Arsenal's example

[Thracian]

Can you imagine how Leicester would react if they were 1-0 up against anyone in the Championship top 6 with five minutes to go?

Yet what did Arsenal do? They drove themelves forward with the game nearly 90 minutes old, got six players in and around the Chelsea penalty area and plundered two more brilliant goals even if both were miserably disallowed.

I don't think Leicester got six players in Hull's attacking third all match apart from set-pieces.

Arsenal were able to do it because their players are fast, fit and can pass the ball first touch.

When people say "what would you want for Leicester City right now," that just about sums it up.

I'd like them to get fit. I'd like them to start collectively and individually driving themselves in football matches instead of remaining in cruise control and desperately trying to pace themselves. And I'd like the non-physical training to involve endless drills involving one-touch, not two-touch football.

And if anyone can't cope - and I mean anyone - get rid or cast them onto the sidelines until they can.

Watch Arsenal and notice how their players are forever on the move.

Watch Leicester and they are invariably standing still.

It's a situation that has to change immediately.

Training, for a start, needs to be mornings and afternoons. Not necessarily all physical work either. But education. Learning their craft. Improving their understanding of what is required and how to go about doing it.

Right now there's no zest in anything the club does. Even team-sheets before the Youth Cu[p match weren't available until well into the match. It's shabby. The whole process of recovery starts with pride. And that means pride in everything the club does.

[WetFlannel]

How many teams play like Arsenal? Not many... What makes you think we should?

[Durnerz]

When you have the pace at the back as Arsenal do and midfielders who are efficiant and creative with the ball and keep hold of it then you can afford to do that, can you see any similarities with any of the players we have? Didn't think so.

[Sparky]

Can you imagine how Leicester would react if they were 1-0 up against anyone in the Championship top 6 with five minutes to go?

Yet what did Arsenal do? They drove themelves forward with the game nearly 90 minutes old, got six players in and around the Chelsea penalty area and plundered two more brilliant goals even if both were miserably disallowed.

I don't think Leicester got six players in Hull's attacking third all match apart from set-pieces.

Arsenal were able to do it because their players are fast, fit and can pass the ball first touch.

When people say "what would you want for Leicester City right now," that just about sums it up.

I'd like them to get fit. I'd like them to start collectively and individually driving themselves in football matches instead of remaining in cruise control and desperately trying to pace themselves. And I'd like the non-physical training to involve endless drills involving one-touch, not two-touch football.

And if anyone can't cope - and I mean anyone - get rid or cast them onto the sidelines until they can.

Watch Arsenal and notice how their players are forever on the move.

Watch Leicester and they are invariably standing still.

It's a situation that has to change immediately.

Training, for a start, needs to be mornings and afternoons. Not necessarily all physical work either. But education. Learning their craft. Improving their understanding of what is required and how to go about doing it.

Right now there's no zest in anything the club does. Even team-sheets before the Youth Cu[p match weren't available until well into the match. It's shabby. The whole process of recovery starts with pride. And that means pride in everything the club does.

Agree strongly , the whole club from top to bottom is on its knees and its not going to turn around overnight

[Simi]

Training, for a start, needs to be mornings and afternoons. Not necessarily all physical work either. But education. Learning their craft. Improving their understanding of what is required and how to go about doing it.

Right now there's no zest in anything the club does. Even team-sheets before the Youth Cu[p match weren't available until well into the match. It's shabby. The whole process of recovery starts with pride. And that means pride in everything the club does.

You're bang on there Thrac.

I get down the training ground quite a bit, as do you. Everytime I've watched a training session it just seems to be the same stuff over and over again. You don't learn anything from that, then tedium starts to set in and so on.

A more tactical side needs to be taken to the game, 'cos I can see that most of our players out there are lost and uncertain as to what is needed.

[Thracian]

When you have the pace at the back as Arsenal do and midfielders who are efficiant and creative with the ball and keep hold of it then you can afford to do that, can you see any similarities with any of the players we have? Didn't think so.

At least now you'll know why I keep urging City to get some pace and passing into their defence. Yesterday was such a pefect example of our failings in that department and not just the goals either.

[Bert]

Arsenal have the class to do that. We don't. They also have one of the best managers in the world too.

