mentality, tactics and lack of direction from the manager and lack of leadership on the pitch.

We are too gung ho. We don’t have the right blend of players, we don’t have a defensive bone in our performances and we don’t know how to dig in and protect a lead. We haven’t been able to do that for years now and until the balance in the side is corrected, the right players signed and the right tactics taught, we never will.

Yes the players need to wake up and realise that at some stage they need to stop pressing forward and protect what they have but I don’t believe are are trained to do that, I think they have fallen under the Wenger spell that attacking football is the best way to defend.

Well it isn’t, not on nights like last night, especially at 3-2 with just minutes to go.

You protect what you have, not risk losing it but it’s something this crop of players don’t know how to do. And  that comes from the manager. He signs the players, he trains the players, he manages them for 90 minutes during a game.

His substitutions were crazy too. Why bring on Rosicky to attack, he should have had it drummed into him to sit back and defend. And Podolski when we need to shut up shop at the end? Why not bring on Bellerin and stick Chambers just ahead of the back four with Flamini and defend, defend, defend?

No, we attack attack attack and then concede!

Disgraceful, but sadly, all too familiar….

That’s my rant over…..

 

 

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Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Don’t worry Rico. We are being linked with another dwarf in Cabaye. When will this shit end?

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Rico we were never going to win that group before last night’s result! Seriously we tried our hardest to fuck up last year’s F.A Cup win, wenger is a spent force!

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Arsene Wenger on last night,”blah,blah,blah,blah”……no shit Sherlock..

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Maybe a CB with a bit of pace too…..

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Lee, i’d settle for one that can defend…

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago

Morning all.
How hard is it to defend?

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, i watched Bayern v Dortmund on Saturday, we’ll need more than lady luck…

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Rico. I agree. Strange how the old Emperors New Clothes tale so often seems to typify Wenger. He comes out with the same old excuses almost as if the debacle has nothing to do with him. He certainly doesn’t learn from it does he? I sat opposite him last night and watched him watching the game. He did very little really. Occasionally he will moan about something to the 4th official but that’s about it. He is only holding onto his job because everyone at the club is shit scared about what happens next. They look at Man U and think that they don’t want to fund a LVG-type spend up or at Rogers and see how lucky he was to have Suarez. The board and Kroenke are crapping themselves over getting it wrong. I say that if they do, then sack the bloke until you get the right man in. There are a few excellent candidates but to prise them out of their current jobs and fund a new era is gonna cost big money. Would Kroenke stomach this? I doubt it. One thing is for sure. There is pain ahead for Arsenal supporters but we could emerge much stronger when the crap has died down.
When Lee said that even with the best 11 players in the world, Wenger would fuck it up, I think he had it bang on. The bloke has had it.

Lewis
Lewis
11 years ago

He blames luck and fatigue!

Ok the first goal is offside so that is unlucky, but at 3-1, shut the fucking game down! Not rocket science, probably the most basic command he could have given. But no he sits there and does nothing.

And fatigue!!! Who’s fucking fault is that?!!! Maybe if you rotated the squad a little our players won’t be burnt out or if you signed a squad full of players you trust as back ups.

I don’t know how people can still support him as the man to take us forward. I agree the whole club is in a deep malaise and would like the owner to fuck off aswell but from a playing aspect we are woeful and that buck stops with wenger. As Kev said earlier, mourinho would have this squad battering teams.

Still livid.

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Adam, he was done years ago…..

bondex
bondex
11 years ago

everything i have to say has been said already……. why wont things change at arsenal? Morning all.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Rico. But we are talking football and Kroenke is a bottom-line man. I completely agree about Wenger being history as far as improvements go though.
Get in there Alisher.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Rico. Do you believe that Koeman would get more out of the players than Wenger is at the moment?

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Already answered then.

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

The “Untold disciples” will come and get you, you blaspheming people!

rogerbij
rogerbij
11 years ago

Outrageous.
You know, Im all for ruthless attacking – I like how big teams kill off games 5-0.
And attack can be a good form of defence too, keeping the opposition on the back foot. God knows we would leak goals if we just shut up shop.

