Arsenal are grinding out wins, dismantling the wall of discontent brick by brick.
Since that defeat in a close-fought North London derby, the Gunners have twice been indebted to their captain and talisman Robin Van Persie. He scored braces against Sunderland and Stoke respectively to ensure six points from the last two home league games.
His performance against Sunderland was memorable not only for two well-taken goals- one smashed in with his right, the other a free kick curled home with his left- but also for an audacious attempt that so nearly proved a goal of the season contender. With the score at 1-0, Van Persie collected an Arteta pass, bamboozled Kieran Richardson with a cute dragback, and lofted a cheeky chip from the edge of the box that confounded the keeper but rebounded off the upright and out.
He is certainly Arsenal's best player, and his familiarity with the woodwork means he is probably the league's unluckiest.
There have been many improvements in Van Persie's game over the last few seasons. He is now very two-footed. He scores a lot with what he once termed his "chocolate leg", and the chipped effort in the Sunderland game also came courtesy of his right foot.
His team play has improved a lot since his early Arsenal days, when he was an exciting and often spectacular player with a very individualistic style that sometimes angered team mates.
He is more mature, more of a leader, deserving of the armband.
Lastly, and most importantly, he is scoring many goals, different goals. His vicious left foot and his considerable ability meant he was never starved of goals (except while injured), but in the early days, he was as likely to score from twenty yards as from three. Although never as averse to the tap in as Bergkamp, Van Persie was something of a DIY finisher, a man who would wait for the ball to be played to him, feint this way and that, then smash a shot from whatever angle he saw fit. It often made for spectacular viewing, but nobody ever suggested he was the much sought "fox in the box" that Arsenal are always said to lack.
Against Stoke, however, his match-winning brace was more reminiscent of Van Nistelrooy than Bergkamp. Both goals were the product of intelligent, hungry movement inside the box. And this is typical of Van Persie's output in the last few seasons. He is scoring more in and around the six yard box and this is why he is more prolific. It's actually been a while since he scored a truly spectacular goal- his free kick against Sunderland was the first such goal he has scored in a long time, and there has been nothing of late to rival his comic strip volley against Charlton or his sumptuous curler against Blackburn- but that does not matter, because he has become a better, more effective player.
New boy Gervinho has already shown frequent signs of a good understanding with the Dutchman. He may not be quite as quick as Walcott, but he uses his pace better when running with the ball. Walcott so often looks clueless when confronted with a full back and the ball at his own feet. Gervinho, on the other hand, has a handy habit of cruising beyond his marker with a sudden burst of acceleration. This led to Van Persie's two goals against Stoke, and also the vital equaliser in the away leg against Udinese. Gervinho also teed up the Dutchman's first against Sunderland with a nicely weighted pass. With this Arsenal team struggling to find much rhythm or swagger, the forging of some fruitful partnerships is vital. Signs are that there is genuine chemistry between these two.
Between the Sunderland and Stoke games, Arsenal executed a classic smash and grab in a sleepy Champions League game against Marseille, leaving qualification as group winners a distinct and welcome possibility. The game was a non-entity. Marseille's league form has been terrible, and they somehow managed not to trouble Arsenal's wobbly rearguard. With the match petering out in a dreary stalemate, a late attack saw Gervinho's micontrol fall kindly for Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman's first touch threatened to take him into traffic but he kept his composure and swept the ball home.
Last night, Arsenal reserves beat a strong Bolton side in the Carling Cup. Former Gunner Fabrice Muamba opened the scoring for the visitors, but Arshavin levelled with a fine run and finish. The Russian quickly turned provider. After another positive run he waited patiently to allow Park onside, then weighted his pass perfectly so that the Korean could shoot first time. His confident, curled finish was hopefully a sign of things to come, as Arsenal badly need another regular goalscorer to take some of that weight off Van Persie's shoulders.
So the last few games have provided some kind of lift in mood, but talk of a real revival may be premature. Arsenal have failed in all of the big tests so far, and while results are always paramont, there is still a feeling that lately, they have been labouring to victory against poor opposition. They have not played well for a solid ninety minutes, they still show no notion of how to defend set pieces, and they are still without an away win in the league. And next up, they go to Stamford Bridge.
Showing posts with label carling cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carling cup. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Arse Are On Their Way To Wembley
Not a wholly convincing performance, but Arsenal are but one step away from ending the drought.