[Bryn]

An attacking mentality like that requires a whole range of things, tactical, technical, physical and mental, that our players do not have.

[Ultra]

Can you imagine how Leicester would react if they were 1-0 up against anyone in the Championship top 6 with five minutes to go?

Yet what did Arsenal do? They drove themelves forward with the game nearly 90 minutes old, got six players in and around the Chelsea penalty area and plundered two more brilliant goals even if both were miserably disallowed.

I don't think Leicester got six players in Hull's attacking third all match apart from set-pieces.

Arsenal were able to do it because their players are fast, fit and can pass the ball first touch.

When people say "what would you want for Leicester City right now," that just about sums it up.

I'd like them to get fit. I'd like them to start collectively and individually driving themselves in football matches instead of remaining in cruise control and desperately trying to pace themselves. And I'd like the non-physical training to involve endless drills involving one-touch, not two-touch football.

And if anyone can't cope - and I mean anyone - get rid or cast them onto the sidelines until they can.

Watch Arsenal and notice how their players are forever on the move.

Watch Leicester and they are invariably standing still.

It's a situation that has to change immediately.

Training, for a start, needs to be mornings and afternoons. Not necessarily all physical work either. But education. Learning their craft. Improving their understanding of what is required and how to go about doing it.

Right now there's no zest in anything the club does. Even team-sheets before the Youth Cu[p match weren't available until well into the match. It's shabby. The whole process of recovery starts with pride. And that means pride in everything the club does.

An admirable analysis of some of the more pleasurable aspects of the gooners' game.

Yet it doesn't tell the entire story. You neglect the darker side of their performance this afternoon, such as the spiteful challenge by Eboue which put John Terry out of the game, or the outrageous overacting in an attempt to see opponents red-carded. Less indulgent referees might have take a stronger line with these activities.

In addition, for all their technical gifts on display, the victory was achieved by that most English of tactics, a setpiece (and a rare howler by Petr Cech).

However, although I would share your wish to see a Leicester City side as comfortable on the ball as all of the Arsenal outfield players, we both know it's not going to happen with this team or this manager.

Ian Holloway, after all, is a graduate of the Dave Bassett "crazy gang" at Wimbledon which bulldozed its way into the upper reaches of English football in the 80s. Therefore, asking him to study the scientific management techniques of Arsene Wenger would be like trying to explain quantum physics to a chimpanzee!

There is probably one player in the City squad who Wenger might consider looking at. And curiously enough, it's the one you're the least keen on.

The experience of Hosein Kaebi at Hull yesterday was similar to that faced by many gooners (Fabregas, Rosicky et al) when they first entered English football. Unlike Kaebi, though, they were fortunate enough to have a manager who would keep faith with them while they learned to adapt to the treatment by the troglodytes who still inhabit English pitches, particularly those in the north. They also benefited from being part of a culture not only values "outsiders", but welcomes them, something Kaebi has never had at Leicester, nor is likely to.

The football we witnessed today may have been played in the same country and (at least in theory) to the same rules as the dross we witnessed at the KC Stadium yesterday.

But in terms of standards, it was light-years ahead, the product not only of another country, but of another, infinitely more advanced planet.

[DanTheFoxBhoy]

Can you imagine how Leicester would react if they were 1-0 up against anyone in the Championship top 6 with five minutes to go?

Yet what did Arsenal do? They drove themelves forward with the game nearly 90 minutes old, got six players in and around the Chelsea penalty area and plundered two more brilliant goals even if both were miserably disallowed.

I don't think Leicester got six players in Hull's attacking third all match apart from set-pieces.

Arsenal were able to do it because their players are fast, fit and can pass the ball first touch.

When people say "what would you want for Leicester City right now," that just about sums it up.

I'd like them to get fit. I'd like them to start collectively and individually driving themselves in football matches instead of remaining in cruise control and desperately trying to pace themselves. And I'd like the non-physical training to involve endless drills involving one-touch, not two-touch football.

And if anyone can't cope - and I mean anyone - get rid or cast them onto the sidelines until they can.

Watch Arsenal and notice how their players are forever on the move.

Watch Leicester and they are invariably standing still.

