Match Threads Arsenal vs Spurs - Match Thread

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Have we got near it in the 49 years before that? Your argument is so flawed. What do you expect? Three teams have unlimited wealth. One team has 20 years on us. We are building a new Stadium to try and catch up. We can’t but success. It’s nit going to happen. So why get so fucking pissed that we lost today.

Prior to ENIC, we won plenty of trophies?

 

[DiscoD1882]

Prior to ENIC, we won plenty of trophies?

Sugar? Scholar? 70’s 80’s?? That’s 40 years ago my friend

 

[Kosher Kid]

Everything was wrong today. Team selection was weird, regarding Toby being on the bench, but when I saw the team I honestly thought Poch would go for a back 3 comprising Dier on the right, Jan on the left and Foyth as the spare man. All Spurs problems came down the side that Aurier and Foyth were defending in the first half. My impression was that Aurier and Vertonghen were not confident about Foyth from the first whistle. Their body language and the verbal coating Aurier dished out to Foyth all pointed to this. I feel a bit sorry for Foyth. He conceded 2 pens in the Wolves game and quite why a penalty wasn't given against him last week, for the foul on Hazard, is anyone's guess. Aubamayang and Lacazette are about the only thing that is any good about this current goon outfit. In the games I have watched they have been lucky and / or assisted by terrible refereeing decisions. Shipping 4 goals against them was not something I considered before this game.

Poch exposed Foyth to this pressure and the decision to play him today will set him back. He is looking more like the Argentine Titus Bramble than Paulo Maldini at this juncture. It was such an obvious mistake it does make you wonder why Poch attempted it. Could he be giving Levy a nudge for some funds to replace or pay Toby what he is worth? The other issue is that having been lucky to have not conceded a 2nd goal, during the goon's 20 minutes of dominance, we hit the unexpected jackpot of two goals, in three minutes, against the run of play. My thoughts at half time were that Spurs should either go all out for the 3rd goal to kill the game or switch to a back 3 and attempt to hold what we had. Spurs did neither of these things and although we looked comfortable prior to Aubamayang's decent goal we then gave up in a cowardly manner that I have not seen before in this team. We rolled over.

Very disappointed but we get a chance to put it right when we go back for the cup game.

 

[Sweetsman]

I hate to break this but Poch is a stubborn manager who believes in his system, style, formation, line-up, etc beyond reproach. This means that while others see issues he believes in his tactics and the ability of the players on the field to solve the problems.

This team has grown up a lot in recent years and he has improved with them, but his blind commitment to the starting line up and seeing out the game has not altered much. The Watford, PSV (A), Inter (A), Arsenal (A) and to a degree Wolves (A) have shown how we lack the real tactical nous to see out games comfortability. Even last week against Chelsea we were left scrambling when we should never have been in that situation.

It was always going to be a tough game when Arsenal could rest players in the Europa while we had to go for it against Inter. Their top players had a week to prepare for the NLD which is a huge advantage for any team let alone one as good as Arsenal.

This is one of those days where I wish a good journalist or commentator would ask serious questions of Poch. And not let him dodge the response or give a generic and cliched answer. Starting line up, playing from the back, lack of tactical changes, lack of subs, etc.

I love MP as a manager and coach, but left scratching my head today.

Poch started as a Bielsa believer and is slowly moving away from that. He has a difficult job on his hands with the squad, which although strong when fully fit, can look threadbare when we have crucial injuries. We needed Lamela in that second half. Diet's job is difficult, because he was asked to go into a back three when we had a superb defender on the bench. That's what needs to be asked of Pochettino: why was he a) not proactive, given how the first half ended; b) not playing a back three with Alderweireld?

 

[SpursDave88]

In the end only one Manager tried to win the match with a good team selection and tactics and pro-active changes.

The other tried to send a message by leaving out Toby...which backfired spectacularly...what a moron.

Foyth nowhere near ready for the prem....needs to spend a few seasons on loan.

 

[Saoirse]

Prior to ENIC, we won plenty of trophies?

