Arsenal Tried To Get A “Hand” On The Situation
Let’s just clear one thing out of the way first – the better team won. Over the two legs, Barcelona were the better team. Congratulations to them and good luck on the rest of the tournament. Let’s also face this fact shall we Gooners, there is no harm in losing to a good team – as long as there was effort and dedication by the team. It’s when we don’t show the desire or will that we can all agree – criticism is well deserved.
Arsenal’s plan was clearly evident to me from the simple fact they selected Rosicky to play rather than Arshavin. We were going to play defencive. The plan as I believe it to be was for Arsenal to take a 0-0 draw in at the half. Barcelona would likely begin to press more and open up spaces in the second half. At that point Arsene would’ve brought in Arshavin to take advantage of it. It was all working quite well up until Cesc got fancy and tried to backheel the ball – I screamed just before the goal – NO NEED TO BE F***ing CUTE (just ask my mates at the bar). The defence up until that point had been resolute and committed – with only one real shot given up. Until the goal I was really proud of the way the boys had played.
Hmmm how many referees in this picture?
Now that’s an odd thing to say because we played so anti-Arsenal. But I am a believer you have to do whatever you can do to win. Och well. Anyway, the half comes and it is 1-0. Barcelona come out and again we are sitting tight with a high line and a defencive committment I’ve not seen from a Wenger squad in a while. Then Nasri sees his opportunity and gets us the corner. Abou Diaby distracts Biscuits through his height and the OG is in. I am screaming with joy and my Barca loving mates are all looking at me with contempt.
The next few moments are a discussion of them telling me they now fear the worst. Barca they say doesn’t have to deal with something like this too often. They are not sure how they are going to handle it. In the build up to the worst call in history Barcelona look suddenly fragile. They certainly weren’t expecting an OG. The build up to Van Persie’s offsides shows this. He is whistled offside (which looked sketchy to me) and kicks the ball – it goes wide, bounces back to Valdes with force. It clearly was not any attempt to waste time or show some sort of contempt. It was a player who had his shot going and let loose on it.
The pandemonium and confusion that reigned after that call was evident on the pitch as it was in the bar I was in. Noone, nobody, nada, zilch knew why the yellow had been given on Van Persie. It was then that I knew our run was over. Sure I held out a faint hope. But Barca are tough enough with 11 men but 10. It was really only a matter of time.
But the defence really held for a while. Again, everyone was committed to the defencive plan. I was surprised. It was Sparta vs Xerxes all over again. Wave after wave of Barca attack came, we repelled and finally through a back valley (namely a good or questionable call by the ref again – depending on who you ask) that was the Koscielny penalty. It seemed at that point the flood gates were opened. But the team held firm even after the PK. It was not to be though as once the back way in was found out, the Cules kept coming in only to make it 3-1.
Still oddly enough Arsenal had everything to play for and the inclusion of Arshavin and Bendtner nicking one more away goal was still a possibility and if it wasn’t for Nicky being Nicky that could’ve happened – I said to myself – van Persie drills that shot.
picture courtesy the Daily Mail.
Well that’s it. Its pretty disgusting that a call so blantantly bad had an affect on the outcome. If you don’t think it did, you are only deluding yourself. When is kicking the ball after the whistle blows an offence and grasping someone by the throat not? There were two times when a Barca player had their hands around an Arsenal players neck in the early scrum that cost us our focus briefly, Abidal grabs Van Persie by the neck – right after Valdes gives him a hand wash (twice). After that as the picture right shows, Nasri is choked as well right in front of the ref.
Then there were some of the tackles we got called with yellows for and Barca got away with. When you have four yellow cards and one man sent off and the other team doesn’t well it is very hard to play any sort of match in that.
Look there is no saying we would’ve won 11 v 11. Barca are a good team. Probably the best assembled talent of this era. Teams like this you have to wait 20 years or so to come around. They will in all likelihood win the Champion’s League. I really don’t see any of the teams remaining that can hold a candle to them right now. But I would’ve liked the chance to have seen what would have played out – all things being even.
I always talk about my love of Hockey. One of things I like in Hockey is that refs try very hard not to have an undue influence on the match. Sometimes they do, most time they don’t. In the big games we often hear they’ve put their whistles away. They are letting the teams determine the final outcome of the match. Too often in football, it is the ref who has influenced the outcome of the match. From missed blatant penalties, to wrong offisides calls and various other egregious errors, football refs out of any other professional sport have more influence on the outcome of the game.
So that’s it we are out. Now we focus on our domestic campaigns – the EPL title and the FA Cup. How this team responds I really don’t know. My hope is the anger and frustration I heard and saw from the players and manager post-match are leveraged into a renewed focus. Or, it could be what some corners fear the start of a collapse that results in us missing any tangible success for yet another season.
I really don’t know. I will just saddle up in kit again this Saturday and root for the team as we take on United in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
See you on the flip side.
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This is the Daily Telegraph’s view and I have to say (for the third year running) I agree:
“What is being exposed with every stumble is the fact that
talent in Wenger’s squad does not run deep enough.
“His refusal to buy ready-made products may be admirable, but without proven trophy-winners in the dressing room, the search for silverware is likely to extend for another painful year.
“It is not too fanciful to propose that Wenger’s entire managerial philosophy could be put in jeopardy by failure at Old Trafford. The need for an injection of experience, of someone who knows how to win, will surely finally overwhelm the romantic desire to grow-your-own.”
I remember last summer, I was curious about Arsenal’s next season (this season).
top on the list for me:
goal keeper – finding an experienced replacement – as the year’s performances were un-Arsenal from Almunia, Fabianski, and spotty for Mannone (other than the Fulham match).
CB spots – who would the manager bring in and how would Dj perform? Vermaelen proved to be a positive impact/influence at the back.
Ramsey – would he recover from his injury at the form that excited most of us.
Back up for Song – Denilson again?
And then there were many question marks about (and not in any particular order of preference):
Arshavin – could he get his mojo back?
Rosicky – could he become a more available option in midfield?
Cesc – all the Barca talk…..where would his head be?
Jack – after the loan to Bolton, would he see much 1st team play?
vP – how many matches (at full fitness) would he contribute?
Chamakh – how long will it take for this player to adapt?
Nasri – what would be the mental effects of his exclusion from France’s WC team.
Diaby – another season of injury setbacks.
Then there was this matter of team expectations. Could or would we win any silverware? FRANKLY, I revisited the above issues and realized the climate was anything but stable.
Hope for the best but expect the worse? That seemed to be my mindset.
Anyway, at the start of the season I was hoping for 1 trophy. It did not matter the color or shape……but hoping. I was carefully watching:
the effectiveness of our goalkeeping and CB play, it stabilize. ……and as I stated late in the fall – our team troubles are not in defense (to date) but in finishing.
