Something to think about...
Sigh… in a matter of days, the Gunners got dumped out of three Cup competitions. Domestically, they are left to fight for third place for an automatic Champions League spot. Another barren season, so was the last season. Sad too… Bergkamp, Pires, Reyes, Campbell and Lauren all left.
No trophies to parade for the Gunners as they settle in to their new home at Ashburton Grove this season. Going out of the Champions League was quite a bitter pill to swallow. The other Big Three were through. What went wrong? Was it injuries? A team too young? Growing too one-dimensional? Did the players over-elaborate with their passing, created openings and yet, fail to find the net. Ultimately, football is also very much about converting chances and scoring goals.
Quite rightly, the Gunners played the Beautiful Game to death. They are the masters of short passing. Have they become predictable? Or did those wily coaches finally mastered to counteract the Gunners’ football approach. Grooming the youth and giving them chances to perform on the pitch is the right thing. Can’t really go wrong with investing and training youth. On the basis of the modern game, is it prudent to throw the 18 & 19 year olds into the fray? I am talking about getting those talented Arsenal youths to exercise control in those must-win matches. Something like the PSV match.
I am quite sure Fabregas, Denilson and Diaby are the midfield force to be reckon with in the years to come… They will be a joy to watch…they will be the future Petit-Vieira-Overmars-Pires axis. Right now, the midfield park is "greener" than the flanks. On the flanks, we’ve got Rosicky, Hleb and Ljunberg… great exponents.
There is a missing link here. Quite pressing, the Gunners need someone masterful enough to give that "missing" variety. The man to give that difference amidst all the superb ball inter-passing. Bear in mind, among all the great movement, failure to find the net, the vital ending…is as good as losing all earlier impetus. All the pretty moves will just fall flat.
Two seasons of trophy-less seasons…Come season 07/08, with a well rested Henry up and running and possibly some signings... the "transitional" period should end and I see the team challenging for honours again. But, as for now... on a night where we got to beat PSV, it was Koeman who triumphed. The evening where steely nerves was needed, alas, it wasn’t there.
No trophies to parade for the Gunners as they settle in to their new home at Ashburton Grove this season. Going out of the Champions League was quite a bitter pill to swallow. The other Big Three were through. What went wrong? Was it injuries? A team too young? Growing too one-dimensional? Did the players over-elaborate with their passing, created openings and yet, fail to find the net. Ultimately, football is also very much about converting chances and scoring goals.
Quite rightly, the Gunners played the Beautiful Game to death. They are the masters of short passing. Have they become predictable? Or did those wily coaches finally mastered to counteract the Gunners’ football approach. Grooming the youth and giving them chances to perform on the pitch is the right thing. Can’t really go wrong with investing and training youth. On the basis of the modern game, is it prudent to throw the 18 & 19 year olds into the fray? I am talking about getting those talented Arsenal youths to exercise control in those must-win matches. Something like the PSV match.
I am quite sure Fabregas, Denilson and Diaby are the midfield force to be reckon with in the years to come… They will be a joy to watch…they will be the future Petit-Vieira-Overmars-Pires axis. Right now, the midfield park is "greener" than the flanks. On the flanks, we’ve got Rosicky, Hleb and Ljunberg… great exponents.
There is a missing link here. Quite pressing, the Gunners need someone masterful enough to give that "missing" variety. The man to give that difference amidst all the superb ball inter-passing. Bear in mind, among all the great movement, failure to find the net, the vital ending…is as good as losing all earlier impetus. All the pretty moves will just fall flat.
Two seasons of trophy-less seasons…Come season 07/08, with a well rested Henry up and running and possibly some signings... the "transitional" period should end and I see the team challenging for honours again. But, as for now... on a night where we got to beat PSV, it was Koeman who triumphed. The evening where steely nerves was needed, alas, it wasn’t there.
posted by The Quiet Stone at 4:42 PM
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