Wenger went with a strong side: Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Denilson, Wilshere, Fabregas; Bendtner, Arshavin, Van Persie.
Nasri and Walcott held in reserve.
The first half bred nerves in the crowd and on the pitch. No real flow to the game. Ipswich were very well organised. Didn't have many attacks themselves, though they did threaten from set plays throughout.
An early, lengthy stoppage, following a collision with his keeper, saw a groggy Sagna replaced by Eboue.
At the back, Ipswich gave nothing away. They allowed little space between their midfield and defence, and were happy enough to push up the pitch because, as usual, Bendtner, Arshavin and Van Persie mostly looked for the ball to feet.
Early on, Arsenal already looked like they would need Walcott, to get in behind or to force Ipswich back and give the rest of the attack some space to work in.
That said, there were chances, despite the general lack of fluidity. Van Persie found the woodwork again, when he really should have netted, with a header from a Bendtner centre. Wilshere dinked a beautiful pass over the defence for Fabregas, whose control was exemplary, his left-pegged attempt less so.
The second half saw the discontent grow. Then Bendtner scored a beauty. He collected a long diagonal from the outstanding Wilshere, out to the left of the area. The full back chased, and Bendtner tricked his way inside, opening up for a lovely placed shot from the Robert Pires book of finishing.
Relief, then elation, when Koscielny rose unchallenged to power in Arshavin's corner. Still, the game was finely balanced- an Ipswich goal would force extra time. The game had been simple attack v defence, now blue shirts flooded forward, and Arsenal never looked wholly comfortable. Jason Scotland found himself free in the box but his effort was weak and Szczesny saved.
Fabregas finished the game with a left-footed finish after incisive interplay with Arshavin. Two assists should cheer up the Russian, even if his continued lack of belief was again betrayed by some wayward moments.
Overall, as is often the case in semi-finals, it was scrappy and, for a long time, nervous. Fabregas in particular looked for long stretches like he was almost trying too hard.
Although Arsenal were largely untroubled at the back, it was notable that Djourou seemed to win every individul battle he was faced with. And Koscielny's goal was deserved reward for his recent form. Bendtner's self-confidence annoys many but is his foremost asset. Just before his goal, he had tried to blunder his way in from the left, was easily robbed by the defender. His head never drops. He thinks he's the best player in the world and that is what makes him a useful one.
Foreign Footballer in Diving Shame
British Pundit Expresses Disgust
As usual on TV, everyone wanted Arsenal to lose. Mark Bright is the most insufferable co-commentator I've ever heard, and that really does say something. I hope he makes some ill-advised sexist remarks some time soon. In the studio, Shearer, Mattie Holland, and especially Alan Hansen stuck the knife into Fabregas over what was, admittedly, a dive.
"Continental" was a word pointedly used by Hansen, who belongs, like Keys and Gray, in a prehistoric age. You know what I would have said (that is, if I could go on television and not melt into a puddle of self-consciousness)? "Matt, you're English, right? (I know you played for Ireland, but only because you were shite.) When Arsenal went to the Valley in 2003, did you not crumple in the box under a non-existant challenge from Lauren, cheating to win a penalty which Paolo di Canio scored? (I remember everything) Did you? And where are you from again?" I'd bring up Rooney, Gerrard- repeat offenders- and Michael Owen against Argentina in 2002. They loved that. Hansen, you simple-minded prick: English, Spanish, French, whatever- almost all players dive.
Wenger went with a strong side: Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Denilson, Wilshere, Fabregas; Bendtner, Arshavin, Van Persie.
Nasri and Walcott held in reserve.
The first half bred nerves in the crowd and on the pitch. No real flow to the game. Ipswich were very well organised. Didn't have many attacks themselves, though they did threaten from set plays throughout.
An early, lengthy stoppage, following a collision with his keeper, saw a groggy Sagna replaced by Eboue.
At the back, Ipswich gave nothing away. They allowed little space between their midfield and defence, and were happy enough to push up the pitch because, as usual, Bendtner, Arshavin and Van Persie mostly looked for the ball to feet.
Early on, Arsenal already looked like they would need Walcott, to get in behind or to force Ipswich back and give the rest of the attack some space to work in.
That said, there were chances, despite the general lack of fluidity. Van Persie found the woodwork again, when he really should have netted, with a header from a Bendtner centre. Wilshere dinked a beautiful pass over the defence for Fabregas, whose control was exemplary, his left-pegged attempt less so.