But thats not what we are talking about – its the naivety of giving away all your shape and inviting gaps all over the place. On the first goal Chamberlain in midfield completely gave up the space to let Vanden Borre waltz through before passing left and then tapping in (offside). Their 3rd goal too was a shambles of shape and open space, and well Merts is just too slow for such a challenge.

Wenger often talks of quality. Its time (again) to face facts – defensively we have very little of that – whether in defensive midfield positions or central defence. Certainly noone frightening. I would settle for strong and disciplined. I could go on about the second goal too, the penalty that Monreal conceded, although possibly soft and a 50-50 decision.

But really even in the first half, while we dominated they made good chances and cut through us only to have a shot saved or for them to take the wrong option. If we played like that against chelsea it would be a 6-0 again.

Finally, Ill cop some flack, but Im still not convinced with Welbeck. He’s ok and a million times better than Sanogo, but he’s often not in position for crosses, his touch is average.. in fact everything is average.

Alexis again epic. Chamberlain very lively game. Ramsey do the simple stuff right before every thing is a flick pass.

So mad. Bayern or Real no doubt. Out in the next round.

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

There is a shed load of managers that would get this team functioning better…..they may even cull the dead wood and replace it with proper players!

Brian Price
Brian Price
11 years ago

Why is Carl Jenkinson playing for West Ham when we need defenders?

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Rico. But the personnel don’t matter if you are going to bomb forward from midfield every time leaving the defence exposed. Wenger is not the future, as you say.

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

This gung-ho football is so passé….

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, Kos, you must be joking…..

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

Wenger is to blame but if you’re on that pitch and you see things swaying to Anderlect you should know your duties to see out a result. Ramsey key example…bombing forward to get on the score sheet, it’s dumb football.

kel
kel
11 years ago

Clueless and naive is how I would describe Arsenal last night, and wenger is an absolute idiot the man really needs to fuck off. Neil lennon would do a better job ffs.

The players should hang there heads in shame (alexis & danny excluded ) after that game, why can’t they do the basics of the game? 2 bank’s of 4 and defend your lead.

The only positive i can take is at least this result shows wenger up for what he is….. a fraud, an old man who is finished, a tactically inept manager and a defensively naive idiot.

If more results like this have to happen to get the loser out then so be it…. Rant over.

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

I don’t believe any defensive work is done on the training ground.

AndrewH
AndrewH
11 years ago

Morning house, Merse was spot on last night, ‘absolutely tactically clueless’. Don’t think he will ever get a job at Arsenal!

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

I dunno. You young naive country girls. 🙂

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

This morning encapsulates the Wenger ‘problem’ eloquently. None of us want to see him so roundly abused, yet what else can be said? He missed a golden opportunity to bow out with bundles of money and an FA Cup win. Then we could all be moaning today about the bloke who took over. 🙂

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

That’s the question with Ramsey. Great player or one-season wonder? Who, apart from Scott, really knows at the moment?

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

It hurts when I think of what a different manager could do with this squad or what a different manager could have done in the transfer window. Supporting Arsenal is beginning to make me feel sick of football. Same tosh every year, poor transfer window planning every year, waiting til the last day in the market. Players gagging to join us, so called funds available. Then the real crap happens, poor form on and off the pitch, out of cups come Feb, nice little run of form trickles through come march then a nail biting finish to see if we come 4th at the end of the season.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Nickie. Agree completely.

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

Rico, he’s trying to live up to last season. By doing this he’s having a detrimental effect on the team. Those flicks, poor over the top balls that allow the opposition to get possession and attack because our full backs are standing at their corner flag. He doesn’t graft anymore, he’s “made it” already in his eyes so no need to chase back, tackle, fight…it’s all about the Ronaldo tricks, messi flicks, Bale shots. He’s probably upset Sanchez is taking centre stage too.

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

2 and a half years feels like a prison sentence. You’ve won the lottery, guess what, 2.5 years til you can cash that ticket in.

