Next game: The Arsenal

[TheReturnOfTheSpecialOne]

Other than the defence looking worse i cannot see any change under the count. I know it's early days but I'd think we'd see a different pattern.

Suddenly I don't feel quite as confident about the coming season.

Ya Ya and Fernando had looked very busy in Hong Kong; today, they were probably only operating at 40%, at best

[london blue 2]

Other than the defence looking worse i cannot see any change under the count. I know it's early days but I'd think we'd see a different pattern.

Suddenly I don't feel quite as confident about the coming season.

Ya Ya and Fernando had looked very busy in Hong Kong; today, they were probably only operating at 40%, at best

If that's the case we have to question why?

[Ted Hughes]

Anybody seen Nasri do anything useful?

Not today but he has been one of our best players pre season & doesn't deserve stick for the faults today.

He was excellent in those post-season games against Chelsea, but that was before we'd signed four players. Perhaps he gets the sense he won't be getting too many starts and is going to spend another season moaning and groaning

He has been running his balls off pre season & did today but he is just not that good as a wide player, when he has played centrally pre season, he has been better than Jovetic.

Why he even gets a mention when we have just defended like Brian Horton's team though, I have no idea.

[Beefymcfc]

It's a FRIENDLY!!!

What I seen in the first half is good enough for me as we all know that it doesn't work when so many changes are made. Let's not forget who we were up against here. This Arsenal side are the exact same side that was together last year. They've not changed a thing and we know they can play football.

We outplayed them for many parts of the game but they bamboozled us on the break and the quick ball through. This is what these games are for, experimenting to see where we are. That first half team, with a bit of tinkering, will set us off for the season. The rest, once sorted, is just icing on the cake.

PS. I like Nasri.

[Ted Hughes]

Other than the defence looking worse i cannot see any change under the count. I know it's early days but I'd think we'd see a different pattern.

Suddenly I don't feel quite as confident about the coming season.

Ya Ya and Fernando had looked very busy in Hong Kong; today, they were probably only operating at 40%, at best

If that's the case we have to question why?

Yaya & Fernandinho ran the midfield & made shitloads of interceptions.

Neither are Gareth Barry type players & will not sit & protect the defence.

[Cit.revenge]

To much stars there is no workers and yes almost the same game under Bob but Arsenal play like it was for points really close, eleven players on one half. Hart is crap for some time i really think Panti looks better yap and ref was crap.But maybe just this is what we need and Pelle also so he can see how sleepy we can be.

[phips]

for anyone that missed it and wants to watch it now...although i dunno who would...its up on live.mcfc.co.uk

[Ted Hughes]

It's a FRIENDLY!!!

What I seen in the first half is good enough for me as we all know that it doesn't work when so many changes are made. Let's not forget who we were up against here. This Arsenal side are the exact same side that was together last year. They've not changed a thing and we know they can play football.

We outplayed them for many parts of the game but they bamboozled us on the break and the quick ball through. This is what these games are for, experimenting to see where we are. That first half team, with a bit of tinkering, will set us off for the season. The rest, once sorted, is just icing on the cake.

PS. I like Nasri.

It's pretty obvious that we are not right defensively, friendly or not. We were totally dominating the game & went two, then 3 down.

People buried their heads in the sand & ignored obvious problems all last season. We have some problems this season & a week, ruined by an international break, to sort it out.

[Beefymcfc]

for anyone that missed it and wants to watch it now...although i dunno who would...its up on live.mcfc.co.uk

It's an education.

[Jorgobot]

I wish we would use a 4-3-3 where Barry could sit in front of the defense with yaya and fernandihno in front with two wingers feeding the striker

[Dameerto]

Other than the defence looking worse i cannot see any change under the count. I know it's early days but I'd think we'd see a different pattern.

Suddenly I don't feel quite as confident about the coming season.

Ya Ya and Fernando had looked very busy in Hong Kong; today, they were probably only operating at 40%, at best

If that's the case we have to question why?

Alternatively it might not be the case, meaning we don't.

[TheReturnOfTheSpecialOne]

Anybody seen Nasri do anything useful?

Not today but he has been one of our best players pre season & doesn't deserve stick for the faults today.

He was excellent in those post-season games against Chelsea, but that was before we'd signed four players. Perhaps he gets the sense he won't be getting too many starts and is going to spend another season moaning and groaning

He has been running his balls off pre season & did today but he is just not that good as a wide player, when he has played centrally pre season, he has been better than Jovetic.

Why he even gets a mention when we have just defended like Brian Horton's team though, I have no idea.