For Arsenal to be playing for 4 trophies was never in my mind.
Am I alone?
I can remember when we drew Barca in the CL. Some, no need to mention names, thought this was a blessing. We would lose and it would give the team some added relief in the final run up in league play.
I got a big chuckle when those same people were so critical of the 2nd tie result. They got what they hoped for and then they’re blasting manager and players.
Now its early in March, we lost the CC final (end of Feb), and shamefully lost to Barca. Funny only last season when Inter played Barca at Barca….Inter were down a man, had only had 25% possession, only 1 shot on goal, put in no goals, yet Arsenal (at 30% possession) are judged at a different standard. Funny world.
I can’t forecast how the season will turnout. We might not win anything.
I certainly did not see Vermaelen being out all year. Did not expect Fabianski, Szczesny, and Almunia to show up and give respectable performances. What a surprise from Jack? and Dj……and Kos……and Chamakh. How exciting is Nasri……..goal scoring from Sagna, Clichy, and Rosicky – wtf.
Everyone has their own expectations. I look at this team for the past 3 seasons, I can see a positive difference, but thats me; maybe the difference is not fast enough for you.
Its often difficult to prevent your expectations from clouding the present.
For some unexplainable reason I have a dislike for SAF, Rooney, Nani, Fletcher, Rafael, Carrick, Anderson……and for selfish reasons hope that we give them a whipping tomorrow, but will settle for any score that rattles their confidence and team morale.
@Arsession,
Talks of the quadraple was illusionary (and jinxing) bollocks mentioned only by AKBs.
“Funny only last season when Inter played Barca at Barca….Inter were down a man, had only had 25% possession, only 1 shot on goal, put in no goals, yet Arsenal (at 30% possession) are judged at a different standard. Funny world.”
Oh, but Inter dont do the whole “pure” football schtick and give hypocritical lectures to others about playing “anti-football” because they defend. Infact Arsenal is the ONLY team who tries to play a ridiculous “moral high ground”.
Now you are complaining? LOL.
Would anybody complain if GG had done the same thing? No.
So the problem isnt with Arsenal the club, it is with the Wenger Babes and their AKB fanatics. :-D
Okay – I thought I had explained myself on my abject distaste for ‘Arry Redknapp.
He is always promoted as some sort of saviour of English football. When he has really only ever achieved an FA Cup win against Cardiff.
He is a crook and a cheat – he was caught tapping up a player on film and he will be in court this summer defending himself on two accounts of cheating public revenue which is based on a payment Mandaric made to Redknapp for £300,000 through a bank in Monaco.
Yet again, he is held up as a virtue of English football. Through in his rather cuntish son and it gets worse.
But I shouldn’t be surprised, Terry, Rooney and others like them (of which Redknapp qualifies for) are hoisted up as lamps we should all draw close too. It just disgusts me.
@DaAdminGooner,
Dont be bitter.
Why begrudge them of one of their “old boys”. Redknapp probably just reminds them of the days when British coaches like him used to rule the roost in Europe in the 70s and 80s – where Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa, Celtic, Nottingham Forest, etc all terrorised Europe and played good football too with Brits as the helm. Ofcourse they will hype him. Same reason they are all excited about Dalglish returning.
Its not like he sets his team out to play thug football like Tony Pulis et al. His teams play expansive, attacking football to the best of their ability. So its a combination of all three, he is English, he attacks and he has achieved some success in an era where British managers have been completely extinct from prominence.
Sure they won the FA cup against Cardiff, but he beat Man U on the way. The same Man U that tanked us. And he won it with Portsmouth. Degrading his achievements is like scoffing at Porto’s CL win in 2004.
Caught tapping some player on film? Wenger has never “tapped” a player before?? There is NO top club in Europe that has not “tapped” up players …. so it is a bit amusing you use this as a reason why he is an evil “crook and cheat”.
Yeah, being paid by an off-shore account by your boss is shady at best and believe me it is far more common than you will imagine. Kiwi addressed that sufficiently in a past comment.
@Fred,
I’ll let my one man quixotic crusade against Fat ‘Arry go – for now.
Again – I just want to reiterate – I do know the edit function is broke. Broke Back Function??? Anyway, I can’t get a hold of the guy who has been helping me out with the programming. As soon as I do I will get it fixed – I promise.
I need it as much as everyone else.
Idiots?
DAG, you don’t like Harry Rednapp – your call. But that doesn’t mean we all have to hoe in to the man and look for ills with which to whip him with. I’ve answered your main criticisms, calmly, and in a reasoned fashion. He’s hardly the first prominent person to feel the gaze of the tax-man, and neither is he the first manager to overspend when allowed.
And let’s remember he’s not only the current Spurs manager, he’s also a Gooner (as I understand it). So…. you know. Calm down.
How many of us live in North London? So aside from a dated rivalry, that has only become relevant because of our sustained failure and their recent rise, why not say it how we see it? They’re doing ok, we’re still kicking tires as we were 6 years ago.
I undertood this was an Arsenal site not a Wenger site? Not so? There is a large and growing contingent of ARSENAL supporters that feel Wenger is not performing as well as he should. That’s how it is. I understand there is also a large contingent of supporters who are still deeply (almost romantically?) involved with Wenger and believe he still to be our one true hope (love?). That’s how it is too.
This dissection in our support base will not see a reunion until Wenger either wins or leaves. He’s had a (footballing) eternity to convince us that his latest approach is the real deal and the quadruple hope has eroded in half in recent games and may erode further. For those that still believe Wenger’s approach is the best available to Arsenal you may want to ask yourself “what has to happen for you to reconsider that position?”.
@Kiwi,
Great, great post. I’ll avoid repeating everything I agree with, as I agree with so much.
I will say that I think DAG said ‘Idiots’ tongue-in-cheek. Or at least wasn’t being completely serious.
The Spurs thing was something we discussed one or twice back in the AA days, but may be worth revisiting. Many (most?) of us aren’t even in the UK, much less the N5. The Spurs rivalry is one I’ve always understood intellectually, but never felt emotionally. For the last few seasons, in particular, I actually enjoy watching them play more than most of the Prem.
I also like the idea that their success might put some pressure on the Arsenal board. So unless they’re playing Arsenal, I’m good with them doing well.
I have a much more visceral reaction to United. I don’t know any Spurs fans here in the Mid-Atlantic of the US, but I know United fans. Obnoxious fuckwits, each and every one. I don’t want to hear from them before, during or after matches. It was a great thrill when we came from behind to beat them (’07) 2-1 in the last 10 minutes, because the biggest of the arseholes had called to prematurely gloat, literally, two minutes before RVP scored the tying goal. Same dbag posted ‘Thank you, Sunderland’ as his Facebook status on Sunday. I rarely stoop like this, but my Sunday status extoled the many virtue of Liverpool.