It's a situation that has to change immediately.

Training, for a start, needs to be mornings and afternoons. Not necessarily all physical work either. But education. Learning their craft. Improving their understanding of what is required and how to go about doing it.

Right now there's no zest in anything the club does. Even team-sheets before the Youth Cu[p match weren't available until well into the match. It's shabby. The whole process of recovery starts with pride. And that means pride in everything the club does.

Agree - it pains me the amount of bandwagon tossers who follow Arsenal simply because they "play good football". I'd like to see that sort of play from more clubs than just gypsies from Woolwich.

[Bryn]

An admirable analysis of some of the more pleasurable aspects of the gooners' game.

Yet it doesn't tell the entire story. You neglect the darker side of their performance this afternoon, such as the spiteful challenge by Eboue which put John Terry out of the game, or the outrageous overacting in an attempt to see opponents red-carded. Less indulgent referees might have take a stronger line with these activities.

In addition, for all their technical gifts on display, the victory was achieved by that most English of tactics, a setpiece (and a rare howler by Petr Cech).

However, although I would share your wish to see a Leicester City side as comfortable on the ball as all of the Arsenal outfield players, we both know it's not going to happen with this team or this manager.

Ian Holloway, after all, is a graduate of the Dave Bassett "crazy gang" at Wimbledon which bulldozed its way into the upper reaches of English football in the 80s. Therefore, asking him to study the scientific management techniques of Arsene Wenger would be like trying to explain quantum physics to a chimpanzee!

There is probably one player in the City squad who Wenger might consider looking at. And curiously enough, it's the one you're the least keen on.

The experience of Hosein Kaebi at Hull yesterday was similar to that faced by many gooners (Fabregas, Rosicky et al) when they first entered English football. Unlike Kaebi, though, they were fortunate enough to have a manager who would keep faith with them while they learned to adapt to the treatment by the troglodytes who still inhabit English pitches, particularly those in the north. They also benefited from being part of a culture not only values "outsiders", but welcomes them, something Kaebi has never had at Leicester, nor is likely to.

The football we witnessed today may have been played in the same country and (at least in theory) to the same rules as the dross we witnessed at the KC Stadium yesterday.

But in terms of standards, it was light-years ahead, the product not only of another country, but of another, infinitely more advanced planet.

Great post.

[Thracian]

An attacking mentality like that requires a whole range of things, tactical, technical, physical and mental, that our players do not have.

I've always thought our youth players are coached to try and play like that. Quick passing, fast support in numbers and so on. Wesolowski, King, Porter, Mattock, Sheehan, Gradel (when around), plus fringe people like Odhiambo, Ashley Chambers and Billy McKay emphasise that quite well.

What we don't seem to have is senior players of the same mindset.

Think of the outfield seniors for a moment. The majority, about a dozen, are slow yet SEVEN of them played in our team yesterday. And, of those slow ones only N'Gotty, I would suggest, is normally a comfortable passer and you really cannot go with a six-player weakness in retaining possession plus any younger players failing to pass accurately.

Meanwhile the only fast seniors we have are Hume, Hammond (injured), Chambers (returning from injury), Hayes (unproven fringe player), Kaebi (not a realistic first team choice) and Campbell (recovering from injury).

Unfortunately, of those, only Hume is currently a regular in the team which may make a comment on its own.

A lack of passers combined with a lack of pace is a serious, status threatening problem. And the sooner Holloway appreciates that the better.

No wonder opponents defend so comfortably against us.

[DanTheFoxBhoy]

I've always thought our youth players are coached to try and play like that. Quick passing, fast support in numbers and so on. Wesolowski, King, Porter, Mattock, Sheehan, Gradel (when around), plus fringe people like Odhiambo, Ashley Chambers and Billy McKay emphasise that quite well.

What we don't seem to have is senior players of the same mindset.

Think of the outfield seniors for a moment. The majority, about a dozen, are slow yet SEVEN of them played in our team yesterday. And, of those slow ones only N'Gotty, I would suggest, is normally a comfortable passer and you really cannot go with a six-player weakness in retaining possession plus any younger players failing to pass accurately.

