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Does SOS Stand For 'Shame Of Shankly'?
There's embarrassment from Liverpool fans after Spirit Of Shankly's talk of 'chaos' at Anfield. Plus; big-ups for Roberto Martinez, perfect penalties and lots more...
It's Time For Liverpool Fans To Trust FSG
FSG seem to have adopted a scattergun approach to appointing a new manager, but one chap says it's time to trust them. Plus, Spurs fans looking up and saving money...
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Here We Go Again...
It's like that movie 'Groundhog Day' except the movie had Bill Murray and it's still funny to watch.
Matt Wright, Gunner in Aus
...I'll keep this to the point, if Arsene knows...I don't want to know!!
Daithi (Kenny doesn't know much either) Ireland
It Could Be Worse...
Watched Arsenal against Sunderland already knowing we'd lose. Felt down, depressed, perhaps even guilty for really wanting Wenger to go. However, felt much better later on when I realised I wasn't a British boxer...
Thanks guys, that was just what I needed to pick me up...
There are similarities though. Like Arsenal, both Haye and Chisora promise a lot but fight like girls...
Stu (next year will be our year, perhaps, maybe, we've certainly got potential). A Gunner in France
Just Try Something Different, Arsene
Is Arsene Wenger the most arrogant manager in football? A quick personality check would probably tell you no, bearing in mind we've seen the likes of Mourinho in recent years. But my point doesn't come down to personality, it goes to a deeper level (if I may say so myself).
Wenger's flat-out refusal to adapt and change and offer nothing more than the usual plan A makes me think he is arrogant beyond belief. His refusal to think that anything other than the usual 'passing it into the net' style of play is worthwhile and therefore his style is the best infuriates me to no end. Honestly, when we come up against United and they continually know which tactic is the Kryptonite and still Wenger refuses to change throughout 90 mins. His response is usually to switch Walcott with Arshavin and either Arteta or Ramsey with Rosicky or Benayoun. This makes me think that he doesn't see a problem with his own tactics, but that it's just the players who aren't doing them justice. On this point I'd like to add that around 80% of our players are good enough to play for the team, and most would succeed at any other club.
However the problem comes when the smaller teams with a lower quality of players than United are able to soak up the pressure early on, and then continue to counter-attack for around 70 mins. Then when we lose, he gives the usual guff about having mental fortitude and incredible spirit, but never accepts his mistakes. As an Arsenal fan I'd quite like to see some sort of diversification of style and tactic. Perhaps not to change the passing style completely but try anything other than the status quo.
Gooner Matt (Fingers crossed this gets me a job offer?) Kent
Where's The Character?
We can debate whether Arsenal have money to spend, should spend it etc etc. Been done already.
We can debate whether Wenger is a great manager or a clueless tactician of a school teacher that inherited a great back four. Also been done to death.
What one cannot really debate is that, when the chips are down, Arsenal rarely come through these days. They seem, as Keown said, 'passive'. I watched the final whistle and the reaction of the players. Some were gutted, others bemused it seemed. The Ox was almost inconsolable. However, a player did make the attempt to tell him, "don't worry lad, you are quality, chin up." That player was Kieran Richardson. Not a single player in puke-blue to be seen. Too self-absorbed.
In short, Arsenal lack character. And this is the team that the club deserve. From Hill-Wood and the board insulting fans while selling out, Kroenke sitting miles away cashing in and not attending to his club, Gazidis the excuse-making, woefully out of his depth CEO, Rice, the club legend turned joke of an asst and right on to Wenger, the poor loser, the whinger, refusing to take the blame, citing bad pitches to bad luck to god-knows-what for having insufficient depth and insufficient quality again (it is Feb after all.) They all lack character, from top to bottom. Chesney, Wilshere, RVP and the Ox are the only employees of Arsenal Football Club that I can hold up to my kids as real role models. Decent pros, with confidence, ability and a true fighting spirit and a real desire to win.
I was not surprised to hear tough talk this week from Wenger. It is season ticket renewal time and they've got fans to fleece.
Anyone else feel like starting Highbury FC? Dons fans and MAN Utd fans tell me is very cathartic.
Mark Johnson
Theo Not The Problem
How do you solve a problem like Theo? First of all, what problem?
I can't believe Mr Walcott (again!) is being made a fall guy for what happened in Milan. I mean what exactly has this boy done wrong? Was he great in Milan? No, but who was? The lad hardly touched the ball, because Arsenal hardly touched the ball. They were a shambles.