When it’s personal…that’s what a rivalry feels like to me.
@vibe4arsenal,
(Sigh) Can’t edit. He posted that status about Sunderland on Saturday.
@vibe4arsenal,
(sigh) Can’t edit. He posted the status about Sunderland on Saturday.
@Kiwi,
First my comments on Gooners “respecting’ Fat ‘Arry are all tongue in cheek. Yes, I know he is a Gooner but I still don’t think he is anything special as a manager.
Let’s consider this – had City not collapsed at the end of the season last year it would be they in the Champion’s League and not Spurs.
For all their achievement – it couldn’t have happened without City’s collapse. Sure they’ve done well in the Champion’s League. I wonder how Spurs would’ve fared if Rafa wasn’t managing/tinkering with Inter versus what inter are right now.
I want ‘Arry to manage England for one reason and one reason only, then we can truly see what a fraud he is as a manager when he picks a squad made up entirely of all the good ol’ boys of England and they fail miserably at the the 2014 cup.
He is a self avowed non-tactical manager. In the world cup if you can’t play with some sort of tactical nous you will get shredded by teams like Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Germany, etc. I am going to laugh my ass off when he takes over the managerial side of the National Team and falls flat on his chubby little ass.
Look, luck gets you places and Spurs have taken advantage of their luck. Good on them. I still think they are vastly overrated. I think they will wind up in the Europa league next year.
Sorry if you folks don’t like my analysis of the Spurs or ‘Arry but I call it like I see it.
@DaAdminGooner,
Wow, your bitterness is frankly amusing.
Fabio Capello, an accomplished tactician failed with England’s set of planks too you know.
Luck that he got into the CL. He BEAT Man CIty head to head to overtake them on the table. Sheesh.
@Fred,
Like I said City collapsed at the end of the season.
There is nothing bitter about it. It’s an abject disdain for someone who hasn’t accomplished much being heralded as the saviour or king of English Football.
According to the press he can never do wrong. It’s just a fallacy.
@DaAdminGooner,
City collapsed? That is NOT true. They run in was decent. They lost twice to Everton and very unluckily to Man U. That is not exactly a “collapse”.
Spurs overtook them by playing gung-ho and scraping a 1-0 win away in Manchester. They BEAT Man City to overtake them.
Lets be objective here.
@Fred,
**lost twice … once to Everton, once to Man U.**
@ Kiwi:
Oh yeah, too many gooners underestimated him.
Even last year, everybody on this site was up in arm when he won the coach of the year award ahead of Roy Hodgson! LOL!
I dont know much about his personal life, so cant comment on his “tax issues” but it is blatantly unfair to blame him for the Portsmouth debacle. He was NOT in charge of the money, so its just ridiculous. Infact, if I remember right, he was fired, left to join Soton, and returned after a few months in one stretch. Very poor administration they had back then.
As for tactics as a coach, I like the fact he has actually set up a very decent attacking outfit with good wing play and I like that he is one of the very few managers BRAVE enough to continually play with two forwards, even in critical games or stretches of games.
And he has reaped the rewards for that.
From relegation to CL quarter finals in two years is CLEAR progress by every barometer.
As for their finances, I dont know the ins or outs, but I know our wages are much higher than theirs!
@Fred,
Actually as manager of Pompey – Redknapp had a large influence over the money. The large signings he brought into the club and the huge wages that he agreed to – were part of the problems affecting the club in its decline.
And let me remind all you idiots – this is not a Spurs fan forum.
Stop the splooging over Fat ‘Arry or feel my authority. :heh:
@DaAdminGooner,
lol, where did the “fat” part come from?
He’s always known just as ‘Arry, at least to us Spurs fans anyway ;)
I’m not surprised that Harry of Spurs has again proven his worth. When he joined Spurs many mocked his credentials and Spurs for engaging him – not me. Behind the jovial exterior is a capable manager who knows how to pick players and fashion them in to a winning unit.
Now Spurs are enjoying a Champions League ride and challenging again for a top 4 position – not bad for a team that he inherited that was closer to relegation than aspiration. And it hasn’t take him 6 years to do it. Nor have Spurs fans had to endure a stream of banal references to values and principles. (I’m still trying to unpack the bit about our wage bill being so close to ManU’s and Chelsea’s – which principle does that align to?)
No, reality is Wenger’s weddedness to his principles and values have seen us kick tires for 6 years. During this period we’ve allowed Chelsea to usurp our top-dog in London position and now Spurs are rising to a level of credibility. This project smells of little more than personal vanity – so much of it is about Arsene Wenger and what he wants to be remembered for. That’s why he’s prepared to sacrifice winning year-upon-year so that his project can eventually be hailed successful according to his methods. After all, signing a quality player or 2 or 3 would deflect the glory from him and if we then were to succeed it may make everyone else look ‘right’ after all. Couldn’t have that could we.
@Kiwi,
Let’s not ever speak of Fat ‘Arry on this site – ever. The man is a crook and he destroys clubs after he leaves. He is part of the reason Pompey are where they are.
He is fortunate that he has an owner willing to spend the cash. But even now – Levy is pulling back on that – check out ‘Arry’s desperate plea for any striker but none came in.
Levy is reigning in ‘Arry’s spending – the club will not be able to sustain it much longer – this according to press reports.
Spurs will not make the top 4 this year. When that happens the likes of Modric, Bale and Van der Vaart will piss off for the money of other leagues – Modric has already said as much.
‘Arry is likely to go to jail this summer – the team already have a plan in place should he be convicted of tax evasion.
Ugh I can’t believe I wasted any time on that fat sack of shit.
@DaAdminGooner,
Need a bib to catch the bile? :-)
I’m not up with Harry’s issues with tax, perhaps he was given bad advice? How would I know, or anyone? For a salary earner it’s straight forward – tax is deducted at source and you can then be as pious and moral as you like – you make no decisions and bear no risk. For income earners where it isn’t deducted at source you have to file a return and declare your profit/earnings. It presents issues that are often not black/white. Tax regimes have typically no tolerance, offer no accountability and enjoy absolute power.
The demise of Portsmouth is sad. But there is always a tension between the manager and the board – or between the man who assembles the squad and the man who controls the purse strings. However on balance the manager is there to manage the football side – the team onfield. The CEO/Board oversee the fiscal side. So your slur on Harry is jaundised to say the least.
@Kiwi, Kiwi, you, you….Gallas (Judas)….
I figure if anyone can take a bible joke, the coiner of “Desert Years,” should be the one…..And only 34 more years to go, by the way…..Also, lol on the bib/bile stuff….
