Arsenal

Player Ratings [The Pomp & Circumstance Edition]

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Good morning.

We wake to a new dawn. The mighty Arsenal vanquished by a new…

Look let’s get a few things straight. I have a sore throat from screaming yesterday. I got so wrapped up in proceedings I didn’t even get around to drinking the house dry. But we just beat one of the worst Arsenal teams to play us in maybe over a decade. 

Yes I am delighted, but we need to look at what happened yesterday. Enjoy some pomp, but not entirely forget the circumstance. 

The team sheet managed to pit Modders and PNB against four and occasionally five of their lot in midfield. I would suggest that Arry actually fielded a side that would appeal to a Lane baying for a wrought rather than one that would be more suited to doing the job. He needed Sandro on from the start and he bottled it.

His line up’s success hinged upon ‘things going our way’ and with some particularly crap passing and a good few insane hoofs at Adebayor that didn’t transpire.

6 An illegal card game was broken up in the Park Lane and it was discovered that Friedel was the dealer. ‘Just wanted some action, man’ the big man told stewards.

8 His goal was ‘spiffing.’ Not my words, but those of What Goal? Magazine. A good shift all around. Brain working much much faster than ever before. More please.

8 Bar that Vin Repast moment he as predicted his teaming up with Ledley King made him a solid as you could want. That’s what she said.

8 I shudder to imagine what we would be like without him after games like that. I guess the real question is who is lined up to replace him? He’s tip top.

6 Mmn. Needs to rapidly turn around recent form. He’s going backwards and Assured and Elegant has become plain old A&E again. Whassssup geeze?

7 Played out of position. So what is he supposed to do, write to his MP? Great finish but we could have had more had he been – played in position. Geddit?

6 Outnumbered and having an off day. What a cracking combination. 

9 MOTM faced with a huge burden he got stuck in. Really impressed with his commitment and his seamless transition into the squad. Top charlie banana.

6 Some good runs but fluffed numerous chances this combined with being a defensive passenger made for a pretty lame performance. Must do better.

6 An A for effort but as low as a C+ for achievement. He needs more space and time than Doctor Who. That said a goal, and we’d be all over him, eh?

6 Not at the races. Not at all. Spent all of last week apologizing to Arsenal fans and should spend all of this week apologizing to Tottenham fans. 

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126 comments

  • choc says:

    Bit of a negative response to 4 wins on the spin imo.

    Read the posts from a month ago and you would have thought Spurs would be in free fall by now.

    Those goalposts move very fast online don’t they.

    Good performance from the team yesterday. Did the job. Parker MOTM.

    Rafa is a talented wild card but RM is not the place for him once Lennon is fit.

    Probably play 451 at Newcastle and 442 next home game.

    • Astromesmo says:

      I’m joining you in the ‘bewildered at what a beggar has to do to get grudging approval’ lounge.

      Anyone would think we got turned over the misery and angst going on in here.

    • toddspur says:

      agree choc

      Arry out!!

      FFS

      • eastanglianspur says:

        You guys are missing the point big time, for it was a game we could have easily lost. They were in full control of the first half until the goal AGAINST the flow of play.

        For me the final third problem still remains. Gio should have been there, not Defoe – for me he’s just a Championship striker.

        • eastanglianspur says:

          PS Let’s be rid of ‘im in January

        • Astromesmo says:

          Who? Gio? ;-)

        • Astromesmo says:

          I know you don’t like HR Anglian but sacking a manager for winning a game because the other side had a decent spell of possession would be a bit odd… Even you’d have to admit that.

          We can go out and boss teams every week. Having said that, we still had way the clearer chances. If Harry is a lucky manager then so be it… About time we had one of those.

        • eastanglianspur says:

          Defoe, not HR. :daumen:

        • Astromesmo says:

          The clinic for linesmen with a stiff shoulder would certainly be less busy.

        • eastanglianspur says:

          I noticed, too, that adeboy got caught a few times, I hope he hasn’t picked up the Defoe bug already.

  • Sid Trotter says:

    BLIMEY – i THINK EVERYONE DESERVES AN 11 – EVEN ME.

    I caught a fish once, threw it back – waste of time

    I ate a McDOnalds once, threw it up – waste of time

    I drank a cider once, threw it up – waste of time

  • David says:

    Harsh ratings. Very.

    • nickster says:

      Ade, Defoe and Bale all better than a 6.
      The only one I’d agree with is Modric’s.
      Having said that, the Ar5e were more concerned with breaking our midfield play down than creating their own.
      How often has that been the case in the last 15 years??
      Loved it!!! :-D

  • Chirpy says:

    I didn’t think BAe had a bad game (the push on Sagna an obvious highlight) and Ade’s “assist” for VdV’s goal warrants at least a 6.142 in my humble…

    Modders had one to forget.

    Disappointed that tactically Ar5ena1(‘s forwards and midfield) set out to pressurise our defence into an early ‘lumped forward’ ball and too many times we duly obliged, ignoring any resultant space being afforded to us in the middle of the park. Having said that, we won, so…

  • Dils says:

    I agree with the ratings. The line up was called on a less prestigious blog on Saturday with other fans waxing lyrical about how this was ‘our best team’ and how ‘we should line up like this for every home game’.

    But it was clear to even the most amateur armchair tactician that that line up lacks balance and doesn’t take advantage of our best players in their best positions. Particularly against a 4-3-3.

    A 4-2-3-1 from the off set and I reckon we really would have punished a very poor Arsenal side. Instead we stuttered to a win with the tried and tested 4-4-2.

    Parker and Sandro MUST be our first choice pairing for Magpies away. Bale/Modders/VDV in a three behind Ade… similar to the way Citeh play, with the four up top given license to create havoc. It makes my mouth water at the prospect.

    Fav moment? Watch the King gallop, stumble, then limp his way from one end to the other to try and snatch a goal in the second half. 100% Ledge. COYS!

    • Liamyid says:

      Did he take his time getting back of what!?!! Fair play though, didn’t think he had it in him!

      • Dils says:

        It was mint. I was watching in HD and I swear I could see his knee swelling up with each stride between the half way line and penalty box. :)

        • Astromesmo says:

          Genius! It’s what HD was made for. I can see it as one of those slo-mo time-lapse ad’s coming up for Sky.

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