Arsenal (h) Post Match Thread 0 - 0

[DelBoy73]

Day light robbery, period.

The Arse should have been one man down with Coquelin's deserved second yellow, and about the second pen call, even Ray Charles could have given it; Twattenburg had an agenda against us.

I thought we looked the part until the sub from Okazai for Ulloa, then it was as if we were playing with nine men. They were all over us during 15 minutes, almost scoring twice. What was the point of bringing him in if for the most of the time he played we didn't even managed to produce more than one decent crosse into the box ? 

Mahrez being constantly doubled and triple teamed, it was the midfield and the wings that were needing some tweaking today, not upfront.

Proof : Musa made an instant impact when he came in.

Overall, it is mixed feelings.

We at last are looking solid overall again and should have came back with three points from that game, against a serious opponent mind you. We are on the right path to click into a wining dynamic that will hopefully begin against the Swans.

 

But it is also there for every one to see that first of all, Kante's loss left the squad unbalanced.

He was the cement that linked the creative players with the back four during our builds-up, he was our engine and had that unmatched game-reading ability.

Drinkwatter was getting the ball too deep in our own half, making it difficult for him to reach Mahrez/Vardy,

hence why these two were also often isolated when receiving the ball.

With Kante on the ptich, we would have seen DD roaming as usual in the middle of the Arse's half, closer to our creative players.

That is Kante's game reading ability we are definitely missing the most.

I am ashamed but when Mendy's injury happened, i thought to myself that it was a blessing in disguise since it may force CR to sign a new player.

 

Secondly, now that team are constantly double-teaming on Mahrez, we desperately need to add some quality around him.

We can't just rely on him to make some miracles out of nothing, even if he almost pulled one off in the injury time, glading past four defenders and almos beating Czech at his near post.

The lad is a tremendous player but we need some alternative to exploit the spaces created by the opposition crowding him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sampson]

The problem isn't we haven't improved our XI, it's that our first XI is so perfectly balanced it's hard to tinker with.

 

Musa might be a better individual player than Okazaki or Albrighton, but the latter 2 are very good at that defensive forward and defensive winger positions they do which allows Mahrez and Vardy attacking freedom without losing our defensive shape and we look far stronger defensively as an entire unit with them in.

 

It's about having a well balanced XI not necessarily just going out and buying better players and trying to shoehorn them into a team.

[CosbehFox]

Just a point on Mahrez being doubled up, it might help if we have a right back what can provide a better option than pointlessly hoofing it anywhere? 

[DelBoy73]

5 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Just a point on Mahrez being doubled up, it might help if we have a right back what can provide a better option than pointlessly hoofing it anywhere? 

 

My thought also, i agree.

Simpson is so reluctant to overlap in the zone, that leaves Mahrez with fewer options to release the ball around the box.

With a constant overlapping right back ala Zabaleta, we would wreck havoc, believe me.

 

[dayday]

Looking back at yesterday's game and the Hull match,i feel Mahrez needs more help.

 

Almost every time he gets the ball now he is swamped by 2/3 players.

 

Our players need to get closer so he doesn't get isolated.

[lcfcsnow]

Every foul isn't a yellow card.

[Finnaldo]

50x the performance than the Hull game with Drinkwater, Okazaki, Ulloa and Musa the standouts.

 

Up front doesn't seem as sharp yet. Would be interesting to see Musa/Okazaki front two next week, but tell Musa to be less bloody selfless

 

Encouraging performance. Hopefully we kick on now  

 

[Jimbo]

27 minutes ago, Corky said:

Coquelin should've walked for the second challenge, it was more blatant than Simpson's at the Emirates last season. But now we can't have players surrounding the referee to put pressure on him. Considering also that Coquelin got away with attempting to shove Mahrez off the pitch when being subbed in that game and he's been fortunate in recent games with us.

 

This is a difficult one for me. As a Leicester fan I 100% agree with you. He was lucky yesterday.

 

But as a football fan, if that that was one of our players, I think a 2nd yellow might have been a bit harsh. There's no question about his 1st booking. But the foul on Mahrez I'm not sure it warranted a 2nd. It's clumsy, but he's made a genuine attempt to win the ball. Don't get me wrong, yesterday as a Leicester fan I was fuming that he didn't walk, but having seen replays and calmed down about the big decisions that didn't go our way, I think I can agree with the ref on that. The one and only decision he got completely wrong was the biggest of the game and that would have given us the win.