The second half saw the discontent grow. Then Bendtner scored a beauty. He collected a long diagonal from the outstanding Wilshere, out to the left of the area. The full back chased, and Bendtner tricked his way inside, opening up for a lovely placed shot from the Robert Pires book of finishing.
Relief, then elation, when Koscielny rose unchallenged to power in Arshavin's corner. Still, the game was finely balanced- an Ipswich goal would force extra time. The game had been simple attack v defence, now blue shirts flooded forward, and Arsenal never looked wholly comfortable. Jason Scotland found himself free in the box but his effort was weak and Szczesny saved.
Fabregas finished the game with a left-footed finish after incisive interplay with Arshavin. Two assists should cheer up the Russian, even if his continued lack of belief was again betrayed by some wayward moments.
Overall, as is often the case in semi-finals, it was scrappy and, for a long time, nervous. Fabregas in particular looked for long stretches like he was almost trying too hard.
Although Arsenal were largely untroubled at the back, it was notable that Djourou seemed to win every individul battle he was faced with. And Koscielny's goal was deserved reward for his recent form. Bendtner's self-confidence annoys many but is his foremost asset. Just before his goal, he had tried to blunder his way in from the left, was easily robbed by the defender. His head never drops. He thinks he's the best player in the world and that is what makes him a useful one.
Foreign Footballer in Diving Shame
British Pundit Expresses Disgust
As usual on TV, everyone wanted Arsenal to lose. Mark Bright is the most insufferable co-commentator I've ever heard, and that really does say something. I hope he makes some ill-advised sexist remarks some time soon. In the studio, Shearer, Mattie Holland, and especially Alan Hansen stuck the knife into Fabregas over what was, admittedly, a dive.
"Continental" was a word pointedly used by Hansen, who belongs, like Keys and Gray, in a prehistoric age. You know what I would have said (that is, if I could go on television and not melt into a puddle of self-consciousness)? "Matt, you're English, right? (I know you played for Ireland, but only because you were shite.) When Arsenal went to the Valley in 2003, did you not crumple in the box under a non-existant challenge from Lauren, cheating to win a penalty which Paolo di Canio scored? (I remember everything) Did you? And where are you from again?" I'd bring up Rooney, Gerrard- repeat offenders- and Michael Owen against Argentina in 2002. They loved that. Hansen, you simple-minded prick: English, Spanish, French, whatever- almost all players dive.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
HUUUUUUUGE
Let's be honest, the priority for Arsenal this season is to win a trophy. Any trophy. That means, as sad as it sounds, the Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Ipswich will now be a huuuuuge game.
You can't start a fire without a spark. If and when Arsenal win the Carling Cup, the begrudgers will belittle the achievement. That's understandable, especially considering the best team Arsenal have had to beat so far is Tottenham reserves. Still, Arsene Wenger would rightly see Carling Cup triumph as Michael Collins saw the Treaty: a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
There are not many players in the current Arsenal squad who have tasted sweet success; perhaps a perceived "small" victory could prove the catalyst for bigger ones. As it is, there still seems a disturbing lack of either desire or nerve in the Arsenal ranks. The side that faced Ipswich in the first leg was full of experience, and even had Fabregas at its core. Disappointing, then, that they failed to impose themselves against limited opposition. To say, honestly, that Ipswich are worth their first leg lead speaks of the poverty of Arsenal's performance.
Still, if they bring their A game to to the home leg, all this should be rendered irrelevant.
Paul Jewell will be in charge of the Tractor Boys at the Emirates, which rekindles horrible memories of a recent Carling Cup semi-final second leg. Robin Van Persie's extra-time whopper of a free kick had Arsenal leading Wigan 2-1, before two lumbering tanks allowed Jason Roberts to score a late, late, away goals winner.
Let's hope Djourou's fitness holds up, because Koscielny and Squillaci have together shown an ineptitude worthy of Senderos and Campbell that night in 2006.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
"Don't matter how many times you get burnt, you just keep doin' the same"
If Arsenal contrive to mess this up, it becomes hard to see where the next trophy is coming from.
In the past, the reserve teams that Wenger has put out in the Carling Cup have performed very well. They've reached a few semi-finals and a final. The feeling has grown over the fallow years since 2005 that if they fully committed themselves, they would win it.
