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Arsenal 6 - 1 Saints - Post Match Reaction


Saint_clark

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You got all that from 45 mins? Really? I thought he did well but let's not get carried away here. Personally I'd play him as one of the front 3 - might see a little less of the ball but will be more dangerous when he gets it. Pleased to see Rodriguez come on and hold the ball up well in the CF position though. End of the day, to coin a phrase, we lost to the better side and there's no real disgrace in that. Actually if that's the way we're aspiring to play (like Arsenal today) then we've had a good lesson; sure we'll learn from it.

 

I think that will eventually happen.

 

                  Davis          


Clyne      Yoshida      Hooiveld       Fox


              Schneiderlin


         JWP             Lallana


Puncheon                            Ramirez


            Lambert/Jay Rod

 

S. Davis didnt impress me at all today from his 45mins. Been solid so far this season, if unspectacular, but the game totally passed him by today. When Cork gets back, there will be a huge competition for places in that CM. Huge! (Schneiderlin, Cork, JWP, S. Davis, Lallana, Chaplow, Ramirez (potentially)).

 

Plus, I said during the game that Jay should've come on 10-15mins sooner than he did as IMO, this formation is just not for Rickie. Forget about the goals he scored, he has struggled playing it throughout pre-season and even 4 games in, doesnt seem to fit it. He needs a man in and around him to knock down to and also feed off of. With this he is just too isolated. Perhaps with the arrival of Ramirez, he will fit better as Ramirez will more likely than not be one of the furthest players forward supporting him so who knows? Time will tell but for the time being, I'd have the mobility and pace as well as height of Rodriguez upfront but thats totally IMO.

Edited by itchen_dan
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Fox is a donkey playing a stallions job. Average-good at Championship level, but Prem level passes him by like a mobility scooter going past Farton park! Shaw needs blooding soon, and Fox needs some more pace and awareness (not likely). Maybe a bit knee-jerk, but he was a liability back end of last season. Will need 1-2 class CB's and RB+ LB. Overall didnt expect much from this game bit got worse!!! :(

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Arsne Wenger: "The fact that we didn't absolutely have to dig deep is important."

 

So they thrashed us without even trying. This is really bad. I can take heroic performances against Man Utd and City and can put Wigan down to experience and bad luck, but I am afraid we have invested badly over the summer and Derby may well be about to loose their record as the team with the lowest point score in the Premier League.

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How is fox getting so much stick and not a whiff for Clyne

 

4 of the goals came directly from attacks down our right

 

Clyne has the confidence and ability to get forward, and put in countless brilliant tackles today. Fox doesn't get forward, his distribution was way off and was positionally static throughout.

 

I really liked Fox in the NPC, but honestly feel he's off the pace in the prem.

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In the good old days we had Monkou to control the air, Dodd to block crosses, Hall or Maddison to throw body at the ball and Benali to rake his studs down the quick winger's calves (then score an OG and get sent off!). The question is - that was good enough for 17th back then - standards have risen - are the current crop better than those?

 

We also had Beasant in goal - and those of you who think Kelvin is ropey should have a look back at Dave Beasant. Unless the ball was already at hand-to-head height, it went under him or he left it for a forward to head in.

 

Hooiveld needs to be our Monkou - maybe he will, maybe he needs time...Fonte is OK just needs to calm down, I've not seen the match today to comment on Yoshi. Fox is woeful and has been since we signed him so that's no surprise. Maybe if Nigel just told him to concentrate very hard on defending and not come forward at all he'd stop being turned around as often as Alan Carr. I have no idea why we signed Clyne who is the same player as Richardson and Butterfield, just shorter?! Again, pretty nifty going forward but passed at will going back. We're just stuffed down the sides so lots of practise defending crosses is the only way forward I guess - or put Luke Shaw in?

 

Random thought: Another plus point - I guess having Fox there is better than George Burley's solution. "Who shall I put at left back?" (take swig of whiskey) "Who's left-footed?" (take another swig). "Rudi Skacel! Of course". (A long swig now). "Oh but I already have him down as the only player at the club who can pass accurately more than 3ft away and so in the creative midfield role" (drain bottle) "Nevermind, left-back it is". (Fall down).

 

Pushing Gazzaniga in now may shatter his confidence and create another Bart - undoubted ability just too fragile mentally - and what would it do to Kelvin? Where do we go if Gazzaniga is no good? Just smack Kelvin's bum and have him stay behind for extra practise. A LOT of extra practise!

