Morning all.
Well that’s what you call a spanking. City were ruthless until the end and defeated Watford by six goals. It’s been over 100 years since the FA Cup Final produced so many goals for one team. Treble secured for a Pep and his players so well done to them. I’m kind of envious really. Not because they won all three domestic trophies on offer but the way they go about things. Their killer instinct. Even at 4-0 up, they wanted more goals and they wanted to entertain their fans. I know people will say it’s the end of the season, their last game and all that but for most of their players, football continues during the summer.
I’d love us to have that same killer instinct, to keep going until the end instead of sometimes settling for a 1 or 2-0. By that I don’t mean leaving ourselves wide open at the back as everyone tries to score a goal but for our strikers and midfielders to play with more conviction. But I guess that comes with self belief, with trust in your teammates. Another aspect of City’s game, or rather the players is their work rate. Watching their creative players and then thinking about Ozil. Well, there’s no comparison. Same with Mkhitaryan and Iwobi too.
Anyway, that’s them, it’s why they’ve just bagged all three domestic trophies and we’re miles off their level. I don’t think finishing fifth in the league or being in a Europa Cup Final really reflects where this Arsenal squad is. It’s flattering in my opinion. Unai Emery has his work cut out next season, especially if the board don’t back him in the transfer window and even if they do, I’m far convinced the Spaniard can take us to the level both City and Liverpool have played this season. Both clubs are way ahead of the rest.
Brighton, Leicester, Wolves, Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham have all taken points off of us. A massive 28 points lost against those teams alone. Whilst I don’t expect us to be beating every club, not with the squad Emery has but I certainly wouldn’t expect to drop points at home against some of the teams we have done. I don’t know which is worse though, losing, or the fashion in which we do. Probably the latter because at least if we’ve played really well, you can see progress but in reality, very little is different to what we’ve been watching for the last ten years. Apart from the ‘big games’ as in those we’ve been marginally better. Ok, much better, certainly against the Toots, Chelsea and Utd but when it came to City and Liverpool away from home, we were given a spanking.
Emery, Raul, whoever it is responsible for sorting this squad out over the next couple of months have a big job on their hands. We need players who can think for themselves on a match day. Players who don’t need instructions to do their job but just do it because they’re smart and can read a game and know where they need to be. Blokes who can sniff danger quicker than a German Shepard can.
No more Xhaka, Mustafi, Ozil kind of players but more Torriera, Sokratis and even our Swiss pensioner, or a younger version of him. Players who will be great role models for the younger players.
Emery might not match Guardiola as far as tactical ability goes, or financially as he tries to build a strong squad but the right players through the door this summer together with the wrong players out the door, we might actually see this Arsenal team put up more of a fight.
The countdown to Baku continues. Ten days to go….
Have a great day guys, what’s left of it…
Socratis? Is not much better than Mustafi. Has to resort to fouling as he does not have the ability to win the ball within the rules of the game.A penalty waiting to happen in the Europa Cup final?
Well have to agree to differ Grandad. I like his attitude, aggression as well as some of his defending.
As another grandad I have to agree with Rico that i too favour Sokratis over Mustafi purely on his decision making. I find it hard to put 100% of our defensive woes on our centre backs because I believe that our midfield especially when we play 3 at the back is the root cause of the problem . Full/wing backs too far forward , midfielders not picking up runners and generally moving forward but not looking behind them. People say that Vieira was our last great midfielder but for me it was Gilbert’ O Silva his awareness was special and that’s what makes a great player in that position.
Having played midfield I know that you need a head on a swivel and eyes in your arse , we don’t have that and the centre backs have to foul sometimes to make up for the deficiences in front of them.
Afternoon Rico and all. I agree we have a long, long way to go if we are ever going to compete again at the top level. MC have a great manager but the financial doping has surely taken the gloss off of their achievements. I admire Pep enormously for his football but this psycho, hyper- paranoid badge he hangs round his neck wears thin very quickly I have found.
As for Emery, I have no idea if he will come good or not. He has a difficult job in the current climate.
As for football, it’s imperative that, if MC have broken the FFP rules, as they surely must have, given the astonishing rise in their income, I hope the football authorities don’t get unduly influenced by their limitless money and undoubted legal threats.. But I fear they will.
Cup finals like yesterday, I reckon, are actually bad for football and a total bore. I switched it off long before the City players began preening themselves.
Potter, I’m of the same opinion re our midfield, apart from Torriera, I think it’s very weak. Admittedly the defence itself has its own problems but imo, many could be solved with a stronger unit ahead of them.
