Arsenal Match Thread - Sponsored by The Adkins Diet

[P!ssed Off]

I would say apart from HRK everyone was a shower of shit today. McAnuff got a good assist and was therefore close to not being a shower of shit, but for the other 89 mins he was anonymous.
Someone claimed Mariappa was having a good game but then he reduced himself to a shower of shit.

Overall, I would say someone needs to call a plumber, this squad is leaking shit left, right and centre.

Would I be that bothered if 90% of the squad was sold and replaced at the end of the season? Not really.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Well if today was an audition to see which of these players can play the style of football NA wants us to play most of them failed the audition miserably...

This. Based on that, the exit door awaits Ledge and Karacan for certain. Kelly as well was utter shite as well.

Agreed, Nobody bar Marriappa emerges with much credit from that one.

Whats worrying is just how crushed the players spirits seemed to be. As soon as we conceded it ceased to be a contest.

Unfortunately this car crash of a season would have carried on with Brian into next season. Far too damaging all round for him to stay. Still optimistic about next year. Nigel will be backed by Anton I'm 100% convinced of that.

[Big Ern]

I would say apart from HRK everyone was a shower of shit today. McAnuff got a good assist and was therefore close to not being a shower of shit, but for the other 89 mins he was anonymous.
Someone claimed Mariappa was having a good game but then he reduced himself to a shower of shit.

Overall, I would say someone needs to call a plumber, this squad is leaking shit left, right and centre.

Would I be that bothered if 90% of the squad was sold and replaced at the end of the season? Not really.

Would change the 90% to 50%, but apart from that, a spot on summary.

[Gordons Cumming]

Now we can look forward to next weeks loss to Southampton.

[Once were Biscuitmen]

We always lose to Arsenal, they are a perennial champions league team and we are a upper, mid-table Championship squad that somehow ended up in the Premiership.

I really don't get the angst on here when the inevitable happens.

[Royal Ginger]

It was the class of the performance. We all expected a loss, but what we just saw was sub-par for a league 1 side. I wouldn't mind if Arsenal showed some class, but we struggled to get rid of balls and gifted them golden opportunity after golden opportunity. A team such as Middlesborough or Brighton would've given that a much better go. That's why we're angsty.

[parky]

Adkins hasn't spent any money since being here. Picked his favourites in Jobi and Ledge and wouldn't play McCarthy in goal.

ADKINS OUT!

[St. Brynjar]

Typical meltdown on here. Arsenal played incredibly, we played woefully. No surprise there - losing at the Emirates isn't what has relegated us. Ledge was laughable. Back four had to work stupidly hard, and naturally all made mistakes - even (and I think he's our best player atm but seems immune from criticism) Lord Mariappa. Feel sorry for Pog who like usual is isolated out of existence. Yet he still made more of a contribution than Karacan who apparently started.

F*ck off newbie etc.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

We always lose to Arsenal, they are a perennial champions league team and we are a upper, mid-table Championship squad that somehow ended up in the Premiership.

I really don't get the angst on here when the inevitable happens.

Yep too true. I actually really don't know how we won the league last year. Incredible. More momentum than anything else.

[Royal Ginger]

That arrogant assumption that we're coming right back up will very quickly be swept away next year.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

That arrogant assumption that we're coming right back up will very quickly be swept away next year.

Not sure any realists will think that. Huge overhaul needed for us.... Saying that, I don't think we'll do a Wolves & would expect we'll finish top half.

[ZacNaloen]

We all know the team needs a lot of work if it is ever going to become a club capable of staying in the premier league for any length of time, and Arsenal were always going to rip us to shreds today whether Mcdermott was manager or not.

It especially doesn't help that it's the first game with a new manager trying to implement a new style.


Looking like a big job with these players though, problems were all over the pitch, passes were either too hard or too soft, too obvious or the other player wasn't reading the play, and there was no communication. Guthrie needs to talk more if he's going to lay off the ball into space like he did prior to the 3rd.


We were particularly criminal in possession in our own third which made us look even worse, which is the main reason we struggled to build up attacks (those occasions the passes in and around our back third actually came off are basically what led to our few and far between chances).