Advice for DAG: Praise for ‘Arry might be easier to read after a pint or two, as it is for Pompey fans to feel the warmth of their FA cup victory….while they cheer on their squad a full 14 points safe from relegation in the Championship….And if ‘Arry isn’t locked up on the tax stuff, and he doesn’t die of consumption, you’re looking at your future England manager (after Rooney goes missing at the next Euros….After all he’s managing England’s two finest strikers….Crouch and Defoe….)
Spurs (and their supporters), I think, are enjoying their season in the sun as well they should; their best bet for getting back to the CL is if Chelsea roll over in the league (giving United an easy 3 along the way) and qualify by winning the big earred jug. Assuming we don’t do anything beyond the pale in the interim, our match at White Hart Lane looms extremely large for our title chances, and for it to be Spurs best. season. ever. In other words it is unthinkable…..
That said, I have found myself watching a lot of Spurs football this season. They play in a wildly open style, enhanced by their lightning fast pitch. I had stuff to do yesterday, but I couldn’t pull myself away, as it was just about as exciting as nil-nil can get. Alice the Goon (Gomes), after starting like Flappy, has become pretty reliable and Gallas actually looked inspired in saving one off the line. Modric (if not flattened) would be a DREAM in our midfield and I’m not even going to talk about the Welsh Messi….Too bad those talented Milan attackers hate passing to each other even more than running more than a few yards at a time…..
In other words (and to bring the bible reference full circle….), If we ever needed a god in North London, it’ll be on the day we finally play our match at the Lane…We SIMPLY must give better than Ibrahinho, et al did yesterday, get our result, and keep the earth spinning on the correct point, slightly to the SOUTH of 7 sisters….
@Kiwi,
Redknapp has always been my favourite manager. He’s a complete genius imo.
Some of the signing he’s made over the years and the way he’s got teams out of trouble has been unbelievable. Andres D’Alessandro for example. A wayward talent that Harry managed to coax something out of. Di Canio as well. The list is endless.
@Kiwi, Yes I think it may be too late for him to change because it might mean admitting things did not work out. Hopefully there can be some small changes such as not complaining when other teams shut up shop and not play football. Pointing out leg breaking tactics is still required but every now and then teams will only defend for majority of a game just like Arsenal tried to do on Tuesday.
I find it interesting how one result can be see through vastly different perspectives. Spurs are hailed as steely for their 0-0 tie yet Italian press are saying the right team did not win. It seems quite amusing to see Italians, of all people, complaining about another team’s defensive approach. Yet, if the reverse had happened and Milan had needed only a 0-0 tie, they would have been praised at home and the English press would have denounced Milan’s boring tactics.
At the end of the day, victory does have a more lasting impression than how it was obtained. I celebrated the 2005 F.A Cup win even though it was achieved on the back of a massive prayer. Heck, I enjoyed Arsenal’s 1-0 Cup Winner’s Cup triump over a vastly talented and attack minded Parma side. Oh the irony in that one. I also remember the Brazilian press savaging their team’s play in the 1994 World Cup, especially after their 3-2 win over the Dutch, yet they all celebrated a World Cup won on penalties.
Welcome to the new posters here….And good work DAG on bringing them in and growing the site. Stay strong….
Among the old hats I’m seeing some interesting stuff about how we played in Tuesday’s match and our approach in general and I’m hoping to weigh in on the Arselona “style of play” myself (eventually, maybe)….
In the meantime, however, there’s the small matter of the FA cup at OT. As we did at Barca, even though (as Sachin points out nicely) it runs counter to our “philosophy,” and some of AW’s enumerated goals, I think we should play for a draw and a replay. Given that ManU need to keep something in reserve for their midweek CL match and likely will have more CL matches as the season moves on, I think we can absorb the extra fixture far easier than they might. Too bad we’re injured and just not that deep….
Like many here, I too am tiring of the Manager’s excuses or appeals to higher ideals (not to mention his “injury” updates). However, given that I’m still “supportive” of him (and the team) I take much of it with a grain of salt. If I were a doctor this is what I’d prescribe to all Arsenal fans with maybe a 2nd one (and some Xanex) for my doomer/realist patients….
As for the Barca match itself, given our injuries coming in, the lack of sub options that the early loss of our keeper presented and the superiority of the opposition, including their 12th man, the referee, playing on the break (“parking the bus”) should be saluted as a wise tactic. It was always going to be tough given the poor movement of RVP and Cesc through injury and the dodgy level which Rosicky and Diaby bring to the squad, but these players represented our best chance at “nicking” one (or two). What really hurt, in the early stages of the match, was the referee buying the serial diving from Barca (though not the Messi appeal for a penalty) as well as allowing their serial fouling (esp. from Alves on Nasri), while giving yellows to Wilshere and Koscielny for very minor ones. A natural fall-out of this early “play” was the argy-bargy near the end of the half, with Barca throat grabs going unseen and unpunished while RVP’s (minor) retaliation drew another yellow. The lack of concentration may have led to their first goal, or maybe it was just Cesc’s DNA….
The own goal (Diaby blinding poor Sergio with a jump to rival the height of Gaudi’s Cathedral….) then put the onus on further ref intervention and then the show was on. Mooney’s display should land him a nice 4-5 year contract with a mid-level Spanish club to see out his career, and Barca did enough to win the match (despite Bendy’s glorious chance to snatch it away.) If anything, I’d accuse them of trying to be too cute, and too dedicated to THEIR philosophies (“passing the ball into the net,” etc.). I like their game (minus the diving and cheating) but I fear for Barca in the upcoming rounds if they draw an English (or less supportive) ref for one of their home matches vs a bigger, tougher team like say, Chelsea or (even) Real Madrid.
Finally, I will say this. Football is in a bad way if it continues to allow referee performances like we saw. At best, you could argue that we were undermined by a ref who tolerated the continental style above the English. At worst, he looked determined to put Barca through, by hook or by crook. And he’s scheduled to ref the final!?! As Sachin’s piece below suggests, AWs goals are too diverse and it’s too difficult to swim against the current in English football culture and in Spain against the best (most coddled?) one there. For a while, recently, it appeared the rougher English culture was coming to the fore, but with the first chapter of this CL season now written (and the same ref to oversee the final) it appears the pendulum may be swinging back…..
@highburyterracesteve, I am hoping when the UEFA panel has their post game review, they will decide to not give Massimo the final after all. That will only delight non-Barca fans as it turns out he has upset many Man Utd fans previously when Man Utd met Barca a few seasons ago in the CL. Coincedence? Someone needs to examine if he has a Catalan girlfriend on the side :)
Diaby blinding poor Sergio with a jump to rival the height of Gaudi’s Cathedral
Steve, this is a brilliant line. But these words have got me thinking on an unfortunate tangent. Gaudi’s cathedral may never be fully finished and has been on work for a long time. I wonder if the same applies to Arsene’s project? Going on forever, with small improvements here and there, yet still lacking the final completed project.