This season, Wenger has fielded a strong side in every round. He has shown he is committed to trying to win the competition. But the players still have to match that. The first leg against Ipswich was yet another sad return to the complacency that has blighted Arsenal in recent years.
They should be itching to win silverware- any silverware. At half-time, Paul Merson said:
I think Arsenal have turned up and thought, we'll roll these over and we'll move on and we'll be playing at Wembley at the end of February
and it's hard to disagree with that. It wouldn't be the first time that their attitude has let them down.
Ipswich are, ostensibly, a club in turmoil. They've just changed managers and shipped seven at the weekend against Chelsea. At the same time, a new manager often has a galvanising effect. The players may feel liberated, with the tyranny of Roy Keane consigned to the past.
No excuses though. Any Arsenal team should be able to sweep aside lower division opposition. Coming off the back of a poor showing against Leeds, this is worrying.
A lot of the players look out of sorts. Cesc Fabregas, even, gave the ball away a lot. Bendtner's self-image continues to look delusional at best. Arshavin's travails continue. If Denilson is the answer, what is the question?
The fancy dannery around the edge of the box is making Arsenal look toothless again, and they can concede to any team, at any time. A bad mix.
The tie should, of course, still be salvaged. Arsenal will fancy themselves to win by two clear goals at home to Ipswich. But they have consistently struggled at home this season and if the players don't perform convincingly, the fans' frustrations will show.
The difficult and important games are piling on, and with the squad looking inadequate in places, the pragmatist knows:
the Carling Cup remains Arsenal's best chance of silverware.
In the past, the reserve teams that Wenger has put out in the Carling Cup have performed very well. They've reached a few semi-finals and a final. The feeling has grown over the fallow years since 2005 that if they fully committed themselves, they would win it.
This season, Wenger has fielded a strong side in every round. He has shown he is committed to trying to win the competition. But the players still have to match that. The first leg against Ipswich was yet another sad return to the complacency that has blighted Arsenal in recent years.
They should be itching to win silverware- any silverware. At half-time, Paul Merson said:
I think Arsenal have turned up and thought, we'll roll these over and we'll move on and we'll be playing at Wembley at the end of February
and it's hard to disagree with that. It wouldn't be the first time that their attitude has let them down.
Ipswich are, ostensibly, a club in turmoil. They've just changed managers and shipped seven at the weekend against Chelsea. At the same time, a new manager often has a galvanising effect. The players may feel liberated, with the tyranny of Roy Keane consigned to the past.
No excuses though. Any Arsenal team should be able to sweep aside lower division opposition. Coming off the back of a poor showing against Leeds, this is worrying.
A lot of the players look out of sorts. Cesc Fabregas, even, gave the ball away a lot. Bendtner's self-image continues to look delusional at best. Arshavin's travails continue. If Denilson is the answer, what is the question?
The fancy dannery around the edge of the box is making Arsenal look toothless again, and they can concede to any team, at any time. A bad mix.
The tie should, of course, still be salvaged. Arsenal will fancy themselves to win by two clear goals at home to Ipswich. But they have consistently struggled at home this season and if the players don't perform convincingly, the fans' frustrations will show.
The difficult and important games are piling on, and with the squad looking inadequate in places, the pragmatist knows:
the Carling Cup remains Arsenal's best chance of silverware.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
A Whiff of Silverware
The much-maligned Carling Cup now appears to Arsenal an oasis in the desert of their trophy drought.
And (he said conveniently) what an unfairly maligned competition it is. Despite the top teams using it as a testing ground for young talent, there are still a lot of competitive, exciting games.
And to those who would poo-poo Arsenal's prospective triumph, it should be remembered that either Manchester United or Chelsea have won five of the last six League Cup tournaments- success breeds success, trophies can lead to more trophies, Arsenal should be going all out to win it.
In the semi-finals, they will play Roy Keane's Ipswich, who have just dispensed with West Brom. The other semi will be contested by Birmingham and West Ham. There is certainbly nothing to fear in this line-up.
You'd be tempted to say that Arsenal should be able to win it while continuing to rotate. That said, an understrength United team has been humbled by the Hammers, showing the dangers of complacency. And Alex McLeish's Birmingham have never proved an easy touch against Arsenal.
It has to be said that a defeat over two legs against Ipswich would be little short of a disaster.