 

The problem, as always, comes from inconsistencies. We've seen our players sent off for far less and you look at other games and players are getting away with things that other players aren't.

 

Yesterday, if Coquelin wasn't on a booking, he would probably have been booked for that challenge in Mahrez (even though I didn't think it was a bookable offence)

Refs have always needed, and will always need to be clearer on what is what. There needs to be a harder stance from the FA on refs who make mistakes. At the moment it appears that refs have this attitude that they are untouchable. If their was the threat of greater punishment hanging over them they may take time to think about their actions and the affect that they can have 

[fuchsntf]

Mahrez now being intensively marked.

Good points...But now player, coach and managers job is to work it out.

Thats football, it will be interesting to see how we tactically go about it.

We will play different teams, who might give him more space.

Not forgetting if Mahrez is being tied down, it should leave space for others...

After our next 4-5 games, we will see if we have at least tried to issue it, or let

circumstance and coincidence sort itself out.

Playing more triangles and qick 1-2s, might sort it out.

[st albans fox]

6 minutes ago, lcfcsnow said:

Every foul isn't a yellow card.

True - but the second foul was a double effort to bring him down. How many fouls did he actually make in the game??

 

15 minutes ago, DelBoy73 said:

 

My thought also, i agree.

Simpson is so reluctant to overlap in the zone, that leaves Mahrez with fewer options to release the ball around the box.

With a constant overlapping right back ala Zabaleta, we would wreck havoc, believe me.

 

With only two midfielders can you afford a consistently overlapping fullback ?

 

Too difficult to cover imo

 

22 minutes ago, Sampson said:

The problem isn't we haven't improved our XI, it's that our first XI is so perfectly balanced it's hard to tinker with.

 

Musa might be a better individual player than Okazaki or Albrighton, but the latter 2 are very good at that defensive forward and defensive winger positions they do which allows Mahrez and Vardy attacking freedom without losing our defensive shape and we look far stronger defensively as an entire unit with them in.

 

It's about having a well balanced XI not necessarily just going out and buying better players and trying to shoehorn them into a team.

With the Six CL ties, we are going to need to play a 'reserve' side either preceding (tough away fixture) or following (easier home game) - at the moment, this looks to be a problem, especially in midfield where legs are stretched the most. 

[Happy Fox]

Thank f**k Huth was back, he was missed last Saturday against Hull, Morgan seemed to be much more on it, with Huth alongside him.

 

Central midfield needs to be addressed, we need someone alongside Drinkwater.

[fuchsntf]

My take on yesterdays game, and important positive points.

 

1st half, shown our defence in back 4, have found themselves again, Huth and Morgan still have it.

Forget possesion, our forwards , and team with new players can ilk out chances, even if we were low on shots.

Nothing against Shinji starting, but Musa (if not  starting) needs to be given 15-20 mins at least.

Vardy after op, is getting there.Might well do a Kane, and hits his treds after 4-5 games.

repeating my past posts, I will wait until October, before I even think of analysing, judging on anything too deep.

[Callabinho]

Simpson is a huge concern for me. Defensively he isn't bad but he offers nothing coming forward, as many have mentioned we need a full back who can help take the pressure off Mahrez, like a Bains or Bellerin type of player.

 

If we wish to compete to a similar level to last year we NEED more defensive cover + a right back, a CDM and another creative attacker be it a striker or a winger/number 10. I'm worried Kapuska will suffer the same fate as Krama. As a previous poster said we haven't really improved our starting XI whilst others have.....whilst yesterday was a marked improvement an Arsenal with a clinical striker on the field would have put us to bed. 

[Ted Maul]

49 minutes ago, DelBoy73 said:

 

My thought also, i agree.

Simpson is so reluctant to overlap in the zone, that leaves Mahrez with fewer options to release the ball around the box.

With a constant overlapping right back ala Zabaleta, we would wreck havoc, believe me.

 

We would also concede plenty more goals.

 

Whilst I think that Simpson could be upgraded, he was great yesterday, and I find it refreshing that we're one of the only clubs in the league who realise that full backs are there to defend, first and foremost. 

