FOOTBALL as RUGBY / LOSING to the SOLUTION POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Let’s start with ‘Football as Rugby.’ I have a general understanding of Rugby. I certainly get that to make progress the rules force you to pass backwards. I’d imagine that if they let you pass forward that the players would. Football isn’t necessarily […]
A Necessary Chaos POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Watching Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal was a frustrating experience for me. I know I wasn’t the only one that felt that Arsenal wasted his best years. A potentially world class player who was never played consistently as a box to box midfielder in a midfield three. What happened […]
It’s not in the Headlines POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES My son Maxwell asks me the same question each week after his football match. He asks me, ‘How did I do, Dad?’ All parents reading this can relate. We all get a similar question. We all probably feel the same way about our response. We tell […]
Not what you want, but what we need POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Yesterday I was reminded about two players at Arsenal that I’d somewhat forgotten about. I’d fallen into joining much of Arsenal twitter and thinking that Joe Willock was only useful as a versatile runner and presser when other’s legs had fallen off. I […]
Arsenal making me Why? Overall, since Mikel Arteta took over I’ve been beyond excited. To the point where I’ve nailed a bold statement to the wall by telling my friends, “You’ll see. Arteta will be one of the best coaches in Europe in a short period of time.” This may still happen as the list […]
The System or the Game POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Some games feel more important than others. Yesterdays game felt particularly important. This might have been because our results have been as expected so far. This game was against an equal. It had the power to send us one point off top, but even though we […]
Attacking solution enclosed POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES “Do Rapid Vienna have a goalkeeper? I haven’t seen him yet and this is the 55th minute” “This looks like a massive game of keep away. Again.” “If we are going to score, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be from open play.” “Eddie looks lost. Why […]
Waiting for the BraveMan POSITIVES NEEDS and HOPES Since I started writing, I’ve always held back from being over emotional or reactionary. Even though it is arguably the essence of fandom, I feel that we miss context when we do. My post match knee jerk reaction was one of great frustration. After doing the GunnersTown […]
I wish there were 3 A Thomas Partey blog At some point, maybe soon, Arsenal will play with a three man midfield. It may be that we choose 3 actual midfielders or it may be that when we pause the TV we see 3 players in midfield much like when Saka and AMN play, or […]
Desperate for what we don’t want POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES I spend too much time scrolling through Twitter. I admit. I had to get off it on Saturday though. The transfer window turns people who I respect into angry and irrational. I totally understand that you can be angry and greatly disappointed after it’s over. […]
