Match Thread Arsenal @ home 12:45 Sat.

[Fresh Prince of Belle Val]

Thought we pressed and hassled Arsenal today but unfortunately is was only the man with the ball. They released the ball with ease to unpressed players taking 2 or 3 of ours out with one pass. We never worked as a unit whilst pressing today. Felt like we were attracted to the ball too much without a thought for the players off the ball.

We were like statues in the first half. No doubt they played well but we made it very, very easy for them to play football.

 

[streeky]

10 minutes to go and we were running the clock down for them. Same old possession football with 0 players in the box. JUST throw some players in the box and lump it.

 

[banno]

No we didn't

I take it you didn't read the rest

 

[Darth Vader]

I take it you didn't read the rest

The part about us pressing the man with the ball?

Yes, We didn't do that either

 

[Armchair Dave]

So what happened last week then with those certain players whacking Chelsea ?? With respect, your logic is a bit skewed to be honest mate...if we were in Europe again then that would be the sole arbiter of players wanting to staying. I don't think Martinez will survive an audit of the new money people should we continue to tread water anyway to be honest.

I agree the money men will take note, but the question for me is when? They may consider giving him another season if he wins it, which may convince players on the fence to go, Europa or no. Champions league is what would convince them in my opinion.

As for Chelsea, i can't argue there. Why they deem it acceptable to play well in the cup and not the league winds me up. All I can put it down to is if they have to stay until the summer they may as well try and win a medal! I hope I'm wrong and they genuinely will stay if we won it, but it feels at times the manager has lost them regardless.

 

[JelavicBrate2]

Just back from the match, it was one of worst performances of the season if not the worst. Lukaku was left isolated with nobody anywhere near him. Nobody was helping Lennon and Coleman when they got the ball, and Baines was useless on the other side. Besic was obviously ill or injured, a fit Besic would have been a real asset. I don't know what Barkley was meant to be doing, he just left Lukaku and the wingers to put the work in on their own. We should of brought Niasse and Gerry on around he 55th minute mark as that would at least help Lukaku and Lennon out. I still don't believe Martinez is the right man for the job, even though we have done well in the cups, it doesn't excuse our appalling season.

 

[banno]

We were like statues in the first half. No doubt they played well but we made it very, very easy for them to play football.

We did because we didn't press players off the ball. Arsenal players movement today was good and probably made to look that way because we allowed the player off the ball all the space to receive. If you look back at the game Arsenal were close to our players and our players did not work hard enough to find space hence the indecision of every one of our players when on the ball. Poor performance off the ball caused our problems when we had the ball if you get my drift.

 

[irishblue11]

simply dreadful.

 

[Springhettios]

Turned it off after the second goal. We looked like [Poor language removed].

 

[banno]

The part about us pressing the man with the ball?

Yes, We didn't do that either

Yes we did but they played the ball at speed to the unpressed players. We didn't press as a unit only the man on the ball. Well that's the way I seen it.

 

[streeky]

Watched on BT, so I don't want to disrespect the fans that attended, but the atmosphere seemed so flat at kick off for an arsenal v everton game.

 

[Caolam]

Today's performance was like a microcosm of Martinez' last couple of years, clueless, gutless and pointless.
Could someone who feels that Martinez is the manager for us explain to me why.

 

[TyphooToffee]

http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/13d93596

 

[Yorkie]

http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/13d93596

?

 

[Darth Vader]

Yes we did but they played the ball at speed to the unpressed players. We didn't press as a unit only the man on the ball. Well that's the way I seen it.

You seen it wrong then