Moving ahead to saturday…
Even I was thinking like you that Arsenal have a better chance to absorb an extra fixture than Man Utd now that Arsenal’s fixture calendar has cleared up a bit. At this stage, I think it is extremely important to escape Old Trafford without a defeat. It is not a surprize that SAF has broken his media silence to offer a few words about Arsenal. I am sure in his mind he is thinking back to 2008 and hoping that he can use a big F.A Cup win to knock Arsenal out and also deliver a mental blow on them for the title run. In an ideal world, a F.A cup match should have no impact on a league title but with this Arsenal team everything is connected.
I don’t care how Arsenal does it but they have to get a draw or a win on saturday. Otherwise, it could get massively uncomfortable to watch the fall-out after that, not only from the fans but from some Arsenal players and their future prospects.
@sachin, Thanks for the props on the line….and your thought about the “unfinished” Sagrada Familia is a reasonable analogy, what with the (moving) goalposts lingering on the horizon….not to mention the curvy lines, making the whole business seem an hallucination….
We NEED to accomplish something without Cesc, whose hammy seems to be holding out for his dream move back home….The chance was there at the CC final and we bungled it. And it will be there on Saturday. I’d really like to see Ramsey get on the pitch, because, with the almost comical ineffectiveness of anybody beyond 19 year old Jack (and Cesc, when he’s not playing for Barca….and Song who is out for who knows how long) our central MF, just ain’t cutting it. As such we might as well set out to defend, play route 1 and try and earn set pieces and hope for the best.
Wenger, like Gaudi, is a visionary and his dreams are beautiful…..they just need to come true every once in a blue moon….(a reference to another team, Man City which is getting dragged back into the title hunt due to our–and United’s–wobbles).
As always, hope for the best, brace for…..
Just a couple of things to throw in here –
I’ve rewatched the game now – and up until the first goal and then up until the sending off Van Persie – our defencive work rate was solid. I can not give you an accurate count, because my own interpretation of what is a shot versus what isn’t is likely different than official stats keepers.
The first goal is I believe only there second or third shot on goal – the first is the one that injured Szcesny. At the start of the half they have two or three attempts – one on goal. It wasn’t until Van Persie was sent off that the shot total sky rocketed.
It really means nothing in the scheme of things of our loss. We lost. Would we have won? I dunno. I would’ve liked to have seen it on a level playing field.
This is now the third time in 3 years that Barcelona have benefitted froma refs call. The first being against Chelsea, last year’s tie against Inter saw Inter go down to ten men (Inter benefited from a 3-1 scoreline) and then this. I do not subscribe to ref bias of one team over another. I feel that refs when faced with hostlie crowds in big game situations lack any spine to make calls against the home team. And Arsenal have benefitted from this as well.
Finally, a lot of people have said “give me 6 Jack Wilshere’s” I am here to tell you – in the not so near future those types of players are going to be part of the Arsenal squad. Henri Lansbury, Chuks Aneke, Benik Afobe, Kyle Bartley, Connor Henderson, Ignassi Miquel are all of that same ilk. You all see it in Szczesny too. That group of youngsters that all played together really do play in a similar vain to Wilshere. Though Wilshere is all together special.
@DaAdminGooner,
And I was right – at the half Barcelona had 3 shots on goal. They had another 13 after RvP was sent off.
@DaAdminGooner, that’s great, they had 75% possession before AND after.
we had ZERO shots before, and ZERO after.
We didn’t even try to play football… this tactic coming from the same club / manager that regularly complains when opposing teams “don’t play football” against us…
@DaAdminGooner, that’s great, they had 75% possession before AND after.
we had ZERO shots before, and ZERO after.
We didn’t even try to play football… this tactic coming from the same club / manager that regularly complains when opposing teams “don’t play football” against us…
@stag133,
Yep.
I believe the saying is “they didn’t want to come out so we had to be a little bit patient”.
Another pathetic ref’s decision leaving us all wondering why. Who knows whether we would have held out. All I know is that up until the sending off and despite all barcelona’s dominance, they have been restricted to 3 or 4 shots on goals. One of those was a long range free kick and an other that ridiculous angled shot from that tight angle, that hit the bar. They had ridiculous amounts of possession yes, but as you see all the time with us, that doesn’t gaurantee a result. So we didn’t have any shots on goal. Inter beat Barcelona without having a single shot on goal. If it had been left as 11 v 11, we may just have held out. Thats the point. Wenger always gets criticised for having no plan b. Well he used plan b this time and went for the defensive option, which most of the pundits speculated he wouldn’t do. And who knows, it might just have worked barring a shocking ref decision. End off
“Even at 3-1 we only needed one goal and you can’t understand how there can be players that were walking,” said Almunia
__________________________________
hmm, someone hasn’t been reading his lines
@Kiwi, Since he is likely leaving at the end of the season, he has decided to throw away the script. Coming up next: Almunia unplugged, the whole truth and nothing but the truth album. And we may finally get the full Jens story.
@sachin,
For those who are kidding themselves that there was no shame in the Barcelona result, I suggest you either watch the match again OR read the game stat’s. Whilst you can say that stat’s don’t tell you everything – in this match they demonstrate that Barcelona’s football was on a different planet to Arsenals.
Sorry Arsene it was woeful, for a team that prides itself on style, possession and passing we had none – ZERO. Try explaining that. It was wretched, awful, truely men against boys. And yet, we weren’t boys, of the outfield only Wilshere is a teenager and he’s 19 which isn’t 16 is it. The rest are all in there prime years as footballers, and many of the younger ones have had years of prep at the creche.
This should be a seminal moment for Arsene and his alleged 5-year plan. We can’t dispatch English fodder like Birmingham in a final nor can we compete with a true footballing side. But we can qualify for Europe. Is that the height of our aspiration? So he has the FA Cup and his nemesis Sir Alex next up, and then an EPL slug-fest for the title with….. Sir Alex.
@Kiwi,
For the 1st 45 minutes we could not maintain possession and why was that…..men against boys? I disagree.
The reason was not their brilliant technical – tactical play, but the fact that vP and Cesc could not run or apply any extended pressure. If you do not have fitness, your technique and tactical understanding are bystanders.
Not only could either apply pressure, but when we did win the ball, they were not physically able to support their teammate OR could not hold the possession.
Arsenal could have added both of us to their starting XI (replacing Cesc and vP) and it would have given them the same performance.
To be effective against any top club, we needed all 10 field players at peak physical performance. It was very easy for Barca to overrun our midfield when these 2 key players (down our spine) were not able to ‘keep up with play’. Definitely the managers risk and fault.