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

If I could I’d bench Flamini, Ramsey and Cazorla. It’s funny, CM/CAM seemed our best position on the pitch for strength and depth. It’s one of our poorest now. Along with CDM and CB needing a fix up, the next summer is going to be a big one, Caz, Flam, Diaby, Podolski, Arteta are finished, if Wilshere and Ramsey’s form doesn’t pick up or they don’t find a way to play with each other we’re done for. That leaves Ozil…i’m not even going there

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Nickie. You had better give me that ticket. Rico doesn’t need the money. 🙂

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

I don’t either Rico. At the moment I am thinking that the end of the season will be his lot.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Well, it can’t be just on HH that a huge swing against him is building. We all know (some of us anyway) that he is not the future, so let’s move on. The only reason I can see him doing another season is if they really are waiting for another manager to become available. Other than that, quite frankly, what is the point? Bearing in mind that Kroenke is almost certainly going to put prices up again, I sense a storm brewing and perhaps it isn’t too far away now. I think it is exactly what the club needs. Pain and all.

George
George
11 years ago

Hi All , a few pointers about last night.

Poor substitutions last night cost us. For example Arteta was injured and signalling for at least 5mins to be subbed. Our mgr and asst let it rumble on and we concede the 1st, albeit offside. Flamster comes on and is lucky not to be sent off for a kung fu challenge on the excellent Mitrovic.
Monreal is out of position and everyman and hislher dog know he is not a CB , and just an average reserve Left Back. Stupid penalty.He is then lucky to stay on pitch.

Positionally Rosicky who came on for the ox (who had a good game , and only mistake was allowing that donkey Van der Borre through) was all over the place and reminded me of a Under 9’s match. How was he at 3-1 down gonna make more challenges than the ox? Cazorla was knackered as was Ramsey. So seeing as Flamster had to come on for Arteta, why are we sending on Podolski and Rosicky? One can run but not tackle or win any headers, the other cant run , cant win any tackles and is a goal hanger with a left peg.

Like others said earlier, we had Bellerin on the bench. he could have come in at RB, and we could have paired Chambers with Merts, and brought on Monreal as a sub for a tiring cazorla and played him infornt of gibbs, moving the ox to the right. We could have put on Campbell who holds the ball exceptionally well and is willing to run back and win the ball.

Equally as pissed off as most here. Tactically inept and not good enough.

As Brian Price mentions, why is Jenkinson on loan to West Ham? Oh , and although I don’t rate him, we loaned Le Coq (DM) out to charlton. That makes sense now Arteta is out. He could’ve done job against Burnley.

As for Rambo, he is off form. He needs to be benched simply. Play someone who will win the ball and play the right pass, not try flicks in your own half.

And Chez, well, he is a good no2. He isnt a no1 goalie.

Rant over.

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, don’t hold your breath….

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

Morning HH what a night. First 35 mins iy loos like we were going to blow them out of the water then as always we fell apart. Rico and adam am sorry to burst your bubble but le screw up ain’t going anytime soon. Just as he got stale at Monaco thr same thing is happening here. Such a shame for a man that helped put us on the map.

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

Forgive my typing feeding the baby and blogging ain’t my strong point you know. Lol.

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

I doubt it maam he’s got a thick skin. He ll see his contract through plus I don’t think the syrup is ever planning on firing him. He’s here to stay maam. Brace yourself. Lol

bradster
bradster
11 years ago

Afternnon all,

As the comentator said yesterday you can’t expect to challenge for the CL if you need to score 4 goals to win at home.

We were very naive especially after knowing they will be tough judging from the last time out.
We had no shape, no one doing the hard graft in midfield. I reckon it’s the team’s attitude that is the problem, the same problem Sanchez has with his team mates.

So Wilshere and Walcott back this weekend then…

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

He’s an attacking coach he says bradster Lol and I ask myself where is the attack? ? Someone please show me. When was the last time we blitz thr opposition. Lord God arsene makes me sick.

bradster
bradster
11 years ago

Worst was Monreal pulling the guy down when the cross was flying way over.

Wath
Wath
Admin
11 years ago

I’m not allowed to comment on that shower of shit last night… I’d have to ban myself from the site…!

Pathetic as usual from the sidelines…. Exemplifies just how complacent we become when we think job done… Complete and utter crap and only one person to blame the person who is not accountable and who only see’s what he wants to see.
No way will he leave, not on 8bar a year….!

