Millwall (A) 15:00 Sat 25th, Pre-Match

[Joe90]

21 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

There's a lot of over reaction again. 

 

We finished the Hull game strongly and we have still only lost 2 in 11. 

 

Not saying Millwall won't win, but it's not a certainty like most seem to be making out. 

Totally don’t agree with you here! The facts yes we have only lost 2 in 11 but we have only won 4 in probably the worse championship in history of the league! 

[ChrisFilter]

We’re gonna be shit

We’re gonna be shit

We’re Leicester City

We’re gonna be shit

 

Another Saturday afternoon ruined 🤩

[PhillippaT]

2 minutes ago, ChrisFilter said:

We’re gonna be shit

We’re gonna be shit

We’re Leicester City

We’re gonna be shit

 

Another Saturday afternoon ruined 🤩

They played and lost
They lost and played like shit
Lost, lost, lost

Shit, shit, shit
It was The Leicester and Marti Show!

 

(Itchy & Scratchy theme from The Simpsons)

[davieG]

If the cap fits

 

[Fox92]

4 hours ago, Joe90 said:

Totally don’t agree with you here! The facts yes we have only lost 2 in 11 but we have only won 4 in probably the worse championship in history of the league! 

Also consider those 4 wins were against 2 promoted teams, a Sheffield Wednesday B team and Swansea.

[Gamble92]

2 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Also consider those 4 wins were against 2 promoted teams, a Sheffield Wednesday B team and Swansea.

Agree 4 wins isn't good enough but Birmingham were 2nd favourites for the title before we played them and have clearly spent enough money to be competitive at this level. Charlton just beat Ipswich 3-0 away as well. Let's not downplay the wins because they come from league one. 

 

It's the draws that have cost us by not having the right game management and that's been on Marti. I think he can turn this round though. The meltdown on here this week has been embarrassing.

[AjcW]

I’ll be at Legoland with 73746271717377271 other people, which sounds more fun to be honest. 

[JimJams]

1 hour ago, Gamble92 said:

It's the draws that have cost us ...

Definitely. Draws are killers. Even if you turn our 5 draws into 3 losses and 2 wins it's more points.  We need to be doing more to turn those into wins, even if it means the approach leaves us more susceptible to a loss. But are we not doing that due to a lack of bravery/belief or a lack of quality?

[Torten]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

If the cap fits

 

Not I'm not sure how true it is, but there is actually a seemingly good reason a decent amount of corners don't beat the first man. 

 

Football stat nerds (often called performance analysts) have found that corners that are floated high tend to have a low likelihood of producing a goal partially owing to the fact that your players need to win both the initial header and then the knockdown. The set-up with the highest likelihood of scoring was a quickly whipped ball *just above* the head of the first man. Here, the ball has pace and requires the deftest of touches to result in an effort on goal – which is what Arsenal are the best in the world at. Now what this means is that when a player attempts this, the chances of the corner not being high enough to beat the first man are quite high, but the results are worth this sacrifice (higher % chance of goals when it *does* come off). Oh, and also short corners generally lead to more goals than balls straight into the box. So, there are good reasons why we may go short or not beat the first man.

 

Both still piss me off.

[davieG]

18 minutes ago, Torten said:

Not I'm not sure how true it is, but there is actually a seemingly good reason a decent amount of corners don't beat the first man. 

 

Football stat nerds (often called performance analysts) have found that corners that are floated high tend to have a low likelihood of producing a goal partially owing to the fact that your players need to win both the initial header and then the knockdown. The set-up with the highest likelihood of scoring was a quickly whipped ball *just above* the head of the first man. Here, the ball has pace and requires the deftest of touches to result in an effort on goal – which is what Arsenal are the best in the world at. Now what this means is that when a player attempts this, the chances of the corner not being high enough to beat the first man are quite high, but the results are worth this sacrifice (higher % chance of goals when it *does* come off). Oh, and also short corners generally lead to more goals than balls straight into the box. So, there are good reasons why we may go short or not beat the first man.

 

Both still piss me off.

Just lately they seem to sail over the penalty area and out for a throw in, can't see any the logic behind that.

[Ian S]

On 23/10/2025 at 10:00, Donwebbio said:

Right Marti, time to sharpen your act up and bring some fresh energy to the group. You need to be brave and think about the team for next season and to start putting together a starting XI that want to be here long term and play for our badge. 

 

Jakub

 

Ricardo (C)

Vestergaard 

Okoli

Kristiansen 

 

Winks

James

 

Monga

Ramsey

Fatawu

 

Carranza (may as well give him a run)

 

Subs

Begovic

Page (look to build mins in 8 role)

Nelson - looking to build mins towards starting role)

Silko/Mavididi (rotating with Mav based on impact)

Choudhury (RB & No. 6 cover)

Aluko (full back cover) Thomas if necessary 

Ayew (bring on to secure a lead only)

Evans (build mins if game dictates)

Daka (used to press & stretch pitch - not as a goalscoring option).

 

Sat in the stands

Faes

Soumare

Skipp

Thomas

So you pick a team that wants to be here long term that includes Vestergaard,kristiansen,Winks plus 2 loan players who will run a mile rather than sign for this s**t show and another loan player who is a Sunday league player.

[Torten]

22 minutes ago, davieG said:

Just lately they seem to sail over the penalty area and out for a throw in, can't see any the logic behind that.