No good 'running his balls off pre season' if he creates nothing, Squire!
When our defence concedes goals - as they inevitably are going to do - we look to our creative side to compensate

[Ted Hughes]

I wish we would use a 4-3-3 where Barry could sit in front of the defense with yaya and fernandihno in front with two wingers feeding the striker

This is the formation I was suggesting but I think it will be someone other than Barry if we ever use it. Had we used it today, at least two of the goals wouldn't have been scored.

[TheReturnOfTheSpecialOne]

It seems like Arsenal have 2 extra players out there which kinda indicates we have a couple strolling about.

I like Javi Garcia in some ways but someone needs to make him understand that if he is going to feature in our side he needs to make sure he is first to the ball more often than not. Seems that every time he's challenging for the ball he is clinging onto the oppo's shirt and trying to half heartedly reach his foot round. Him and Dzeko...for such big lads are fucking pansies

You like Garcia?
Like, how?

[Ted Hughes]

Anybody seen Nasri do anything useful?

Not today but he has been one of our best players pre season & doesn't deserve stick for the faults today.

He was excellent in those post-season games against Chelsea, but that was before we'd signed four players. Perhaps he gets the sense he won't be getting too many starts and is going to spend another season moaning and groaning

He has been running his balls off pre season & did today but he is just not that good as a wide player, when he has played centrally pre season, he has been better than Jovetic.

Why he even gets a mention when we have just defended like Brian Horton's team though, I have no idea.

No good 'running his balls off pre season' if he creates nothing, Squire!
When our defence concedes goals - as they inevitably are going to do - we look to our creative side to compensate

He has been creating stuff when played centrally & getting chances himself. At least as much as Silva, & more than Jovetic.

[Beefymcfc]

Do we need to revert to a defensive screen, just one player?

[TheReturnOfTheSpecialOne]

It's a FRIENDLY!!!

This Arsenal side are the exact same side that was together last year. They've not changed a thing and we know they can play football.

We outplayed them for many parts of the game but they bamboozled us on the break and the quick ball through. This is what these games are for, experimenting to see where we are. That first half team, with a bit of tinkering, will set us off for the season. The rest, once sorted, is just icing on the cake.

PS. I like Nasri.

Yep. When I saw that Arsenal starting line-up I thought Wenger is really 'up for it'.
Although to be fair Pellegrini's selection was - injuries aside - probably his first-choice lineup, also

I think he'll now be having second thoughts about Dzeko as automatic starter, though; but Negredo is definitely worth persisting with. And Milner, although he was largely ineffective today - is a better start-option than Navas, who's probably better when defences are tiring
(although he needs to cut out the play-acting)

[TheReturnOfTheSpecialOne]

He has been creating stuff when played centrally & getting chances himself. At least as much as Silva, & more than Jovetic.

How many times has he played centrally for us?
And against who?
Face it, most of the games he gets - whether starting or not - he'll be told to operate wide left
(even if he drifts inside a lot)

[Beefymcfc]

It's a FRIENDLY!!!

This Arsenal side are the exact same side that was together last year. They've not changed a thing and we know they can play football.

We outplayed them for many parts of the game but they bamboozled us on the break and the quick ball through. This is what these games are for, experimenting to see where we are. That first half team, with a bit of tinkering, will set us off for the season. The rest, once sorted, is just icing on the cake.

PS. I like Nasri.

Yep. When I saw that Arsenal starting line-up I thought Wenger is really 'up for it'.
Although to be fair Pellegrini's selection was - injuries aside - his first-choice lineup, also

I think he'll now be having second thoughts about Dzeko as automatic starter, though; but Negredo is definitely worth persisting with. And Milner, although he was largely ineffective today - is a better start-option than Navas, who's probably better when defences are tiring
(although he needs to cut out the play-acting)

I don't think that was Pellers first choice line-up in the 1st half mate, I thik he is playing his cards very close to his chest. He had Dzeko and Negredo up front, together, which I don't think is his plan. This game for us was still about conditioning and seeing the lay of the land with regard to who will bring what to the party.

It reminded me of a 'Don't give anything away' type of game as I don't feel that some who started in the first half, will necessarily be the players that Pellers would start against the real top teams. This was a decent gauge of the opposition, he's got a better idea of how they will play now. Did Wenger punch the air at one point?

Arsenal may have won the battle, as they say.

[Jorgobot]

This is the formation I was suggesting but I think it will be someone other than Barry if we ever use it. Had we used it today, at least two of the goals wouldn't have been scored.

I agree. Who would you rather have there? A more offensive player like sliva or nasri feeding them passes?