 

Back to the good old days - we had Captain Magic Jim Magilton & Matt Oakley to hold the midfield. JWP and Lallana? Skillful yes but I think Yaya Toure would be taller than JWP on Lallana's shoulders, and wider than them sat next to each other on the team bus. How are the pair of them going to stop him or anyone like him? Lallana should be on the left or right, where he was effective last year, with Davis or Cork sitting back in front of the defence. JWP can't play every week so rotate him with Spiderman. Everyone is happy with Ramirez so he's the other winger and Puncheon & Guly can go to QPR/Blackpool/Hell. I'd much rather have De Ridder on the bench than those two.

 

Is it too much to ask our record signing be played in his correct position? Up top with Lambert, to do the running. Lee or Mayuka to come on when either tires.

 

I'm mildly horrified by the result but hey - 17th is the target, right? No-one said we'd be challenging for 2nd this year. (Except very quietly in our own heads when steaming).

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Paying out 30 million and finishing 17th is just not on. Teams have come up and hardly spent anything and got by. We no longer have excuses and after the two Manx games today was a huge setback in Adkins strategy and planning.

Fox did move across into the center for a while I thought he did far better there than our actual defenders. Ramirez was okay but will need to do far more to show his worth. Villa won today so it's definitely not going to be an easy game.

* Forgot to mention what a beautiful little gem Prowsey is proving to be. Amazing play once again.

Edited by ART
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Well that was painful, the international break seems to have given half a first team free reign to sit about masterbate a play FIFA as no one looked match sharp. We were the architect of our own downfall the first half giving possession away in bad areas and doing nothing with it when we did.

 

I cannot see why our back line is the slowest to react when a shot has come off, every single time we assumed Kelvin caught it and only once did he manage to do it.

 

If we play like that against a very average Arsenal for the rest of the season we will be setting a record points low in the premier league.

 

Highlights of the day:

 

The ginger woman next to me squealing every time we had the ball or there was a silence to shout encouragement, funny but annoying. A part of me was wondering if she made those noises in bed, no one would find out.

 

The guys behind me who got thrown out by the police were also very funny, no idea what they were angry about but it probably was for the best as the disabled ginger kid next to them wasn't appreciating it...

 

"You've got a nose for stabbing geese" was hilarious.

 

Finally Chamberlain and Wallcott coming over to give us a round of applause was nice, shame the rest of the team couldn't be bothered like the rest of the match.

 

 

Gaston needs to start next week, best player at the club, just need to score more than they do from now on...

 

How is fox getting so much stick and not a whiff for Clyne

 

4 of the goals came directly from attacks down our right

 

Because Fox was monstrously out of position at all times in that match. The majority of things that went wrong were purely because Fox cannot defend, it's embarrassing how badly he causes our back line to just be in the wrong places. He is easily beaten, needs Lallana to track back to cover for him or a cb to leave a massive amount of space to close down who Fox should have been on. Clyne was sold short with Punch basically done the same as Fox and picking up the wrong people and leaving our defence out numbered.

 

Come January 1st pay any club ANY amount for a premier league left back because it will cost us massively if Fox starts against Arsenal at home.

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What a savaging!

 

I thought that Fox and Fonte played far better than they have so far this season, albeit in a unit that shipped 6 goals.

 

The real shocker for me was how appallingly bad Lallana was. Absolutely awful. even Guly has not played nearly that badly this year.

 

I lost count of how many turnovers came off Lallana's feet today. Worst player on the pitch - and that's hard for me to say as I rate him highly. Even bought my son a Lallana

Saints shirt this Summer.

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What a savaging!

 

I thought that Fox and Fonte played far better than they have so far this season, albeit in a unit that shipped 6 goals.

 

The real shocker for me was how appallingly bad Lallana was. Absolutely awful. even Guly has not played nearly that badly this year.

 

I lost count of how many turnovers came off Lallana's feet today. Worst player on the pitch - and that's hard for me to say as I rate him highly. Even bought my son a Lallana

Saints shirt this Summer.

 

England call-up innit.

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Totally agree-the midfield gave the defense little protection. Their first goal spoke volumes- their one attacker should never have outfought two of our midfielders to come out with the ball. Yes our midfield covers ground but it is incredibly lightweight. What I would do for one physical, powerful CM- a Tiote type player. Arsenal also showed what a little bit of pace can do. Mayuka apart, we don't have any players who can truly test or put a defense on the backfoot.

 

Don't disagree but the fullbacks are not getting any protection. Lallana and Puncheon do not defend.

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Well the positives, Ramirez looks class.