Cesc and vP should have never been allowed to start the 2nd half.
Did you ever play grid games? Then you can understand how in 3 v 1…..its very difficult to win the ball back OR maintain possession.
Yes, we could not string together many passes……but when the car has 2 flat tires efficiency is lost.
It is your opinion that Barca are on another planet…….I believe that the match only spotlights that for Arsenal to compete with Barca…….we can only do it with our best XI field players being match fit.
The match is over and time for all of us to focus on ManU.
@Kiwi, I am assuming this was not meant to be a reply to me but a new post because I do mention that for once stats do tell the full story :)
@sachin,
Not at you Sachin…..
While most articles do acknowledge the ref stupidity, they also point out Arsenal’s fault for getting eliminated. For once, the stats do tell the full story and Arsenal need to take a long hard look at themselves. Yet, amazingly Arsenal could have still progressed near the end. Now if Arsenal had bungled their way through 3-2 on the night, would it have been the first time in the history of the CL that a team that didn’t deserve to win actually progressed to the next round? Ofcourse, not. If Arsenal had gone though in a 3-2 loss, then they would have had just one shot on net. Dismal stuff that does not getting better by saying 1 is preferable than 0. But I would not be surprized if that low number was close to what Jose’s Inter and Hiddink’s Chelsea managed at the Nou Camp a few seasons ago. In fact week in week out, plenty of teams in various leagues get results despite being second best. In the EPL, quite a few teams pride themselves on getting a result against mighty teams by being second best. There are plenty of English managers who proudly wear a badge of second best on their sleeves. But the problem is Mr. Wenger is not one of those managers.
For years, Wenger has attacked other managers/teams for not playing good football. This high moral stand is probably a reason why there are many articles which talk about Arsenal’s betrayal of their football against Barca. But Arsenal were trying to do what many teams do week in week out, that is get a result by any means possible. Arsenal did not go full studs up a la Big Sam style. They tried to execute a very difficult plan despite not having players capable to execute that plan — the reasons varied from some not being fit (oh captain, my captain), to not motivated to incompetent. Some did amazingly well (Jack, Dj Kos, Manuel) but in the end, as a team, they could not cut it.
I would have still celebrated if Arsenal had progressed despite being awful. Barca have given enough grief to Arsenal over the last few seasons about Cesc and prior to Tuesday had already beaten Arsenal in 2 CL campaigns. So a win would have been nice but not to be.
Arsenal are in a tough spot. Their perfect football game depends on all their top players being fit and other variables such as perfect pitch, no rain and no rugby tactics from the opponents. This has been the approach for all the various Wenger teams from 2001 onwards. Plan A only. There was no consideration given to an alternate plan (plan B if you like) or even adopting a defensive approach to get results. Wenger knows only one way to get a result and everything else. Now, he has a team that is never full present when crunch time arrives because of persistent injuries. He has no defensive tactics to fall back onto successfully. And even if he were to use defensive means, he would be called out for it because that is what he used against other teams for years.
Wenger has created such a high standard for pure success that no team in the world can attain it, not even his own team. Those standards mean not spending money on players, worrying about a team’s long term financial viability, playing attacking football by passing the ball always and not using long balls/set-pieces/crosses to score goals, not paying attention to the opponent’s tactics, not working on defensive formations and not caring much for trophies.
He has too many goals set out for wanting to achieve a title. Small steps first. For example: defensive coaching to all players so if needed, the team can hold it together for a few minutes. It would have been perfectly keeping with Arsenal behavior if they had let Barca score a goal a minute after Arsenal tied it up.
Interesting stuff from Arsenal Legend Martin Keown in an interview Wednesday with the BBC:
“They’re hurting but they’ve got to look ahead now, it’s a very important game against Manchester United – what team will he [Wenger] pick? I feel he has to pick his strongest possible team because the fans may start to turn on the team a little bit.
He has a five-year plan and this is the last year of it. They are now showing what they are capable of but if they don’t win anything now he’ll be buying players to add to the group.
Barca were superb and you have to say they were on a different level. Tactically they are so hard to play against – but it was remarkable to see Arsenal dictated to in that fashion.
They didn’t give a good account of themselves – there was only one team in it from start to finish. [van Persie’s] first booking was needless and you can’t give the ref any opportunity.
He was giving them every decision so it (the second yellow card, for time-wasting) fell into his hands really. It’s hard enough trying to beat the best team in world with 11 men.
But there doesn’t seem to be any common-sense in the referees’ rulebook these days – it killed it from an Arsenal point of view.”
I’m hearing you Fred.
There’s a continuum, on the left are sides that overwhelm you with their miserly defence (yet they still have an attack) and on the right are those who overwhelm you with their offence (and yet they have a defence). All teams line up along that continuum.
In this sense, Barcelona and Arsenal both occupy a place toward the right.
It’s because of this offensive bias that I fear Barcelona may lack the robustness to sustain their regal reign notwithstanding the overwhelming praise that is (rightly) ringing in their ears. You need a level of balance, pragmatism and mental toughness to build a sporting dynasty.
Another big game, another no show.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the greatest Big Game Bottler of all time.
@Fred,
Extra point:
This might be or might not be obvious, but their individual close control is miles ahead of ours … even Fabregas on his day. The ball just seems to bounce off our players too often but for them the ball just comes to a dead stop.
A lot of the time when we lost the ball, we lost it because one of our players did not have proper control and had to run or slide in an attempt to get it back. That said, our ball control is better than most teams.
——————————————————
Also lost in the thick of it all is that:
Barca have an absolutely garbage defense. All their defenders should actually be midfielders (and good ones at that) but defensively they are as thick as fuck. How thick? As thick as Clichy and Eboue, thats how. The kind of crap they get away with is incredible. I would even go as far as saying that our defense is better than theirs – even with Pique and Puyol.
Their midfield is just superb at completely preventing them from actually being tested.
So we are actually more similar to them defensively than offensively.
@Fred, yes Fred, “garbage defense”.
ridiculous.
They’ve given up 13 goals in 27 league matches.
Running away with their league… favorites for the CL…
who’s defense is better?
@stag133,
In case you dont understand English, I said, their midfield prevents their defense from actually getting tested often enough. So their midfield is possession hogging and tenacity is actually the credit taker for that stat.
If/when their midfield cedes the initiative and sits back and the other team has a chance to actually test their defense line for any length of time they look just as wobbly as we do.
For the 15 minutes in the first leg when they ceded initiative and took Villa and sat back a bit, we created 3 chances and scored 2.
In the second leg, they let up only for five minutes from 80th to 85th and we created our only chance …. an accidental one at that, with Adriano (on a walkabout). Ofcourse help had to come from midfield (Mascherano) to snuff it out – with some assist from Bendtner.