The biggest thing about Theo getting it in the neck from every man and his dog who occasionally likes to watch the Champions League and MOTD now and again, is he isn't a right winger! Not previously, not now, not ever and never will be. He is a striker. Is he as good as Thierry Henry was? No. But he is still a striker all the same. I just don't understand Wenger's unshakable decision to play him there. In fact, I don't understand any of Wenger's decisions these days!
He should never have been brought off v Milan for Henry as he is quicker, sharper and at this moment a proper player, unlike Thierry. What also makes me sick about that half-time substitution is did Wenger stick Henry on the right wing for Theo? No, he sticks him up front...so why not just stick Theo up front and put him out of his misery?!
The lad is class. He has uncatchable pace, and on the whole, when he gets in at goal he has a very tidy finish.
I'm done.
Banister9 (I think Walcott should sue Sven for damages to his reputation after, heaven forbid, being picked for the World Cup.)
Loving Left Wingers
Is there anything better than a traditional left winger in football? A left-footed, left-sided winger who takes on defenders has to be one of the greatest things about football. I guess it all started for me when Ryan Giggs came on the scene. He was amazing (still is) to watch. That FA Cup goal against Arsenal was the cherry on top.
Gareth Bale has continued this legacy and I've quiet enjoyed the emergence of James McLean. It seems like it is a dying art though. Too many left-footed wingers play on the right to cut back onto their shooting foot. I hope this doesn't become a trend as for me there is nothing better than a traditional left winger.
Are there any other 'stereotypical' positions that readers love/miss?
Neil (Downing does not count and is a 'disgrace' to the art) Dadal
It's Shame About Norwich...
As a Norwich fan, I am soooo disappointed. The FA Cup this year was a chance for glory. That is the point of the game yes? Where the hell were Ruddy and Holt? Ruddy may have done better for the first goal and brought a bit of order to the defence and Holt is in storming form at the mo. The team Lambert put out may have sent a message to the players that this game was being taken less seriously - leading to a drop in the intensity. This intensity level and the hunger from the players is what we are all about under Lambert - without it they are a bunch of pretty limited players.
In 110 years Norwich have won two League cups, a Second Division title and a League One title. The FA Cup is the biggest of the realistic prizes available. I'd like the club to put everything available in to achieving that. We ain't ever going to win the Premier League.
Big up to Leicester - they played really well and deserved to win. I hope they get a big day out.
The game is about the glory.
Marky, NCFC
Why Can't AVB Solve Torres Problem?
For Andre Villas-Boas, these are trying times indeed. A year ago, he must have felt like the king of the world. His team was unbeaten, on the way to achieve a quadruple; life as a football manager held so much promise. There was nothing he couldn't do. And so, he decided to take up the daunting task of changing the footballing philosophy of an entire club.
Now, he is in the dumps. All the good reputation he had once garnered is slipping away. Some of his players are questioning his methods, a team that had taken Champions' League spot for granted is now fifth, the club's fans think he doesn't know anything and the owner of the club is an unpredictable trigger-happy gazillionaire. Boy, it sure must be trying.
As a result, his competence has come into question and that's what I'll be writing about. Is AVB really a brilliant manager? In my opinion, he's isn't. He's a good scout but an ordinary manager. Some of you might say, 'Hey, give him some time, we don't know him well yet' but let's be honest now; does it really take you an entire year to know whether a manager is good or not? His tactics might be foolishly stubborn, his substitutions might be amazingly incomprehensible but in my opinion, the deciding factor here is his inability to solve the problem called Torres. Abramovich was not at all fair to Ancelotti. The problem was forced on him mid-season, when the club was undergoing a crisis of confidence. But AVB had time and money. He even had an African Nations Cup (i.e Torres out of Drogba's definitely-intimidating shadow) to resuscitate Torres' dying brilliance but he blatantly failed. It is obvious proof of his tactical ineptitude. A great manager, with the same amount of time and money would have fixed Torres' horrible run. I'm sure of that. Maybe he's a little slower these days but a player like Torres isn't simply one-dimensional.
But for all his failures as a tactician, he's got a gift in recruiting players. His first-team purchases, Juan Mata and Romeu show promises of a bright future, Lukaku too, but a little less and I'm really looking forward to De Bruyne in a Chelsea shirt. Cahill was somewhat of an emergency purchase so he won't be included in the assessment. My point is, this guy can put together a good team and next year, I am sure of a much-improved Chelsea team. Tactician or not, winning is winning, right?
The choice here for Chelsea fans and more importantly, Abramovich, is whether we should gamble our Champions League spot for a stronger team next year or replace him and yet again, gamble a Champions League spot with perhaps, better odds.
I know what my choice would be. Sometimes, it's better to just sit back and not panic.
Blue Lenny (I don't follow Porto so I haven't mentioned anything from his career there)