This Arsenal team's inability to win big games, and the lack of silverware that has led to, has surely become a burden for the players now. Here they are presented with three distinctly winnable games and a trophy waiting at the end. There are no more excuses. Field a weakened side and go out, Wenger will be crucified. Field a strong team and lose, it would be a new low for a team that at times seems scared of success.
Obviously, winning the Carling Cup after beating Spurs's 3rd team, Newcastle, Wigan, Ipswich and either Birmingham or West Ham would not prove a whole lot, but lifting that trophy could be a big psychological boost. It could lift that invisible weight off the players' shoulders and give them the hunger to chase more glory.
Let's hope that the end of the drought is in sight.
And (he said conveniently) what an unfairly maligned competition it is. Despite the top teams using it as a testing ground for young talent, there are still a lot of competitive, exciting games.
And to those who would poo-poo Arsenal's prospective triumph, it should be remembered that either Manchester United or Chelsea have won five of the last six League Cup tournaments- success breeds success, trophies can lead to more trophies, Arsenal should be going all out to win it.
In the semi-finals, they will play Roy Keane's Ipswich, who have just dispensed with West Brom. The other semi will be contested by Birmingham and West Ham. There is certainbly nothing to fear in this line-up.
You'd be tempted to say that Arsenal should be able to win it while continuing to rotate. That said, an understrength United team has been humbled by the Hammers, showing the dangers of complacency. And Alex McLeish's Birmingham have never proved an easy touch against Arsenal.
It has to be said that a defeat over two legs against Ipswich would be little short of a disaster.
This Arsenal team's inability to win big games, and the lack of silverware that has led to, has surely become a burden for the players now. Here they are presented with three distinctly winnable games and a trophy waiting at the end. There are no more excuses. Field a weakened side and go out, Wenger will be crucified. Field a strong team and lose, it would be a new low for a team that at times seems scared of success.
Obviously, winning the Carling Cup after beating Spurs's 3rd team, Newcastle, Wigan, Ipswich and either Birmingham or West Ham would not prove a whole lot, but lifting that trophy could be a big psychological boost. It could lift that invisible weight off the players' shoulders and give them the hunger to chase more glory.
Let's hope that the end of the drought is in sight.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Re: Walcott
Walcott's brace of tidy finishes in the Carling Cup cakewalk at Newcastle last week will have given his detractors (myself included) food for thought.
It's always been clear that Walcott is a confidence player. When he scored that hat-trick for England against Croatia in the autumn of 2008, it proved the catalyst for his best run of club form. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury quickly curtailed that run.
And, despite my habitual dismissals of Walcott, maybe he has been unlucky with frequent injuries. Maybe they have stunted his progress. Maybe he could yet become a footballer.
His hat-trick against Blackpool this season had him again threatening some form, and again, injury struck. You started to wonder at that point. Every time his game progressed, it seemed, he was ruled out for a period, meaning that upon his return, he would take weeks to build his fragile confidence again.
This time, though, Walcott hit the ground running. He was clinical against Newcastle and showed the importance of a genuine threat in behind the opposition defence. It is his pace and the potential penetration it offers that makes him important to this Arsenal team, despite his status as the least "natural" footballer in the squad.
It is his very difference that makes him an essential weapon.
Fabregas had, by his own admission, a stinker of a first half against West Ham on Saturday. But when Walcott came on, the Spaniard immediately released him with a great slide rule pass, and Theo struck a post. Fabregas is the best creative midfielder in the Premiership and it seems a shame that a lot of the time the team seems to lack runners that the captain can pick out. Chamakh's arrival has been beneficial in this regard, and Walcott offers another target for Fabregas's penetrative passing.
It's always been clear that Walcott is a confidence player. When he scored that hat-trick for England against Croatia in the autumn of 2008, it proved the catalyst for his best run of club form. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury quickly curtailed that run.
And, despite my habitual dismissals of Walcott, maybe he has been unlucky with frequent injuries. Maybe they have stunted his progress. Maybe he could yet become a footballer.
His hat-trick against Blackpool this season had him again threatening some form, and again, injury struck. You started to wonder at that point. Every time his game progressed, it seemed, he was ruled out for a period, meaning that upon his return, he would take weeks to build his fragile confidence again.