The game's changed mate. When we won trophies there weren't teams owned by rich murderous Arab billionaires. We have to have money to compete now. And as much as it's a shame that the FA and League Cups are financially worthless and we have at most an outside chance in the PL and CL, that's the way it is. Pretending otherwise don't change that, just makes us end up like former champions Leeds or Forest. We have to buld the ground, and build the commercial potential, even at the cost of what happens on the pitch and take it from there. Levy and Poch are the best we could hope for to take us through that stage.

 

[Zippy1980]

Reading through these pages just make me LOL. People get a grip. Yes none of us like loosing to the scum but let’s not lose sight of reality. They outplayed us today and deserved to win as they are dam good side. So many fickle fans lambasting Poch when we lose. Yes he makes mistakes like all of us but on the whole he has been, and still is, the best thing that has happened our club in many a year.

 

[fletch82]

In the end only one Manager tried to win the match with a good team selection and tactics and pro-active changes.

The other tried to send a message by leaving out Toby...which backfired spectacularly...what a moron.

Foyth nowhere near ready for the prem....needs to spend a few seasons on loan.

Knee jerk post of the week

You alright hun ? X

 

[SpursDave88]

Reading through these pages just make me LOL. People get a grip. Yes none of us like loosing to the scum but let’s not lose sight of reality. They outplayed us today and deserved to win and they are dam good side. So many fickle fans lambasting Poch when we lose. Yes he makes mistakes like all of us but on the whole he has been, and still is, the best thing that has happened out club in many a year.

Don't think anyone disagrees with that. Emery pulled his pants down today though...reminded me a bit of Juve last year.

Emery set his team up better at the start and kept making changes...every one of which turned that game further in Arsenal's favour.

Poch should have made changes on 50 minutes after Arsenal's double sub to start trying to control the game

 

[Zippy1980]

Don't think anyone disagrees with that. Emery pulled his pants down today though...reminded me a bit of Juve last year.

Emery set his team up better at the start and kept making changes...every one of which turned that game further in Arsenal's favour.

Poch should have made changes on 50 minutes after Arsenal's double sub to start trying to control the game

Judging by many comments on here today plenty on here reckon he is not doing a good enough job. Personally speaking i think he is learning and we need to get fully behind him.

 

[The Apprentice]

Foyth is nowhere near Prem level? Haha. I’ve heard it all now.

He had a shit game. Plenty did. At least he has slight mitigation with his inexperience. What’s Aurier’s, Davies’, Dier, Jan’s and Sissoko’s excuse?

Toby for Foyth would not have magically made our midfield retain the ball or our front three to put a shift in.

The set-up today was our biggest handicap.

 

[SpursDave88]

Foyth is nowhere near Prem level? Haha. I’ve heard it all now.

He had a shit game. Plenty did. At least he has slight mitigation with his inexperience. What’s Aurier’s, Davies’, Dier, Jan’s and Sissoko’s excuse?

Toby for Foyth would not have magically made our midfield retain the ball or our front three to put a shift in.

The set-up today was our biggest handicap.

In 4 matches he has given away two penalties...was lucky not to have a clear penalty awarded against him and then gave away the ball for the 3rd goal...

But agree with the rest of your points..


Winks and Toby should have come on when it was still 2-1

 

[The Apprentice]

In 4 matches he has given away two penalties...was lucky not to have a clear penalty awarded against him and then gave away the ball for the 3rd goal...

But agree with the rest of your points..


Winks and Toby should have come on when it was still 2-1

Look, I’m not saying he’s covered himself in glory but the comments about not being this level are mental. He’s made no more errors than Jan, Lloris, Dier and the full backs in the past few games. His have been punished.

 

[JCRD]

I really hope when we play them in our new ground our players dont forget today how they got bullied about - and return the fucking favour. I want to destroy them, no let up.

 

[Phomesy]

Prior to ENIC, we won plenty of trophies?

Back then we were genuinely one of the big clubs of the comp - along with Man U; Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal.

Actually there's a good case to say we underachieved massively back then given the financial advantages we had then which we don't today. We became a big club content swimming in the little pond of Cup victories and only one thrown away tile run when we didn't make use of Clive Allen's prodigious scoring. Plus ca change perhaps?