[DelBoy73]

13 minutes ago, Ted Maul said:

We would also concede plenty more goals.

 

Whilst I think that Simpson could be upgraded, he was great yesterday, and I find it refreshing that we're one of the only clubs in the league who realise that full backs are there to defend, first and foremost. 

 

Wrong.

You have the decent full backs, who gets the job done, but will never help you to unlock situations.

And then you have the greater ones, who are as good going forward as their are at their defensive duties.

Take a close look at the top half of the PL table, most of these teams have at least one of the latter in their ranks, we have not.

This will be a concern against bus parking teams.

 

[Ted Maul]

3 minutes ago, DelBoy73 said:

 

Wrong.

You have the decent full backs, who gets the job done, but will never help you to unlock situations.

And then you have the greater ones, who are as good going forward as their are at their defensive duties.

Take a close look at the top half of the PL table, most of these teams have at least one of the latter in their ranks, we have not.

This will be a concern against bus parking teams.

 

Yeah, then look at last year's table. The team at the top had 2 defensive full backs. Defensive security and run of 5 consecutive 1-0 wins got them over the line.

 

We've got the players up top to unlock defences, we don't need reckless full backs who get caught out of position every 5 minutes- we battered the teams who adopted those tactics last season.

[Countryfox]

Shed loads better than before.   Musa is a great impact sub and a ready made cover for JV ..   we know he can shoot so great times ahead for him.   Mendy still needs to bed in and I think Amartey (and James) might have the defensive box to box midfield ability we are looking for.  Room for improvement all over the place but still left me with a good warm feeling afterwards ...   with a decent ref we would have won !  

[Harry - LCFC]

Our defensively-minded fullbacks were not a problem last season. Indeed a number of people noted that it appeared to be part of our gameplan for Simpson and Fuchs to hold their positions when we were atttacking.

 

I'm slightly surprised by people saying they were concerned to see this yesterday, it's hardly something we've found out about the team recently.

[DelBoy73]

1 minute ago, Ted Maul said:

Yeah, then look at last year's table. The team at the top had 2 defensive full backs. Defensive security and run of 5 consecutive 1-0 wins got them over the line.

 

We've got the players up top to unlock defences, we don't need reckless full backs who get caught out of position every 5 minutes- we battered the teams who adopted those tactics last season.

This debate could lead to an endless argument 

My point is, if we don't want to be marked as a one hit wonder, we need to evolve since teams are very cautious against us now.

As you said, last season, out of the top team, we were the only one with exclusively defense minded fullbacks.

But i am adamant we will be lacking in that dimension this season, simply because teams now have a plan against our best players.

We will need a threat coming from our fullbacks, there will be no other way around.

[Ted Maul]

8 minutes ago, DelBoy73 said:

This debate could lead to an endless argument 

My point is, if we don't want to be marked as a one hit wonder, we need to evolve since teams are very cautious against us now.

As you said, last season, out of the top team, we were the only one with exclusively defense minded fullbacks.

But i am adamant we will be lacking in that dimension this season, simply because teams now have a plan against our best players.

We will need a threat coming from our fullbacks, there will be no other way around.

I agree with you to a certain extent mate. Like I said, Simpson could be upgraded relatively easily, but I'd be reluctant to upgrade him with someone who just bombs forward at every opportunity. We're not Barca, Man City or even Arsenal- we tend to lose the ball quite often in the final third, and having attack minded full backs would leave us very open to counters.

 

What we would need is someone with Fuchs' mentality- often get involved with the play, usually around 30 yards from the byline, and pick his moments to overlap carefully- Fuchs only seems to get into/close to the box when he is going to pose a threat, and never when it could leave us exposed.

[ScouseFox]

shinji makes the world go round 

[Ian S]

20 hours ago, tsintskaro said:

 

I am just stating obvious 

If Albrighton was ok for you,there is nothing to talk

this guy tottaly disappeared today 

 

20 hours ago, tsintskaro said:

 

I am just stating obvious 

If Albrighton was ok for you,there is nothing to talk

this guy tottaly disappeared today 

Well there is nothing to talk about then.

You clearly don't get his value to the team,seen him play better especially his final ball but as always he covered miles.Were you actually at the game?

