The Controller and his joystick POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES It was the 70th minute yesterday. For the first time this season, I’d lost hope. Actually, that’s not true. There have been others. I felt without hope because I knew everything that Arsenal were going to do next. Nothing came as a surprise. More importantly, Unai […]
Quicker, why quicker? POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Watching that performance yesterday I had two main emotions…….. relaxed and frustrated. It was quite lovely to be able to watch a game with almost zero stress. It looked to me that Newcastle might just be the worst coached team I’ve seen in many a year. Probably the […]
The Initiative Issue POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES I think that Mikel Arteta’s greatest success since becoming coach/manager has been defensive intensity and organization. If he were not to remain as coach in the long term I think he has solved arguably the most important need that the club had on the field in 15 years. […]
Never learnt to kill POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES I was watching the game yesterday and wondering if there were 3 teams out there. ‘Arsenal current’, Fulham and ‘Arsenal past’. We started the game with energy and intent. We didn’t get the goal but I enjoyed the desire to do so as it’s been a rare […]
Like a Panther POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES That was one incredibly well coached game. Slavia insisted on playing out from the back and were fine in the first phase. Second phase their midfield couldn’t connect. I watched, paused, re-wound the TV and saw what was happening. Arteta had set us up to tempt them. To […]
Arsenal the Yo-Yo POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES My son: Are we gonna win today, Dad? Me: No idea My son: Why not? Me: Because our players, form, line up or any part of it doesn’t seem to matter as to whether we are ‘good Arsenal’ or ‘bad Arsenal.’ Do you think we will win? My […]
Sometimes it’s not blame It’s so easy to look for blame. It feels good. It removes a part of the frustration as we pass it off. I’m more than happy to apportion blame when I think it’s deserved. I like to remain as emotionally stable as possible so as to not live in the world […]
Arsenal don’t but Arteta does POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Mikel Arteta won’t feel like he walked away with a win yesterday. He didn’t. Yet, did he personally get a win? As the coach of the team he may never know or feel this personal victory but I’d imagine when he pauses he will realize, if […]
The 3 ways I’d change football Honestly, the game of football is becoming less attractive to me. I know I’m not the only one that feels this way too. It could be recovered though. I have two problems. The sport is now predictable. The rules are sucking out the joy and the punishment isn’t even […]
Start at the End POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES How are we going to approach the game? How do we deny them? Defensive structure. Combinations. Passing patterns. Etc… The above is a list of 5 of the most regularly practiced topics at a professional club. All are important. The first three might just be vital. Here’s […]