After that chance they pushed up, reinforced their midfield with Keita, played keep ball in midfield and we could not touch the ball till the final whistle.
@Fred, I don’t care HOW they do it, their DEFENSE has allowed 13 goals in 27 matches.
There is NO “garbage” defense that has that type of stat.
You can try and spin it any way you wish, but it ain’t working.
@stag133,
And yet you don’t countered the “its the midfield” argument with any points of your own.
Don’t worry Stag, I fully expect any cerebral discussion to fly completely over your head. If you try to think too hard your head might explode.
@Fred, I don’t care HOW they do it, their DEFENSE has allowed 13 goals in 27 matches.
There is NO “garbage” defense that has that type of stat.
You can try and spin it any way you wish, but it ain’t working.
“I am convinced we would have won this game.”
Wenger is once again doing his Chemical Ali routine.
Come on, Arsene, give it up. We had our asses handed to us on a plate.
Yes, the first goal was self-inflicted. Yes, we got a freebie to get us back in the tie, Yes, the sending-off was preposterous. But there’s no way we were going to win this tie.
Not without our first 11 playing out of their skins.
It will interesting to see how much of a fight we put up on Saturday. God forbid it’s another three or four goal spanking.
The problem with all the quadruple talk is that it sets up false expectations which always come crashing down in a two-week period when our lack of depth gets exposed.
I wish we had six more players with the unintimidated grit of Jack Wilshere. I wish Wenger would let go of Denilson and buy a Beast for midfield…. Sigh…
@macmac007,
“Chemical Ali”
______________________
Superb!
@ Kiwi:
“Barcelona absolutely wiped the floor with our game, they did to us what we do often do to others ”
We might play a ground based passing game but tt is a continued illusion that we actually play like Barca. When has this team ever consistently played an attacking ground based scheme that involved:
1) frequent, concise, thru balls on the ground through the middle
2) frequent, concise, thru balls on the ground from DEEP to the winger or overlapping RB/LB.
3) frequent, concise lofted balls to overlapping runner?
4) pinging the ball IN THE BOX as opposed to passing side to side yards in front of the box.
5) flooding the opponents box when a cross in coming in – as opposed to having absolutely no one there.
6) getting fullbacks to the byline and sending in low-crosses.
7) actually having several pre-planned plays – in order words actually having a playbook designed for the particular opponent.
Yesterday, there was actually one play in which both Messi and Villa dropped deep to the left of center circle and with Xavi on the ball they criss-crossed diagonally to the right of the box. Both had nothing to do with that particular play (Adriano and Busquets came up from defense to take their formers spots AND they had a shot on target too). As a spectator you can not just help but notice how that can be quite effective but also how they actually THINK and PLAN their attack.
They had several other plays like that – not all of them came off but they created chances and they added that layer of diversity and complexity to their basic pass/move and their continous thru balls.
Arsenal has NEVER done that. We do pass and move, thats it. We dont target weakness or personell or any of the seven points I mentioned above.
Conclusion: No, they did not do to us what we do to others. Having 65% possession while stroking the ball Denilson style side to side 20 yards from opponents box is not exactly what Barca did to us yesterday. I posit that they were far more imminently dangerous than that.
@Fred,
I hear what you’re saying Fred.
I wasn’t drawing a direct comparison in our games, more-so the fact our games are both premised on possession and passing – what happens with all the possession is obviously dependent on the quality of the players. I agree, Barcelona exhibit an intelligence and maturity in their game that we don’t.
The other point I drew out relates to Barcelona being more dangerous, yes they are, and yet, danger without the climax of execution is ultimately frustrating and if a recurring theme renders the style and build-up irrelevant.
@Kiwi,
My point is that while quality is a factor, even with our best players we dont do the things I am talking about. We form non-random schemes, its just not in our arsenal. We just rely on our best players to be good on their day.
I would also add that I consider it a “climax” if there is an credible attempt (shot) on goal after a move. That is more realistic than expecting ANY team to win all their games.
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I am really sorry for the Arsenal fans who live in North London. The humiliation of having Spurs fans gloat in their faces will be just jarring.
At work and didnt watch the game, but I have already got several texts from Man U and Chelsea fans making that point to me. I cant imagine what it will be like to actually be working with some freaking Spuds!
You know the very worst part of all this? Spurs technically have a small chance of winning the CL!
If they get a good draw – say Schalke or Shaktar Donetsk and Barca gets knocked out anything could happen.
All we needed to do was come first in our crop to stop this. Ah well.
@Fred, And Defoe will be treated like a prophet for calling it back in August:
“If we can get past the play-off qualifier, I honestly think we will go further than Arsenal in the Champions League.
No disrespect to Arsenal, because they have a good record in the Champions League and for them it’s become part of the furniture, part of their regular season – it’s the norm. “
note: seems putting the link gets my comment deleted and not published?
For me, there are two aspects that remain in ones mind after yesterdays game.
First, the ineptitude in the refereeing that strongly favoured Barcelona. The calls on van Persie, the hands around throats of Arsenal players that went unpunished, etc. A bad joke.
But second, man-up, face facts. Barcelona absolutely wiped the floor with our game, they did to us what we do often do to others – wholly dominated possession but failed to execute. When we do that we claim “we deserved to win” – so it follows Barcelona deserved to win. 76% possession and no shots on goal tells part of the story, and Guardiola’s rightful assertion that we couldn’t string 3 passes toether tells the other. We weren’t at the races – it was a little bit embarrassing, yes we huffed and puffed but we couldn’t play our game AT ALL.
They overwhelmed us….. yet perhaps we saw a mirror-image of the weakness inherent in this gameplan that Barcelona have pefected and we aspire to. A game prefaced on eternal possession and passing MUST be complimented with execution otherwise it is as hollow as any other gameplan. Goals alone win matches – not possession or passing. Style without substance may be nice but its the substance that makes it meaningful. Spurs and West Ham sought the higher moral level of ‘style kings’ long before we did – yet we mock Spurs and West Ham is irrelevant. History will teach us lessons – if we have the perspective.
As for Barcelona, all time greatest? History alone will determine that. They are lovely to watch, no doubt, and yet it takes a rare perspective to assess a team in one generation against another. Gullit’s AC Milan were great, in offence, creativity and defence. They excelled in all aspects of the game and they won many honours and were stashed full of stars who worked their socks off. Barcelona have a way of playing that is offensive, creative, intricate, obsessively focused on passing and possession…… perhaps time will prove their game to sufficiently durable and robust to lay claim to such lofty greatness – but not yet.
@Kiwi,
Well said. I am partial to Gullit’s Milan teams. They were amazing to watch.