As you say, Gilberto was our last guy who could read a game and prevent trouble, and he wasn’t the quickest but he made up for it by using his footballing brain. Wasn’t it similar for Adams those years ago.
Afternoon to you, Adam, anyone else who might be in hiding… lol
Adam, like you I think the money plays a big part of Pep’s success and if City have breached FFP then they need the book throwing at them. Uefa/FIFA need to set an example of them regardless of what anyone says or does. Same with any other club.
I really liked the Post, Rico, and agree with you.
At the end of the day, there is an undeniable correlation between money and success. There are a number of examples of this, but we need to look no further that Man Citeh with their new record triple success this season. Frankly I am amazed they did not see off the Spuds and go on to have a quadruplet success by adding the CL trophy.
With the curmudgeonly owners we have, money has to be taken out of the equation, so any realist/pragmatist will have to accept the fact that regardless of who our current manager is, we will do well to get into the much derided ‘top four trophy’ – if we are lucky.
We nearly made it this season — but getting 3 points from 12 when playing lower status teams near the end of the season says it all. Not good enough.
Rico. If the MC owners are as hot on finances as they are on human rights then it could be fun. Then again, there are a lot of fingers in the pie and money talks. Except for Silent Stan’s of course.
Thanks RA.
Money plays a big part but what irks me about Arsenal is how much they have wasted on average players and how we’ve persisted with players in the hope they come good. We’ve never been ruthless enough with the squad imo.
If we’re not this summer, we’re going to fall further down the league imo.
Very true Adam. I’m glad people of their ilk don’t own our club. Are you suggesting what I think you are? 😉
Rico. I don’t know. 😏 Would you not welcome a sugar daddy owner with unsavoury views even if it meant us competing at the top table again?
It’s a question that a lot of Arsenal mates have been asking me recently.
Adam, I don’t think I would really, not their kind anyway but Usmanov I’d have been ok with… 😜
Rico. I know what you mean.
I agree, Rico, @ 3:46
We have bought poorly over the last few years, and also paid salaries that are far too high — but what really gets my goat is the sloppy way we let players go for next to nothing because they have been allowed to get into the last year of their contracts.
How can that be part of the so-called sustainable Arsenal financial model? Beats me.
Adam, I thought you would. Lol
Exactly Ra, the money we’ve lost out on could build a new squad..
Great post Rio. You wrote it exactly as I see it.
We have too may mediocre payers putting In mediocre performances on inflated wages. Going forwards this has to stop.
Hopefully a clear out is coming, not sure though, as Ozil is happy to see out his remaining 2 year contract playing or not playing.
Iwobi, Xhaka, Elneny etc would struggle getting a game at Crystal Palace…..
City yesterday had such terrific hunger for the victory. Even at 4-0, they wanted to inflict a heavier defeat.
Good post Rico, hope you are keeping well.
Top post as usual Rico, great input.
Afternoon everyone, a bit late with my comments as it was a very late lunch…..
I think we’re all agreed about what needs fixing but…..if only……we had any influence over that.
It has been mentioned though, that those fans that live in or around London and have season tickets or just go to The Emirates from time to time might consider two options, depending on how the transfer market pans out and, IF ANY funds are available from the Owners:
a) Don’t buy a Season Ticket and don’t go to the Emirates thus boycotting “The System” re: Ownership or,
b) You write a letter Rico (as you’re good at it) and somehow (?) we get LOTS of Arsenal Fans signatures saying they want Ownership change.
Personally I do NOT WANT an American owner who couldn’t give a toss about Arsenal other than as a financial vehicle to further his financial interests.
Thanks Marinello, Andorra.
I think some of ours would struggle in the Championship let alone Palace..
I’m good thanks Marinello, as I hope you are..
Evening Gooners
Evening Rico, even if Enos gave us £200m we couldn’t spend it because of FFP…
Morning all.
Kev, it depends how we spend it, or at least a small portion, here or there 🙂
Hi Kev, if we can offload the players talked about on here, add the Adidas sponsorship money and the TV/Europa money to it, wouldn’t we have somewhere near £200m.
Surely we have the money, the board just need to release it.
Morning Rico. 4:54 am? Up early or in a different geographical spot?
I didn’t wake up until 8:30 this morning! Yes, one of the older generation…..lol.
Anything new that you know of the transfer front whether IN or OUT?
Still cold in the morning here but better weather than the central USA!
Have a good day.
“better”
Think I need to put my glasses on…….just ignore the previous coment!
Morning Andorra, up early.
New post up now..