 

Downside, we were woeful especially in the first half. They had us beat down both flanks easily. Need to sharpen up soon or we will quickly be from where we came.

 

Good noise from our boys in the Pins.

Edited by Saint Billy
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The problem is a mix and match team of players in and some not in thier best role. Teams are nerver going to be solid defending from the half way line to the back 4 if not the same standard anf fitness. Too me Saints are like Blackburn last season we can score but we can let them in just as fast. It makes no differance that we have new plaers up front if your defending all the time or dont have much of the ball. Arse had 73% of the play!!!

 

Saints are too far off the mark for being able to keep goals out, we can attack as in 2 Manc games but vs Wigan awful. Its just a waiting game now to see how many points we get till next window, 25 pts maybe? Not sure if the board will stick with manager but hope so as there is no one to take his place and I doubt if money will be avalible to get more players like Stoke have done to keep them up each season.

 

I will be happy either way as long as Pompey go out of business or Fratton Park is burnt down!

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Pretty awful today. Naive. Davis - legs have gone along with positional sense. Fox a liability. Schneiderlin bad game, along with Lallana and Rickie, who looke like a fat, slow, pub team player. Highlights excellent Ward Prowse again, useful looking Ramirez, an Yoahida who looked like he might be able to help shore up a Championship defence in danger of dragging us back there.

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Kelvin was poor today, First goal went through his legs, 2nd he should have got to, 3rd near post - suppose the 4th and 6th was excusable.

 

Clyne seemed to get sucked in and beaten Blythe pass to the runner, a few good saving tackles, offered little going forward.

 

Hooiveld, should have kicked ball away from goal,mnot into it. Done for pace until he was subbed, presumed it was tactical.

 

Fonte, looked good and assured, broke up play and drove forward on occasions, most accomplished performance this season.

 

Fox, scored a goal. I was in the Arsenal end and bloke behind me said, "Jesus, it's the fella who's been raped all half". This summed it up for me, I am not sure whether he is a decent left back or not, so often is he out of position.

 

Morgan, solid, brought some stability when he sat in front / in with the two CB's second half.

 

jwp - bright spark, always looking for possession, could have scored in first minute.

 

S Davis, off the pace, wasteful and gave away silly foul for Podolski free kick. Rightly given the hoot at HT.

 

Lallana, bright when he had the ball, which wasn't often.

 

Puncheon, another good shift, especially second half. Needs to work on end product.

 

Lambert, starved of service for the most part, and when he did win the ball had nobody around him. Should have converted chance in second half.

 

Subs

 

Yoshida, thought he looked assured, good on the ball, pacy and all round good footballer. Probably our best CB on that display.

 

Ramirez, drifted in and out. That said when he had the ball he looked very very good.

 

jrod, see Lambert minus 75 mins and a chance.

 

Saints Support, brilliant. The Arse really have taken the library fom Highbury.

Edited by St Chalet
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1 thing that stood out to me was when we had the ball in defense and midfield they would pressure us. When they had the ball we would run back and along side of them which let attack with ease

 

Very true.

 

When are we going to stop standing off players? Most shots against team in the league was a stat I read earlier in week somewhere.

 

Anyway, start with with ram, yosh and I have to say, Davis is not doing very good at all.

 

I'd give gazzaniga a run!

 

Season starts against villa!

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I know alot on here want to pick on certain individuals for every goal we concede but as a TEAM we are defending poorly and are getting caught out in lots of ONE-on-ONE battles, (winger against Clyde or Fox, midfield runner etc.) which at best we will only win 90% and with the other 10%+ the PL players are making us pay with a goal.

Rather than letting the boo-boys picking on one player after another perhaps a better idea IMO is to employ a Defensive Coach.

 

When AP took over in 2009, a month or so later he appointed Wally Downes (now west ham) to work specifically with the defenders. From what I remember until then we had been conceeding sloppy individual goals like now, however within a few weeks we started defending better as a UNIT.

 

Around that time there had an open training session at SMS, where for a period of about half an hour, Wally took the defenders (Perry, Mills, Thomas etc) down the Northam and they practiced where each defender should be to COVER for each other when balls were played into the box from different positions.

 

I love the one touch pass and move Football (going forward) that Nigel has got us playing over the last couple of years and I wouldn't want to lose that but I feel that now we are in the PL we need to employ a Defensive Coach to work UNDER Nigel, either fulltime or say 2 days a week.

After all we already have a GK coach, Fitness Coach, a number of bods that look after the Computers etc so why not a Defensive Coach.