Mariappa had a good game over all but it is marred by the ball he gave away that led to that penalty, it was just a text book example of what not to do when passing out of defence. Opposition player was far too close to where the ball had to be played, read him like a book. He had plenty of time to find a better pass, even if it was to the other centre back.

The main exception to all of this was HRK, he looked more than comfortable receiving and laying off the ball in attacking positions. Hunt also looked on this showing like he's a better option than Pog, more mobile and a bit quicker as well as good in the air, bu tbft neither of them got good service due to our ineptitude at moving the ball around.

Adkins will need to spend his budget in the summer, but also many players need to be let go. We don't just need one or two players. It could be to adkins benefit, if he doesn't have much money, that we have some young players playing at u21 for us who were brought up playing a more technical type of football, defenders and midfielders, who if they are going to be good enough for premier league football should start coming good enough for championship football in the next year or so. Could be an interesting summer over all though.

[Gordons Cumming]

That arrogant assumption that we're coming right back up will very quickly be swept away next year.

Hang on. We've got bucket loads of cash to spend.......................

We're always told the most successful teams spend the most money.....(unless it's us )

[Once were Biscuitmen]

That arrogant assumption that we're coming right back up will very quickly be swept away next year.

Yep, it will most likely take 2-3 seasons to build a team to achieve a promotion push again.

If we do somehow sneak into the play-offs and get up next year it would be another miracle and we would be in the same position we were in at the start of this season; on a hiding to nothing.

[ZacNaloen]

That arrogant assumption that we're coming right back up will very quickly be swept away next year.

Not sure any realists will think that. Huge overhaul needed for us.... Saying that, I don't think we'll do a Wolves & would expect we'll finish top half.

Hopefully the club recognise that they need to hit the reset button on Antons 3 (or was it 5?) year plan that was being talked about prior to promotion being guaranteed.


From a business stand point he should have gained quite of bit of unexpected cash, seeing as we've not spent a lot, from this year alone so his investment is still looking healthy even on relegation.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

That arrogant assumption that we're coming right back up will very quickly be swept away next year.

Not sure any realists will think that. Huge overhaul needed for us.... Saying that, I don't think we'll do a Wolves & would expect we'll finish top half.

Hopefully the club recognise that they need to hit the reset button on Antons 3 (or was it 5?) year plan that was being talked about prior to promotion being guaranteed.


From a business stand point he should have gained quite of bit of unexpected cash, seeing as we've not spent a lot, from this year alone so his investment is still looking healthy even on relegation.

Exactly. We've been papering over the cracks & been found wanting but ultimately now we have some cash that we weren't expecting. Anton wasn't expecting us to go up last season so lets hope he puts his money where his mouth is & lets Nigel overhaul the squad. FTR - I think he will.

[Za Vas]

In fairness, a lot of the Southampton fans said we'd have a shaky start with NA. Trying to bring in a new style of play to the team which revolves around possession, getting the full backs forward and pressing the box. Arsenal away was going to be tricky with whatever tactics/manager we used, they always run rings around us anyway.

I've given up on this season. We may as well use the last few games to figure out which of players will be able to adapt, and those that wont make the cut, then take it from there in the summer. Hopefully by the start of the 13/14 season we'll be in a better position to push on, but as someone said earlier, bouncing back straight away is certainly not a forgone conclusion and will be a lot tougher than most on here seem to think.

[P!ssed Off]

Keep: McCarthy, Morrison, Mariappa, Robson-Kanu, Le Fondre
This is a solid foundation for a Championship team and with some good buys we could possibly get promoted again.
(Sell Federici; McCarthy will not sit on the bench forever. Presumably Pearce is off on a free)

Maybes: Karacan, Akpan, Shorey, Kelly, Cummings, Gunter, McCleary. If we can replace these players with better then do so. If they don't show the attitude and determination in pre-season then get rid.

Everybody else can p!ss off


Obviously keep youth teamers such as Obita and Samuel

[Norfolk Royal]

We'll need more than 13 players tbf.

[joeroyal]

Oh Dear that went well didn't it, Glad really no need to prolong the Agony and pain of trying to play with the big boys just goes to show that the Reading Way is the wrong way.