Gazza Dazzla
Chris Perry
I think everyone needs to settle down about Arsenal a bit. It’s only a week ago they lost to Swansea 3-1!!
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"Champions of 3rd place, we know what we are"
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nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
Everton were absolutely shocking at the weekend, they made Arsenal look good. Im hoping that makes Arsenal complacent as I genuinely believe they are yet to find a balance with their new buys.
All fair enough, but also to be fair to Arsenal they played with a grit and determination in that game I havent seen in them for a long time.
And, judging by the rest of their season, it was a special case just for us.
I really feel this game is winnable, but we have to be on point.
Gazza Dazzla
Chris Perry
Absolutely, I think we’re well capable of putting a couple of goals in to them, but only if we’re up for it like Utd and Pool 2nd half, anything less and we could be in trouble.
Jurgen the German
Erik Thorstvedt
They got lucky with the decisions but they absolutely deserved to beat us that day. That performance from us was like a throwback to the Martin Jol/Redknapp/AVB days when we offered nothing and got our pants pulled down.
Kandi1977
Garth Crooks
We have a game tomorrow, where we might need to play at least a few players that will also play Saturday, so again Arsenal will have the advantage of a weeks rest vs our 2 days.
We absolutely HAVE TO WIN this game imo.
Bedfordspurs
Vinnie Samways
Whilst I agree with all the comments above, and id also add that they seem to be more together as a side without Sanchez, their playing us away now, against the biggest home crowd most of their players will have experienced and a team full of confidence...
Just need the combined team stuff to be written now to stir it all up
Just need the combined team stuff to be written now to stir it all up
BrainOfLevy
Michael Carrick
I used to think that, but the more I’ve learned of Poch’s methods the more I think it’s about conditioning. Wenger gets them peaking for the end of the season. Hence also swatting Chelsea aside in the Cup Final.
So I’d say Wenger was genuinely still pretty confident of top 4 last year but he didn’t entirely factor in that we were also strong finishers.
Bedfordspurs
Vinnie Samways
Wenger doesn’t do any fitness coaching.
alekaras
The ITK of IDK
I'm actually glad we have a game tomorrow, as it will give players coming back from injury some match fitness, especially Toby, Winksy, and Rose. Very important, especially considering we also have Juve in a week and, absent the Newport game, they wouldn't have had the chance to get match fit. And overall I don't think that it will be a problem. The players should be in peak condition by now, so a game midweek against a League 2 side shouldn't take that much out of them.
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
I dont think Wengers approach is that holistic.
Ive always agreed with the idea with them that it is mental. When the pressure is off, they perform. When its crunch time, they lose their heads.
Once we have a full squad (so we can rotate a little), I think we play better with 2 games a week.
We are a rhythm/tempo side, once its working we are almost impossible to play (see back end of last season).
BrainOfLevy
Michael Carrick
Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle, and I definitely agree they have had their fair share of mental balls-ups (the Carling Cup Final against Birmingham for example) but this is such a consistent trend over a stretch of a few months, that happens every season, that I think there is more to it. I can never prove it for sure without Wenger giving me a breakdown of his methods, but it happens almost like clockwork. Pressure can be defined us the title being written off or top 4 being written off, but in either of those cases they have a strong final 2 months. It doesn't matter whether we are 13 points ahead of them, whether they are way down in 6th, or whether they are pretty certain of 4th but may get 3rd if they really push for it. It always happens.