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Lots of talk about this squad not being up to PL standard. Well, with the exception of Wigan, the teams we have played are CL standard; a different prospect altogether. This first run of games was a brutal start, but we have played very well in parts of those games (better even than we perhaps thought against the Manc clubs) and we will get better and most of our forthcoming opponents will not be up to that standard.

 

Plus, we now have Ramirez to bring in who looks to me like a real playmaker. He gets on the ball, goes past players, picks out passes and generally looks to make things happen. I think he'll be too good for the likes of Villa, Norwich et al to handle.

 

Things WILL get better. Here's to 3 points vs Villa!

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Lots of talk about this squad not being up to PL standard. Well, with the exception of Wigan, the teams we have played are CL standard; a different prospect altogether. This first run of games was a brutal start, but we have played very well in parts of those games (better even than we perhaps thought against the Manc clubs) and we will get better and most of our forthcoming opponents will not be up to that standard.

 

Plus, we now have Ramirez to bring in who looks to me like a real playmaker. He gets on the ball, goes past players, picks out passes and generally looks to make things happen. I think he'll be too good for the likes of Villa, Norwich et al to handle.

 

Things WILL get better. Here's to 3 points vs Villa!

 

Thank **** for some sanity.

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The problem is a mix and match team of players in and some not in thier best role. Teams are nerver going to be solid defending from the half way line to the back 4 if not the same standard anf fitness. Too me Saints are like Blackburn last season we can score but we can let them in just as fast. It makes no differance that we have new plaers up front if your defending all the time or dont have much of the ball. Arse had 73% of the play!!!

 

Saints are too far off the mark for being able to keep goals out, we can attack as in 2 Manc games but vs Wigan awful. Its just a waiting game now to see how many points we get till next window, 25 pts maybe? Not sure if the board will stick with manager but hope so as there is no one to take his place and I doubt if money will be avalible to get more players like Stoke have done to keep them up each season.

 

I will be happy either way as long as Pompey go out of business or Fratton Park is burnt down!

 

Let me get this into my old brain. We get thrashed 6-1 and you will be happy if Portsmouth FC go out of business or the ground they play on is burnt down? What does it mean either way? We lose every game this season? We go down to CCC?

 

Gosh, I have been wrong all along:rolleyes:

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Just back and now had a few. Feeling more refectful and less suicidal than earlier.

 

Tough day ... was in with the Arse so always makes it difficult when you get a tonking like today.

 

Reflections ....

 

Arsenal were good, f@ucking good.

 

Positives ...

 

I thought JWP stepped up to the mark and was our best midfielder.

 

Ramariez looked like he could really add something, but not today.

 

Yoshida looked comfortable on the ball as replacement for Jos

 

Thought it was great that AOC and Theo came to applaud the Saints fans (also Theo's muted celebration)

 

Go on Walsall !!

 

Go on Hampshire !!

 

Negatives ...

 

Not sure what to say ... we were outplayed. We look exposed on both flanks ... not sure either Cylne or Fox are up to the job. Morgan was a shadow of the player he was against Man U ... Rickie was bossed out of it ... Don't know why??

 

Anyway back to the wine, not sure it will feel any better in the morning but helps now ..

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I could only listen on the radio but most teams who do well at Arsenal achieve it by operating as a defensive unit front to back and stop them playing. We do not have the players to do that and are not used to doing it in the last few years. There are bound to be games where you have to do this and we have just had three of the four and failed miserably.

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Don't disagree but the fullbacks are not getting any protection. Lallana and Puncheon do not defend.

Did wonder about this. Easy to put all the blame at Fox and Clyne and that might be right but are they getting enough support and protection from midfield. I have to say I'm not sure but my instinct is we are weak in these two positions.

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Just got back. Live in North London in a house with a bunch of arsenal fans :(

Good god. That first half was the most one sided thing i have ever seen, lucky it wasnt 6 at half time. Total shambles. Kelvin didnt do much wrong but fills me with no confidence. Fox was poor. The only positive was Arsenal were incredible, so so so good. Second half a bit better, Gaston looked good, so did Jay Rod he needs a proper chance in his position. Next week will be huge and very difficult. Not confident.

Final positive was sitting in Arsenal end and saints fan were great, well done all of ya.

Agree with your final comment ... I was in the Arse end at the opposite end to the Saints and the guy next to me asked me what the saints were singing ... I said 5-1 and you still don't sing ... And he just nodded

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Did wonder about this. Easy to put all the blame at Fox and Clyne and that might be right but are they getting enough support and protection from midfield. I have to say I'm not sure but my instinct is we are weak in these two positions.

 

All the more reason to protect them.

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