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

You said it wath….he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Lol

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

The kick in the teeth will be if he moves up within the club and has a control over the new manager, ie player purchases, funds etc..

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

Even if we do sign a centre half next window,
can we rely on wenger to get the right player………….centre halfs not his area..are they.
A leader a fighter a player when on the pitch players will listen to…

Looking at wenger last night wrapped in that blanket.
If you see a geezer hanging round charing cross wrapped up like that,
you would throw him a few pence wouldn’t you

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

Hahahahahahhaha nickie you just spoke what I ve been thinking about forever. My fear is he might actually choose who to succeed him that ll be his final revenge. He’s that coonty. God help us.

George
George
11 years ago

Did anyone else hear about Piers Morgan offering Cash to lure Vincent Kompany away?

Wenger always fluked it in defence. He inherited the famous back 5 and Sol Campbell was a freebie.

Since then his recruitment of defenders has seen the likes of: Senderos, Djourou, Stepanovs, Tavlaridis, Grimandi, Silvestre (when finished), Squillaci , Cygan…

So for every 1 Koscielny he unearths, we sign 4 donkeys, and play them when our start find gets burnt out.

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

Santos, Luzhny, Maltz, Svard, Eboue, Troare…the list grows stronger George haha. Tees us up nicely for a World class centre back coming in in Jan

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Memo to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:

Do your self a favour, stay off of Twitter, Facebook et al, for awhile and let your football do the talking.

Try scoring 10 goals in the next 5 matches, as that is a real statement Alex…

In the meantime avoid empty rhetoric and glib public post match comments, as they make you look a bit of a silly little boy…

Pity that Dennis Bergkamp isn’t there to guide you all…
He never spoke much.
But he was a fcuking brilliant footballer.

Alex, can you see the connection son!

George
George
11 years ago

lol@ nickie…forgot about those donkeys….at least with George Graham if he got a Gus Caesar, he shipped them out quick time

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

It’s funny, all these bargain bin defenders he goes through, in his time at the club could have used that money and got himself 5-6 decent CB’s post Adams/Keown.

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

I actually love pascal cygan George. Lol he was one of the best defenders in the French league before he joined us…le screw just brings out the worse in most players he comes in contact with. Ozil ashavin baptista need I say more?

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

I was thinking something similar goonie, he seems to ruin players a lot aswell, it goes unnoticed. For every gem there are 10 terrible or good players he ruins.

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

Everytime wenger finds a player with a bit of meat and two veg,he makes him captain then sells him.
I think that when a player has got a bit of bottle and tells wenger the time of day,
his shipped out the next day.

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

Rico,
Was the BFG waring football boots or did he have on deep sea diving boots,
when he mucks up,it seems like your watching a slow motion replay.

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

RVP comes to mind Fred

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

I wonder how he sleeps at night. Soundly I ll bet with all that cash for a pillow.

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

I never thought I ll say this but I ll take koeman right now even though I hate that turd faced bastard. Look at what he’s doing with limited resources and average players. Imagine what he can accomplish with sanchez theo santi et al.

George
George
11 years ago

Well said Goonie @ 2:54…Cygan was alright before Wenger got hold of him…

Sorry to hear of your loss btw

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

afternoon all
what we lost yesterday:
a) 4,5 millions euros for be in the next stage of CL;
b) Two games for “rest” before December (like you remember, for instance last year, was the begin of the end);
c) My counts: play-off presence – 2,1+groups stage-8,6 , so arround 10 millions now.

Game:
a) I didn’t understand the subs. We were lack on the midfield and was there AW must changed
b) Ramsey was very bad, in all subjects, in my opinion
c) Rosicky have no rhythm and can not play at this level. Unfortunatelly
d) Our defence was good until they scored a clear off-side goal.The problems was, since the beginninn , at the midfield
e) Arteta is slowly but is well positioned; flamini no, Ramsey was no where
d) W can scored more goals if we were not so “arrogant”

post:
I know Kramer. Is a good player. Ive watching him playing for Germany.

goonster
goonster
11 years ago

Thanks George….blogging dulls the pain a little bit.