@Kiwi,
Yeah, the Milan team of Gullit, Rijkaard, Van Basten, Baresi, Maldini, Ancelloti, Donadoni then folks like Desailly, Savicevic, Boban, Albertini, Massaro and even Roberto Baggio for a bit – that was masterpiece team. They absolutely sent shivers across Europe from the late 80s to 90s.
Ajax knocked them of their perch though! :-)
PS: Milan and Ajax both had unbeaten seasons in the early 90s too.
@Fred, Ah yes those Milan teams were amazing. I remember how the 1994 European Cup final was going to be between Barca’s attack and Milan’s defense. Well Milan were just damn good and thrashed Barca 4-0.
@Fred, Ah yes those Milan teams were amazing. I remember how the 1994 European Cup final was going to be between Barca’s attack and Milan’s defense. Well Milan were just damn good and thrashed Barca 4-0.
@Kiwi,
More on that no-shots thing.
France Football reports that we are the FIRST team in Champions League history to go a full match without an attempt on goal – there have been a few without one on target – but we are the first without any – on or off.
We can keep this nice, littly plaque on the shelf close by to the other title we won just last month – first to give up a four goal lead in EPL history!
@Kiwi, As good as Barca are, one thing that I cannot shake off is the ability of some of their players to roll on the ground, play-act, and whine. If there is one team on the planet that does not need to go down like they have been hit by a missile, it is Barca. Even in last season’s CL tie, Busquets took the biggest dive of the CL season in the Nou Camp by performing a quite amazing somersault with the slightest hint of a touch and Messi did his dive part too. Spain resorted to that in the World Cup as well. Such things tarnish the image of the team for me but such behavior is acceptable for Barca fans and for most people. It is just part of the game or so everyone says. Until an Arsenal player (current or ex) does it, and then all hell breaks loose :) It is like Luis Fabiano’s goal in the world cup. It was hailed by the media as beautiful but he handled the ball twice. Yet, it was labeled as a “Brazilian goal” and was praised. I think Barca is the one club team that can get away with some dives and fouls because of their play. Normally, the British press go crazy over dives and cheats but not when it comes to Barca. The blinding beauty manages to mask a few ugly shades…
@sachin,
Fair comment. It’s just a reality that continental teams play-act a lot more easily – it’s accepted within their domestic games and it ebbs into the European competitions.
That said, they were so good yesterday that we often fouled them without meaning to – a guy like Messi is so good with his footwork that you attempt a legitimate challenge and it ends up being a foul because he is so quick and co-ordinated. Their passing interplay is so fast and accurate and they purposefully navigate through the tight places – it means unintended fouls happen regularly.
All that said, I thought the game had a relatively high element of nasty fouls – not sliding studds up whacks but clever kicks in and around the ankles.
you’ve seriously got a good grasp on what happened in that game.
i believe it would’ve been a much different second half after the OG, we had the subs and the game all to play for
it’s fans like mazza that have no f*cking clue. and that’s why the internet support is so hard to take seriously, they’re probably real shitty at football and even shittier at watching it.
the centerbacks were clearly the best players we had on the pitch that day, all said and done.
about hockey. i often cite the fact that my hometown vancouver canucks have NEVER won the stanley cup, and our support is pretty fantastic, i hope in london the support’s a lot better. you make a very good point about the refs.
i can’t believe i didn’t see nasri strangled, fucking ridiculous. directly in front of the ref no less.
i’m still incensed about this game, not because we lost. just in the manner. i can’t believe the fans that think they have the right to criticize arsene and the boys after this one. we had a chance. and it was stolen from us.
good right up, just to help you out for the future. i believe it’s spelled defensive, no offense intended.
@super sam super sam super sam,
haha of course i meant write-up. i should’ve just let well enough alone ;)
@super sam super sam super sam,
Sam –
Thanks for joining in on the conversation – it’s great having new fans on here. But I will remind you I remind my regular readers – all opinions are welcome here please be respectful of that whether you agree with someone or not.
AND YES EVERYONE THE EDIT FEATURE IS BROKEN AND I DON”T KNOW WHY. I WILL GET IT FIXED.
You may return to your normal bitching.
Abidal strangling van persie has to be a yellow card. Masherano strangling nasri while the ref is trying to stop him is a yellow card. When arsenal tried to press barcelona a foul was given when barcelona players flew into the arsenal players no foul was given. you could see van persie getting really pissed off and got a cheap first yellow and an even cheaper second yellow. arsenal tactics were spot on try to get a nil all up to half time giving up posession and hit them on the break when they would tire in the second half. It would have been perfect for our flyers nasir, arshvin and walcott if he wasn’t injured. i felt chelsea were robbed before when playing barcelona and just because arsenal consided possession and played tactically doesn’t mean we weren’t done an in justice too.
Embarrassing performance really. Far worse than last year, where individual errors from centre backs did us in. This year collectively we were a mess and only some last ditch tackling kept them at bay.
We once again bottled it, with players too tense to think clearly and as a result no one had passing options and we were a bedraggled mess.
Obviously the sending off was a joke but I think it gave us a rather convenient smokescreen to hide behind than really costing us the match. A minute after we equalised thyey went clean through and Almunia saved our bacon. It would’ve been a complete barrage for the remaining amount of time, ten men or not.
A real shame that the game was spoiled as a spectacle by incompetence from the main match official.
Everything in life goes a little better with a few checks-&-balances. In that vein I think football needs to look at the situation around referees….their bad calls…and the fact there is no pressure valve to allow teams that are penalised to express their position. Neither is there a strong sense of accountability on referees for their poor performances.
Something needs to be done, and can be, cricket has brought in the concept whereby teams can get a ‘second opinion’ on a set number of controversial calls per match (by the third umpire via TV replay). I think it’s brilliant. Whether you like it or not, TV and replays have changed the sporting context, everyone sees utter stupidity (like the second yellow for van Persie) and it is no longer acceptable to hide behind simplistic sayings like “it’s the ref’s decision”. Other sports are leading the way and football needs to become more modern and proactive.
On officialdom, I hate 2 yellows = red & off. It’s pathetic. One yellow for a defender and he’s on eggshells. It’s too judgemental and way too inconsistent. A red should be for serious offences – not 2 yellow offences that may well be quite lame. Why not rework the card system, the focus should be on the spectacle not ‘compliance & punishment’. The spectacle is best served with 11 v 11 players on the field. Repeated fouling to spoil the flow of the game or niggle a certain player could be discouraged by a player accruing demerit points and being banned for x number of games. Whilst that will still be a matter of judgement at least it isn’t spoiling the spectacle on a regular basis. Nasty and dangerous fouls can still be red carded.
@Kiwi, testing to see if my comments show up