[FireFox]

Regarding Mahrez being marked out of the game, I know it won't happen, but this is why I would love for Claudio to try 3-4-3.

Sacrifice Simpson and Okazaki for more quality on the width. Albrighton and Fuchs as wingbacks. Mahrez and Musa in the wide forward positions.

Hernandez and Fuchs with the long throws. Huth and Morgan to come up for them. And Albrighton will win plenty of corners playing on the right like he did during the great escape. We won 2 corners against Arsenal, and I don't think Fuchs took one long throw.

If it doesn't work out, we can switch to 4-4-2 without any substitutions.

[HighPeakFox]

Well said @Gerbold

[hackneyfox]

24 minutes ago, Gerbold said:

I thought Kanté's departure would have a hugely deleterious effect this time around. I was wrong - at least judging by yesterday's performance. Claudio fielded the Premier winning side - minus Kanté, plus Mendy - and we were a match for them. Why is that a reason to lambast tactics, players or the money spent on players.

So all that experimenting (and agonising, criticism and argument) over PSG, Barça, United and Hull was wasted words. The reality is the loss of N'Golo Kanté hasn't really changed the situation as dramatically as I envisaged. The guts of the team survives intact.

I trawled my way through the a fair few responses to this thread - as usual noting that I apparently was watching a different game to a few of the other posters - which must have something to do with 'eddies' in the space-time continuum (not, of course, anything to do with blinkered, negative, prejudiced or just plain stupid opinion).

 

Unfortunately only a few posters here have anything perceptive or incisive to bring to the forum. Much of what was written was cheap stabs at certain players - Fuchs, Mendy, Albrighton, Simpson and even Drinkwater seem to be attracting the attention of ingrates who now feel that they support a team which should have replaced more-than-decent players with £200m + spending. To some of you money represents the answer to every problem. Over the last two seasons incredible buys have been made, yet those which turned out to be unsuitable have been deemed evidence of incompetence of the recruiting system - presumably because they didn't integrate immediately and emerge as super-stars in a single game. Presumably you belong to a select bunch of humans who can have their cake and eat it too.

 

I read the blow-by-blow match commentary of the Guardian where Albrighton was mentioned as having put, not one, but two "wonderful crosses" in. Mendy, at the time of his substitution, had according to the 'Statto' working for BT Sport, a 100% pass accuracy rating - but what does that matter when spite urges one to stick the boot in. Funny how Kanté never seemed to get the mention he warranted during matches by commentators. Extolling him was left to post-match summarizers and reporters - who were well aware of just how effective a player he was.
Someone even had a go at Claudio - for not bringing on Musa earlier. Which I think, in a roundabout way, answers RowlattsFox's concern about "lack of creativity and goal threat".

 

I confess though that, although I do moan and groan when one of the players makes an error or misses an opportunity, it's out of frustration rather than bile. Football is an imprecise game in which a humans attempt to control a sphere which has only two natural binding laws applicable to it - gravity and inertia.

 

Which brings me to Mahrez - one of the few men I've seem in a football shirt who seems able to defy physics in his ability to manipulate a football. I listened to the RL phone in after the game. Some bloke stated that '"we" should sell Mahrez. Actually this guy's name is Alex and, as he said, it was...err... his opinion. The silence which greeted this bizarre statement was deafening. I almost expected someone to say "do us all a favour and fvck-off".

Alex, you are surely entitled to your opinion but that opinion makes you a bonehead, an extraordinary bonehead - perhaps the greatest (worst?) bonehead to have supported Leicester City. As Ian Stringer confirmed - Mahrez is the best football player ever to pull on a City shirt. Certainly not a defender, but we have other players to do that job.

 

I particularly loved a comment by Matty Elliot (I think) on the show about Musa beating Bellerin for pace - especially as the latter is supposed to be faster than Theo Walcott . A week or so back yet one more bright spark was stating, on here, that 'we'd' been duped into buying him.

As yesterday indicated, football isn't like going into a shop and buying a replacement part for your Dyson. It's about a team adapting to the changes brought about by the vicissitudes of the game - injury, attitude, transfer and the like. I think the real job will be persuading the fringe players - Gray, Ulloa, Schlupp et al that belonging to a squad rather than being consistently in a team is an acceptable choice to make.

 

 

 

 

Are you trolling or actually just a superior being?