George
George
11 years ago

Good points JM …Ramsey and Rosicky when he came on was pointless. While Rosicky is undersatnadbly rusty and its not fair to judge him on 10 minutes, Ramsey was poor. he offered us nothing in midfield .

Kramer, Khedira, Reus….all these German players …yeah right . We have 3 and all have regressed .

Stan, Koeman is just enjoying the rub of the green. I think he’s inherited a good academy that produces top talent. While the signings are grabbing the headlines, you see their core is homegrown, and go under the radar. Its not even Pochettino’s team, it was Nigel Adkins and Andy Crosby who set them up , along with Nicola Cortese as Chairman.

he will go thge same way as Laudrup did at Swansea

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago

Morning all.
Soton……when injuries hit, as they do, watch them drop.
Adam, I am as critical of Ramsey as anyone.
I know what he’s doing wrong, but not how to fix it, and I don’t get paid 8 million a year to do so.

sukky
sukky
11 years ago

I have not be posting since some changes took place,I can’t log in but I got lucky tonight.Reading comments without me commenting on comments makes me sick…..anyway,Wenger will always be stupid to me,I hate him..yes I hate him.He made †̥ђƺ team I love look like a shit to me.I don’t even know if I still love †̥ђƺ club or not because of one foolish,finished man.He won’t be sacked,never and he still got 2.5years to run.We are in for a very tough period.Why playing monreal as CB,if I want to play against monreal,I will tell ♍Ɣ coach that I will score at least 2goals because he’s shit (even at LB).At †̥ђis point,we can only hope Wenger leave

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago

He should, just as the eleven on the pitch ought to know how to defend 🙂

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Good night Rico…..

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago

Night Rico.
BT, tough times for Arsene 🙂

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

Scott, sure is, doesn’t do himself any favours though….

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago

Oh I agree…..

BT62 Gooner
BT62 Gooner
11 years ago

City l CSK 2, Toure and Fernandinho sent off, Bayern win and Chelski draw…

potter
potter
11 years ago

Well at least City will have knocked us off the back pages . Everyone else can but we won’t forget.

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Good to see Vincent Kompany enjoying another evening of ‘Glory’ @ Wastelands…

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Rico, I had a visit from Jack this morning too……

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Not too long….. unlike dear old Teflon Wenger!

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Morning Rico and all. Has your iPad gone wrong then Rico?

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Brudder the new ride is cool.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Yes, it’s best to keep those to a minimum otherwise they are running in the background perhaps, eating memory. Sometimes a cold reboot, via the top button works and even a sync with your laptop via iTunes could be worth a go.
You know where I am anyway. 🙂
On the couch.

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago

Morning all.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Brudder. I have been thinking about that and was going to ask. Excellent. I sat in one recently. Loved the interior and the finish. You must drop by in it.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Do you have iTunes on your laptop Rico?

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

If the problems come back we might chat then Rico. 🙂

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

I see Campbell has got the needle with wenger at not making the squad for the last few games but sanogo did?!?! Anyone heard this?

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Untold are really pushing the fact that it’s the referee’s fault that Arsenal are shite!

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Lee. What a surprise!

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Watching the game live the other evening you could tell that the whole atmosphere of the team on the pitch, after the Ox’s goal, changed. They decided they had won the game and completely lost concentration. Anderlecht had really given up by then and were just playing out time. But we stopped doing the standard things well. There was no shape and no control. I looked at the clock and wondered how we were going to get through the last half hour being so negative. The crowd felt the same and suddenly Anderlecht became interested. It was in the air. When I noticed Flamini jog into the box for one of our corners and looked at the shape of the team I guessed that they would soon score. We were trying to be too clever, knocking the ball about sideways, CMs pushed forward. It was suicide. Watching Wenger doing nothing it was obvious we were going to play ourselves into trouble. You could feel the unease in the crowd. And Wenger did nothing when he should have been getting a solid shape back and shouting at a few people. He did nothing except sit there with his bloody blanket.

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

I can too……….

potter
potter
11 years ago

Don’t think many of us need anyone else to tell us how to think about that match or the season so far. Or the one before that ad infinitum.