I'm not sure there was a golden era where we had fabulous Club management that makes Enic pale into insignificance. Apart from Bill Nich of course.

Look, I get your view but it's somewhat dispiriting to, finally, feel positive and hopeful about the longterm success of this club and have people shit all over it like we're West ham. You don't mean that I'm sure but it feels like it sometimes.

 

[Johnny J]

Reading through these pages just make me LOL. People get a grip. Yes none of us like loosing to the scum but let’s not lose sight of reality. They outplayed us today and deserved to win as they are dam good side. So many fickle fans lambasting Poch when we lose. Yes he makes mistakes like all of us but on the whole he has been, and still is, the best thing that has happened our club in many a year.

True and if we don't back him he'll be the best thing to happen to United in many a year. Or even Madrid. The guy is ambitious and realistically we can't progress without more investment.

 

[Mr Pink]

Arsenal will probably do what we've just done though, amazing today and will go to Old Trafford on Wednesday and be shit. Hopefully's that will be the case.

I hope United fucking batter them. Keep Maureen in the job longer and put the Goons back in their place.

 

[1882andallthat]

What a shit trio of outcomes in the derby games today. Just when I thought it couldn't get worse today as far as the football goes, those jammy reds get a 96 minute bizarre winner like that in the Merseyside derby. As much as I hate to admit it Arsenal were the better team today, they showed more intensity and from the 50th minute onwards after we had a brief spell where we looked to consolidate our lead immediately after the restart, they were first to the ball and in the tackle they were that little bit more up for it. This hurts me to write this but I'm calling it how I saw it. If I'm looking for silver linings there are two, it was always going to be a tall order winning these three big games in 8 days and we won at least two of them, or to come through it completely unscathed was a big ask,
and the other one is that the front banner which reminds me we lost 4-2 to that bloody lot will not be up there for a whole week!

 

[Davo99]

Arsenal fans are getting very excited about this result. Bearing in mind they beat us there 2-0 last season and still finished 14 points behind.

Our next games in the prem:

Southampton (H)
Leicester (A)
Burnley (H)
Everton (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Wolves (H)
Cardiff (A)
Man United (H)
Fulham (A)
Watford (H)
Newcastle (H)
Leicester (H)
Burnley (A)

It will be all over by the end of this, we will finish above them again. Don’t panic.

 

[SpursDave88]

Back then we were genuinely one of the big clubs of the comp - along with Man U; Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal.

Actually there's a good case to say we underachieved massively back then given the financial advantages we had then which we don't today. We became a big club content swimming in the little pond of Cup victories and only one thrown away tile run when we didn't make use of Clive Allen's prodigious scoring. Plus ca change perhaps?

I'm not sure there was a golden era where we had fabulous Club management that makes Enic pale into insignificance. Apart from Bill Nich of course.

Look, I get your view but it's somewhat dispiriting to, finally, feel positive and hopeful about the longterm success of this club and have people shit all over it like we're West ham. You don't mean that I'm sure but it feels like it sometimes.

The sad reality is that we have won far less then any of the other current "big six" either recently or throughout our entire history all told.

Enic have done well to take us from a team that finished mid-table and occasionally struggled against relegation to a team in the CL.

Enic get a lot of hate but if there was a reward for the most improved club over the period of their stewardship we would certainly win it.

We all get a bit salty because we realise that ultimately their strategy is for us to be competitive....with an outside chance of winning something.

The investment it takes to actually win something does not make financial sense...the marginal return on the extra 300-400m it would cost to take this club from outside challengers to genuine competitors is so small that the probability adjusted reward is less than the cost.

Arsenal is the model...or at least under Wenger...Spend what you need to to get a full stadium and play CL football every year and be competitive in the cups...if you are very lucky you may win something once every few years...then be savvy in the transfer market...try and sell players at their peak value and replace them with younger and cheaper whilst hoping to maintain your position with a general improvement in the squad.

This reality is understandably unappealing for supporters and once you get the joke it comes increasingly difficult to stay engaged...you see the game for what it is and start to question whether its worth spending thousands of pounds on it every year.