BFTG - Arsenal

[Franchise FC]

My God, this isn't complicated.

SC felt that, over 90 minutes we couldn't just go defensive.

We got to 89 minutes and were about to enter Extra-time.

the choice NOW is,

Can our shot-shy team score the winning goal
in 30 minutes (and not concede)

OR

Can we play extra-defensively for just 30 minutes and go to penalties.

ARSENAL at an average of about 20 Million per player, would want to go for it.

READING at about 10 Million for the squad, would probably fancy defending

Not for 90 minutes, but yes for thirty

Not sure why this has just reminded me, but Gabriel ??

His top edge for six over third man had me thinking the Twenty20 had started a bit early

[Magic Hat]

Hope everyone had a blinding day out - was sorry to miss it.

I met LUX and Green in the toilets of a London Real Ale pub so it was a Good Day.

Probably not the place I would arrange a meat but each to their own.

It is the traditional location for cottaging tbf.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I agree that the starting eleven were still doing well, so why change?

Because our strikers weren't putting their chances away and fresh legs/brains might have turned those missed opportunities into goals.

You agree that Arsenal are specialists at tiring opponents and nicking late goals, so why play for extra time? Make that attacking sub with a bit of time to spare and sink them while were still tied. Don't save the attacking subs for when we are behind again. The mentality Clarke showed was regressive imo. I doubt the same negativity would be deployed or defended in the league, so why give Arsenal so much credit by almost admitting to them that we are holding on rather than going for it?

Disappointed in Clarke for that.

Did I miss something or is this the same Arsenal the form team in Europe, let alone England ?
Of course it would've been different in the league

Yeah, the same Arsenal we were currently drawing 1-1 with and within a whisker of beating. That's them.

[Extended-Phenotype]

My God, this isn't complicated.

SC felt that, over 90 minutes we couldn't just go defensive.

We got to 89 minutes and were about to enter Extra-time.

the choice NOW is,

Can our shot-shy team score the winning goal
in 30 minutes (and not concede)

OR

Can we play extra-defensively for just 30 minutes and go to penalties.

ARSENAL at an average of about 20 Million per player, would want to go for it.

READING at about 10 Million for the squad, would probably fancy defending

Not for 90 minutes, but yes for thirty

Doesn't address what I'm talking about. I'm saying we shouldn't have waited until the last minute to make a change. Not bothered what our choice was at that time.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I agree that the starting eleven were still doing well, so why change?

Because our strikers weren't putting their chances away and fresh legs/brains might have turned those missed opportunities into goals.

You agree that Arsenal are specialists at tiring opponents and nicking late goals, so why play for extra time? Make that attacking sub with a bit of time to spare and sink them while were still tied. Don't save the attacking subs for when we are behind again. The mentality Clarke showed was regressive imo. I doubt the same negativity would be deployed or defended in the league, so why give Arsenal so much credit by almost admitting to them that we are holding on rather than going for it?

Disappointed in Clarke for that.

id have been more disappointed if hed gone all out for the last 10 minutes to win, and conceded a goal before th e90 were up tbf tbh

OK. But I wouldn't have. And not every attacking change is detrimental to the teams defence.

[Gav]

There's a strong chance this could be me on Wednesday after developing an unhealthy man crush on Saturday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhv-AClYEzI

[Jano]

Surprised at the number of people saying the changes weren't needed as the players weren't tired. Williams and Chalobah were clearly struggling from the 70th minute onwards, Arsenal had far more space in the last 20 minutes of normal time.

[LUX]

Pog was dead on his feet by 70 minutes, definitely. But we were holding Arsenal (and indeed did hold on till ET) and I just think Clarke did not want to break up a "winning" team. Churlish to criticise anything about Saturday imo.


Kisses to Feds obvs.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Didn't mean to churl, lux. Just woulda liked to have seen some fresh legs sooner. Never mind, it weren't to be.

[LUX]

over the period 70-90 mins there were chances for both sides, with Pog involved in ours. Prolly should have scored at least one, but, ok, he was knackered. But at least he engineered the chance(s). The subs did not have much impact when they came on (that goes for Giroud and Walcott too from what I could see up at the back).

[Extended-Phenotype]

The adrenaline gone, Just going through the gloomy Monday "what if" torture.

[melonhead]

. Most important part of the summer is hanging on to Michael 'Bobby Moore' Hector.

agreed.

im hoping that no-one will be willing to pay the big money we will demand on the basis of 1 really decent half season in the championship.
if we don't go up next year, and hector continues to impress, itll be then that we really struggle to hold onto him

imo

[Franchise FC]

The adrenaline gone, Just going through the gloomy Monday "what if" torture.

I would be having the 'What If' conversation if my voice had returned. Must've been shouting more than I thought

Surprising number of 'pity you didn't win it' comments and not one 'shame about the keeper' so far.

Maybe they know that any patronising comments will be met with a swift 3-wood round the neck

[Extended-Phenotype]

. Most important part of the summer is hanging on to Michael 'Bobby Moore' Hector.

agreed.

im hoping that no-one will be willing to pay the big money we will demand on the basis of 1 really decent half season in the championship.
if we don't go up next year, and hector continues to impress, itll be then that we really struggle to hold onto him

imo

One of very few I'd be bothered about losing tbh. Him, Mackie, McCleary, Feds and maybe Williams. The rest will get a wave without much tears.

[melonhead]

I have somehow managed to avoid any patronising nonsense from know-nothing fans of football today, which is nice

[Winston Smith]

. Most important part of the summer is hanging on to Michael 'Bobby Moore' Hector.

agreed.

im hoping that no-one will be willing to pay the big money we will demand on the basis of 1 really decent half season in the championship.
if we don't go up next year, and hector continues to impress, itll be then that we really struggle to hold onto him

imo

One of very few I'd be bothered about losing tbh. Him, Mackie, McCleary, Feds and maybe Williams. The rest will get a wave without much tears.

Agree, though I would add Karacan to the list too.

[Extended-Phenotype]

[quote="Winston Smith"]

Deal. The injury doesn't seem to have knocked his game in any significant way. Though I can't say I'm particularly excited by him as a player. Or a lover, fwiw.

[melonhead]

. Most important part of the summer is hanging on to Michael 'Bobby Moore' Hector.

agreed.

im hoping that no-one will be willing to pay the big money we will demand on the basis of 1 really decent half season in the championship.
if we don't go up next year, and hector continues to impress, itll be then that we really struggle to hold onto him

imo

One of very few I'd be bothered about losing tbh. Him, Mackie, McCleary, Feds and maybe Williams. The rest will get a wave without much tears.

ill add karacan and pearce to that list, purely for sentimentality,

[Angry Shed Sex]

I have somehow managed to avoid any patronising nonsense from know-nothing fans of football today, which is nice

Lots of sympathy in the office. Most of them are Liverpool supporters though.

Compared with our League Cup run in 2006 the Arsenal fans I met were a decent bunch and most thought they were lucky to get through.

[melonhead]

that's easy to say now though, from their smug perches
id rather someone lol'd in my face than have to take all the "we were lucky, you were the better team" shizz from smug fans safely ensconced in their cup final berths