I am no professor in football or economics. In fact the only football I have studied is from observation. Therefore I will not purport to school you in your area of expertise; I merely seek to give my unsolicited advice. You have also made it clear that you and your players do not need any artificial pressure by being constantly reminded that it has been a while since your team won any significant silverware. I take it you are also a frustrated man. However that does not stop the fans from wishing you would finally bag something and give them justification for their faithful support despite the dry spell.
There was a time that your team played beautiful fluid football. What I choose to call sexy football. Each player knew where to pass the ball without breaking the cycle. It was like watching a ball driven dance. The team seemed to communicate in a silent language that only they understood. No player hogged the ball for personal glory, it was flawless teamwork. A perfect knit that was so hard to break. Then the performance was consistent and so were the trophies.
However today the fluidity is almost dead, although there are days you can catch a glimpse of it. It has however become common place to see an Arsenal player break loss with the ball only to reach somewhere and stop with no idea where to pass it or what to do with it. I have seen characters pass the ball boldly to the other team! Others seem to have no idea where the goal post is or where the ball is supposed to go. Like I said I am no professor, but I will risk a guess and say probably it is because the team is relatively young. They really haven’t internalised the meaning of teamwork and want to shine as individuals. Or maybe they have all this tactics they want to try on the pitch that they completely forget your game plan. You are a vehement advocate for video refereeing, roll back some of that tape and watch Arshavin’s play. You probably need to give a lesson or two on teamwork.
Speaking of young players isn’t it time you incorporated some experience into all that talent you’ve amassed. It seems to me like you set out to weave a Kiondo, you bought all the beautiful yarn you could get but forgot to also hire a weaver. I don’t know how they do it in France but in Africa; if you want a Kiondo you don’t stop at the yarn, you go all the way and get a weaver too. So maybe some old talent is what you need to complete your magic recipe.
Another thing, what is with all those injuries? No season seems to go by nowadays without at least half a dozen injuries. I hear currently you have six players out on a buffet of injuries. Really Frenchie, you’ve got to start teaching those boys a little tactical football. Tell them they could try fighting for the ball as opposed to just putting their feet on the way. Of all the squads you’ve managed none has suffered as many injuries as the ‘chosen youngsters’, what are you not doing right or have you become soft in your old age? If you don’t have a coach for this, you could always take the boys for an exchange program at Stamford Bridge. You might get back an entire squad on injuries but at least they’ll have learnt a thing or to on keeping the ball and getting away in one piece-they are excellent at it over there.
By the way, word has it you do not have space in your squad for new players. Does that mean come the next transfer window, you won’t be shopping for a new goalkeeper? I know you are a bit of an economist when it comes to spending on players but really!!! Lets face it Almunia has become Mr. slippery hands, he might pull a Robert Green on you one of this fine days. Fabianski…where do I start? The man might have had a more or less lucky spell this season, but do you really want to risk him manning the goal the entire season? Remember the Newcastle game in November, Andy Caroll? Then there was that game last season where he decided the ball was taking to long to get to him and he went to meet it way outside the goal area. In case you are wondering that move left the ball in the net, yes on your side!! You toyed with the idea of Federico Marchetti, I think you should pursue it. It is no longer a question of want but a matter of need, you need a new goalkeeper.
You have been adamant that the team has been consistent in its performance but if that were so, we would be seeing more wins. I don’t mean to mount artificial pressure on you or the squad but honestly, we the fans could do with at least one set of new silverware. The Manchester united fans are becoming a really pain and we need you to shut them up for us. The Chelsea brigade is not helping much either. So kindly consider my unschooled advice.
# really frustrated fan.
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