Meanwhile the only fast seniors we have are Hume, Hammond (injured), Chambers (returning from injury), Hayes (unproven fringe player), Kaebi (not a realistic first team choice) and Campbell (recovering from injury).

Unfortunately, of those, only Hume is currently a regular in the team which may make a comment on its own.

A lack of passers combined with a lack of pace is a serious, status threatening problem. And the sooner Holloway appreciates that the better.

No wonder opponents defend so comfortably against us.

What did you think about Ollie having four attackers up front?

[Bryn]

I've always thought our youth players are coached to try and play like that. Quick passing, fast support in numbers and so on. Wesolowski, King, Porter, Mattock, Sheehan, Gradel (when around), plus fringe people like Odhiambo, Ashley Chambers and Billy McKay emphasise that quite well.

What we don't seem to have is senior players of the same mindset.

Think of the outfield seniors for a moment. The majority, about a dozen, are slow yet SEVEN of them played in our team yesterday. And, of those slow ones only N'Gotty, I would suggest, is normally a comfortable passer and you really cannot go with a six-player weakness in retaining possession plus any younger players failing to pass accurately.

Meanwhile the only fast seniors we have are Hume, Hammond (injured), Chambers (returning from injury), Hayes (unproven fringe player), Kaebi (not a realistic first team choice) and Campbell (recovering from injury).

Unfortunately, of those, only Hume is currently a regular in the team which may make a comment on its own.

A lack of passers combined with a lack of pace is a serious, status threatening problem. And the sooner Holloway appreciates that the better.

No wonder opponents defend so comfortably against us.

True enough.

[Manwell Pablo]

Can you imagine how Leicester would react if they were 1-0 up against anyone in the Championship top 6 with five minutes to go?

Yet what did Arsenal do? They drove themelves forward with the game nearly 90 minutes old, got six players in and around the Chelsea penalty area and plundered two more brilliant goals even if both were miserably disallowed.

I don't think Leicester got six players in Hull's attacking third all match apart from set-pieces.

Arsenal were able to do it because their players are fast, fit and can pass the ball first touch.

When people say "what would you want for Leicester City right now," that just about sums it up.

I'd like them to get fit. I'd like them to start collectively and individually driving themselves in football matches instead of remaining in cruise control and desperately trying to pace themselves. And I'd like the non-physical training to involve endless drills involving one-touch, not two-touch football.

And if anyone can't cope - and I mean anyone - get rid or cast them onto the sidelines until they can.

Watch Arsenal and notice how their players are forever on the move.

Watch Leicester and they are invariably standing still.

It's a situation that has to change immediately.

Training, for a start, needs to be mornings and afternoons. Not necessarily all physical work either. But education. Learning their craft. Improving their understanding of what is required and how to go about doing it.

Right now there's no zest in anything the club does. Even team-sheets before the Youth Cu[p match weren't available until well into the match. It's shabby. The whole process of recovery starts with pride. And that means pride in everything the club does.

Yes well its ****ing Arsenal isn't, a team formed using incredible scouting millons of pounds and near enough no products of their youth system, bet you'd love that.

I have to say I disagree with you as well Chelsea were on top for most of the second half and Arsenal managed to create the above mentioned chances by sitting back and hitting on the break. Not pushing foward in numbers for large periods of time.

[Tevez]

Yes well its ****ing Arsenal isn't, a team formed using incredible scouting millons of pounds and near enough no products of their youth system, bet you'd love that.

I have to say I disagree with you as well Chelsea were on top for most of the second half and Arsenal managed to create the above mentioned chances by sitting back and hitting on the break. Not pushing foward in numbers for large periods of time.

Great Post, can't agree more.

[Thracian]

Yes well its ****ing Arsenal isn't, a team formed using incredible scouting millons of pounds and near enough no products of their youth system, bet you'd love that.

I have to say I disagree with you as well Chelsea were on top for most of the second half and Arsenal managed to create the above mentioned chances by sitting back and hitting on the break. Not pushing foward in numbers for large periods of time.

I never said they didn't sit back and counter fast on the break - what's the problem with that?

It was the speed of that movement and the commitment of so many players to be part of it - and at such a late stage of a tiring match - that so impressed.