Unfortunately for them last year we were also strong finishers, but I do think perhaps the idea of them being poor mentally (which I agree with) gets tied up with their strong finishes a bit too easily. Because broadly speaking, you can see teams that like to start fast and teams that like to build to it. A Fergie team used to always build to it, but Mourinho came in and was a fast starter, so Fergie had to alter his plans to make sure they didn't fall too far behind. Klopp always starts fast in a season. As does Pep. We have always done ok but then our performances take a notable positive turn during and after Christmas, as does Arsenal. I also think lower down for example Martinez at Wigan was always a strong finisher (and he was known for his focus around conditioning). There are certain teams that seem to always do well at certain points of the season compared to others, and I think conditioning plays a big part in that. Of course there are other managers that maybe don't focus on it as much - or maybe just want to hit 40 points as quickly as possible (Pulis) - and maybe Harry was one of those in terms of just going hell for leather without too much consideration of making the form runs predictable. But I think the top 6 coaches now, all of them are pretty tuned in to peaking and predictability around performance as much as possible, and a lot of their in game strategies derive from it too - for instance I think we play a much faster tempo now compared to earlier in the season, Swansea and WBA at home etc. Maybe we'll have the occasional high tempo game thrown in there but it may be more sporadic, where as later in the season we have tended to batter everyone and look relentless. I think our conditioning is curated as such so that the players are capable of relentless football and we can ask it of them at times when we know they can do it.
(as an aside, I'm somewhat guessing, but pretty sure Southampton will have a strong end to the season. Pellegrino strikes me as someone that has managed his squad well through rotation and puts a lot of focus on conditioning. (Likely learnt this from Benitez) So I won't be surprised to see them finish at least 12th and am not surprised that the Southampton board maintained faith with him)
Like other fans will joke at us for winning the 'Put the pressure on' trophy, as if we didn't have the mentality to get out in front early on in the season but could only play when we didn't really have a chance. Which is also assuming that Liverpool had a great mentality to get out in front but not to sustain it? I think it's more how we try and prepare our form, and the real answer is we didn't have the depth / quality to win the games we needed to when not in 'peak' season. If we did, we'd be title winners. I will say though, if we end up getting Malcolm in the summer, and Sess, I think we'll have a serious amount of depth and quality all over the park and could well push for the title. Malcolm is a key for me, because I don't think previously we would have had someone of such quality in a 'rotation' position, effectively competing with Son and Moura. If we get him, I think it shows we'll be making a serious push.
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
Its a pattern because its about then they have fallen apart and have the pressure off.
In years past, when they actually had some balls, it didnt happen. They got going, and stayed the course.
Since Wenger has robbed them of any steel in the team this is what you get.
I honestly dont think its anything at all to do with gearing everything up to finishing strong. I just think its how they are.
SCBC? Probably a fair shout. Pellegrino seems to be finding a team that works and I wouldnt be at all surprised if they started to peak.
As to us, I feel at this point the difference between good and great is a very fine margin. The last couple of years, our (relatively) slow starts often have been due to points dropped by minor errors. I think if we could have started this season 5% sharper we would be in second well clear of 3rd...
In years past, when they actually had some balls, it didnt happen. They got going, and stayed the course.
Since Wenger has robbed them of any steel in the team this is what you get.
I honestly dont think its anything at all to do with gearing everything up to finishing strong. I just think its how they are.
SCBC? Probably a fair shout. Pellegrino seems to be finding a team that works and I wouldnt be at all surprised if they started to peak.
As to us, I feel at this point the difference between good and great is a very fine margin. The last couple of years, our (relatively) slow starts often have been due to points dropped by minor errors. I think if we could have started this season 5% sharper we would be in second well clear of 3rd...
That is probably the major thing Poch needs to work on, our starts are typically brick.
Unfortunately I'm not confident about next season with a WC in summer, so many of our players will get very little rest.
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
Our starts arent brick, not really. They just dont match our finishes, which is the difference between 2nd/3rd and winning the league.
Despite performances not always being great the results are decent, just not decent enough.
You might find the WC actually helps. Ever noticed how the teams in the Europa league preliminary rounds always hit the ground running? It could be our players dont lose form or fitness and allows for a quick league start.
Of course, a little later on fatigue is then the issue...
fudge that away form is relegation worthy ...
Yep .. overstated the point .. but it is those draws and odd loss that cost us.
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
They would apparently be 10th, but only 7 points off of bottom
https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=79&ha=A
EDIT: Annoylingly the link doesnt work, you need to filter on away matches