Yea it is quite weird - especially when we have been capable of some fairly inventive short corner sequences. Odd that our balls into the box are so poor.

[bmt]

40 minutes ago, Torten said:

Not I'm not sure how true it is, but there is actually a seemingly good reason a decent amount of corners don't beat the first man. 

 

Football stat nerds (often called performance analysts) have found that corners that are floated high tend to have a low likelihood of producing a goal partially owing to the fact that your players need to win both the initial header and then the knockdown. The set-up with the highest likelihood of scoring was a quickly whipped ball *just above* the head of the first man. Here, the ball has pace and requires the deftest of touches to result in an effort on goal – which is what Arsenal are the best in the world at. Now what this means is that when a player attempts this, the chances of the corner not being high enough to beat the first man are quite high, but the results are worth this sacrifice (higher % chance of goals when it *does* come off). Oh, and also short corners generally lead to more goals than balls straight into the box. So, there are good reasons why we may go short or not beat the first man.

 

Both still piss me off.

This was in soccernomics years ago. Statistically the best way in their analysis was a short corner if I remember correctly. But it misses the point that at the time the only teams regularly taking short corners were Barcelona and similar.

 

They also had a theory that a lot of people prefer outswingers because the goals they produced tended to be more memorable.

 

Interesting perspective, but for us our record from corners has been terrible for as long as I can remember, so id rather not have to watch it hit the first man over and over (im fine with the odd short corner).

[ceebeefox]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

Just lately they seem to sail over the penalty area and out for a throw in, can't see any the logic behind that.

We’re shocking at attacking them and worse defending them, we don’t concede as many but why do a succession of so called coaches not leave at least two up? You’re not telling me that Fatawu, Monga or Mav actually do anything by staying back! And guess what, we’re doing it from opposition long throws now! No wonder we didn’t see the ball at the kop end second half last week. Call themselves coaches!

[Gazza3]

Are the tickets now half price for all the matches as we only play for half the game. 

Can't see our flakey team getting anything from this. Good luck to those that travel 

 

 

 

[foxy tiler]

6 hours ago, AjcW said:

I’ll be at Legoland with 73746271717377271 other people, which sounds more fun to be honest. 

Ah one of Dante's circles of hell Legoland.

[Pliskin]

41 minutes ago, Gazza3 said:

Are the tickets now half price for all the matches as we only play for half the game. 

Can't see our flakey team getting anything from this. Good luck to those that travel 

 

 

 

Can’t see us winning any of our next three to be honest. 

[murphy]

4 hours ago, Torten said:

Not I'm not sure how true it is, but there is actually a seemingly good reason a decent amount of corners don't beat the first man. 

 

Football stat nerds (often called performance analysts) have found that corners that are floated high tend to have a low likelihood of producing a goal partially owing to the fact that your players need to win both the initial header and then the knockdown. The set-up with the highest likelihood of scoring was a quickly whipped ball *just above* the head of the first man. Here, the ball has pace and requires the deftest of touches to result in an effort on goal – which is what Arsenal are the best in the world at. Now what this means is that when a player attempts this, the chances of the corner not being high enough to beat the first man are quite high, but the results are worth this sacrifice (higher % chance of goals when it *does* come off). Oh, and also short corners generally lead to more goals than balls straight into the box. So, there are good reasons why we may go short or not beat the first man.

 

Both still piss me off.

Interesting.  

 

A long time ago, we had a great routine that mitigates the chances of not clearing the first man because the first man was a Leicester player.  It was Lynex, I think, that whipped the corner in, John O'Neill got a touch at the near post and Alan Smith would bury it.  It worked surprisingly often.

[fazzyfox]

                                          Jakub

Choudhury            Okoli              Nelson                    Ricardo (Not ideal LB but I trust him more than the others)

                          Winks                      James

                                          Ramsey

Fatawu                                                                        Monga

                           Filbert / Rustie Lee or Me

 

Page, Aluko & Evans on bench

[Donwebbio]

4 hours ago, Ian S said:

So you pick a team that wants to be here long term that includes Vestergaard,kristiansen,Winks plus 2 loan players who will run a mile rather than sign for this s**t show and another loan player who is a Sunday league player.

Only so much you can do with the squad we have Ian. You can see from the bench there is a focus on development. I would love to get rid of about 1 but be realistic.

[trooky]

On 23/10/2025 at 09:05, JonnyBoy said:

 

1 win in 7 for a team with the biggest wage bill and were in the prem last year. points deduction and we would be in the bottom 3 

We don't have a points deduction, and we're still better off than Ipswich or Southampton who have signed considerably more players than us. 

[Frankel1981]

I’m a sadist enjoy it seeing how bad we can be travelling tomorrow hoping to see second mauling in 5 days toxic atmosphere coming and I’ll be there for it!

[grth2004]

The pattern is we play Bad then he changes it to the decent players and we win and everyone has hope. 
Then weirdly he changes it back to the crud and we loose. 
Tomorrow should be the good players and hope I hope 🤞 

[murphy]

43 minutes ago, Frankel1981 said:

I’m a sadist enjoy it seeing how bad we can be travelling tomorrow hoping to see second mauling in 5 days toxic atmosphere coming and I’ll be there for it!

I think that a sadist enjoys inflicting suffering on others.  You're a self-harmer.

[ozvaldo]

Going away to Millwall. 
With no fight or desire. 
No game plan. 
No decent no.9
Wearing that pink kit. 
 

It’s got shame and disaster written all over it.