Lots of teams spend big money Manwell but they don't play football Wenger's way.

Wenger also puts much emphasis on youth development as well you know and I am quite sure those talented youngsters help the first team squad to maintain and develop their style.

How many youths actually break through will vary but the standard will be high and, in any case, I don't care what age our passing/moving players happen to be so long as they can maintain that style of football consistently.

You make it sound as if developing such a style is difficult or nigh-on impossible. It's not. It requires a manager that believes in it and who consistently employs players who can cope with it. Sometime, if we're really to become a serious Premiership club, we will have to start playing like that.

Seems to me the sooner we start the better.

PS: I think Arsenal were different class to Chelsea second half and knew that Chelsea would be up against it without Drogba.

[Manwell Pablo]

Nothing, you just made it sound like some sort of new orginal footballing master class when it wasn't, it was quite simple in fact.

I totally agree Wenger is a genius and I'm yet to see another football manager, in any country, that can produce the kind of football that he does, on any budget. Just compare it to ours thats all im saying, different worlds. We cannot play like that, for countless reasons. You wont ever find a team to of graced this league that plays like that, prehaps a bit similar but alot slower and with alot less quality.

Most of these talented youngsters are scouted and poached off other clubs though, more like the Fryatts and Sappletons of our club as opposed to the Kings and Sheehans, home grown players rarely make the grade at Arsenal.

P.S

Well you would, I thought Chelsea should of done more with the possesion they had but were in Arsenals half alot more than Arsenal were in theirs. When they broke they looked increadibly dangerous Wengers tactics were spot on.

[Fez of Mahrez]

It's an admirable thought but it won't happen with players like King and Sheehan in the team. I'm quicker than those two.

[Anish]

It's an admirable thought but it won't happen with players like King and Sheehan in the team. I'm quicker than those two.

How dare you criticise King and Sheehan. Without them we'd be in even deeper sh*t.

[The Reverend]

Nothing, you just made it sound like some sort of new orginal footballing master class when it wasn't, it was quite simple in fact.

I totally agree Wenger is a genius and I'm yet to see another football manager, in any country, that can produce the kind of football that he does, on any budget. Just compare it to ours thats all im saying, different worlds. We cannot play like that, for countless reasons. You wont ever find a team to of graced this league that plays like that, prehaps a bit similar but alot slower and with alot less quality.

Most of these talented youngsters are scouted and poached off other clubs though, more like the Fryatts and Sappletons of our club as opposed to the Kings and Sheehans, home grown players rarely make the grade at Arsenal.

P.S

Well you would, I thought Chelsea should of done more with the possesion they had but were in Arsenals half alot more than Arsenal were in theirs. When they broke they looked increadibly dangerous Wengers tactics were spot on.

Spot on.

As for playing the Arsenal way, we can always dream.....

[Trumpet]

Can you imagine how Leicester would react if they were 1-0 up against anyone in the Championship top 6 with five minutes to go?

Yet what did Arsenal do? They drove themelves forward with the game nearly 90 minutes old, got six players in and around the Chelsea penalty area and plundered two more brilliant goals even if both were miserably disallowed.

I don't think Leicester got six players in Hull's attacking third all match apart from set-pieces.

Arsenal were able to do it because their players are fast, fit and can pass the ball first touch.

When people say "what would you want for Leicester City right now," that just about sums it up.

I'd like them to get fit. I'd like them to start collectively and individually driving themselves in football matches instead of remaining in cruise control and desperately trying to pace themselves. And I'd like the non-physical training to involve endless drills involving one-touch, not two-touch football.

And if anyone can't cope - and I mean anyone - get rid or cast them onto the sidelines until they can.

Watch Arsenal and notice how their players are forever on the move.

Watch Leicester and they are invariably standing still.

It's a situation that has to change immediately.

Training, for a start, needs to be mornings and afternoons. Not necessarily all physical work either. But education. Learning their craft. Improving their understanding of what is required and how to go about doing it.

Right now there's no zest in anything the club does. Even team-sheets before the Youth Cu[p match weren't available until well into the match. It's shabby. The whole process of recovery starts with pride. And that means pride in everything the club does.

The words of a man who also compares right backs with strikers.

[Phube]