This time, though, Walcott hit the ground running. He was clinical against Newcastle and showed the importance of a genuine threat in behind the opposition defence. It is his pace and the potential penetration it offers that makes him important to this Arsenal team, despite his status as the least "natural" footballer in the squad.
It is his very difference that makes him an essential weapon.
Fabregas had, by his own admission, a stinker of a first half against West Ham on Saturday. But when Walcott came on, the Spaniard immediately released him with a great slide rule pass, and Theo struck a post. Fabregas is the best creative midfielder in the Premiership and it seems a shame that a lot of the time the team seems to lack runners that the captain can pick out. Chamakh's arrival has been beneficial in this regard, and Walcott offers another target for Fabregas's penetrative passing.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
carling cup: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
I don't really care that much about the carling cup. I'm as success-starved as the next man, and would like to see Arsenal win it, but there's little chance of that happening. The quarter-finals will feature Man Utd's strong reserves, as well as chelsea, Villa, Spurs and city who will all still play close to full-strength sides. With Wenger's policy of blooding youngsters and giving reserves a run-out, it's hard to see an ultimate Arsenal triumph. Then again, we did get close in 2007, outplaying chelsea's first team in the final, so maybe I'm being pessimistic, we'll see.
Anyway, we all know it's a distant fourth priority, but that often leads to games like lastnight's and that's no bad thing. With the pressure off, there has often been a lot of freedom in Arsenal's play. Liverpool also rested key men, and they played their part. It would have been hard to tell, if you didn't already know, that this was a Benitez side, as the game was largely open. And it was illuminated further by three fine goals. In the first half, Merida and Insua exchanged left-footed screamers to leave the score level. Early in the second, Bendtner, who'd had a stinker to that point, fired in the winner after another flowing move.
The best of these had come earlier when the outstanding Aaron Ramsey started a move around our right back area and a succession of one-twos saw him advance to near Liverpool's area where he played in Merida with a pass that was, dare I say it, Fabregasesque.
I have to say, I hadn't been sure about the Welshman from what I'd seen last season, but there's been a huge improvement this campaign so far culminating in his best performance for the club lastnight (we'll forgive him a couple of sloppy, tired passes towards the end). Between this, and the return of Nasri, I am happy to say that Diaby's first team time SHOULD soon be up.
A word about Senderos aswell. He always looked capable of costing us the game and if Voronin wasn't so bumbling he could have punished us. I have no hatred for the Swiss as a man, he seems genuine and committed despite his difficult situation at the club, but at a team that play on the front foot as we always try to, he is a constant liability. You can see how the move to Everton would have benefitted him. They're less of an attacking side, he wouldn't have to push up to halfway and be at constant risk of getting turned and left for dead... It's a pity for Philly that it fell through, and maybe he can help us if called upon, but I'm praying that Gallas and Vermaelen stay fit somehow.
Anyway, we all know it's a distant fourth priority, but that often leads to games like lastnight's and that's no bad thing. With the pressure off, there has often been a lot of freedom in Arsenal's play. Liverpool also rested key men, and they played their part. It would have been hard to tell, if you didn't already know, that this was a Benitez side, as the game was largely open. And it was illuminated further by three fine goals. In the first half, Merida and Insua exchanged left-footed screamers to leave the score level. Early in the second, Bendtner, who'd had a stinker to that point, fired in the winner after another flowing move.
The best of these had come earlier when the outstanding Aaron Ramsey started a move around our right back area and a succession of one-twos saw him advance to near Liverpool's area where he played in Merida with a pass that was, dare I say it, Fabregasesque.
I have to say, I hadn't been sure about the Welshman from what I'd seen last season, but there's been a huge improvement this campaign so far culminating in his best performance for the club lastnight (we'll forgive him a couple of sloppy, tired passes towards the end). Between this, and the return of Nasri, I am happy to say that Diaby's first team time SHOULD soon be up.
A word about Senderos aswell. He always looked capable of costing us the game and if Voronin wasn't so bumbling he could have punished us. I have no hatred for the Swiss as a man, he seems genuine and committed despite his difficult situation at the club, but at a team that play on the front foot as we always try to, he is a constant liability. You can see how the move to Everton would have benefitted him. They're less of an attacking side, he wouldn't have to push up to halfway and be at constant risk of getting turned and left for dead... It's a pity for Philly that it fell through, and maybe he can help us if called upon, but I'm praying that Gallas and Vermaelen stay fit somehow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)