Flasher

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If you love him, set him free. (Starting position on the right of course) ..................... QUOTE(Kahnee @ Oct 11 2007, 13:58) Hard to disagree Was mulling this the other day: Reina Finnan - Carra-Agger-Arbeloa Masch-Alonso Gerrard-Voronin-Babel Torres ................. I agree. Add Kewell to the mix and that team becomes deadly. I think that Rafa has always wanted this formation, but hasn't had the players to execute it. The system relies heavily on ball retention in the attacking third, something teams like Barcelona are excellent at, because of the the quality of their players.

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My 1st 11 when fit Reina Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa Gerrard Alonso Mascherano Kewell Torres Babel I think the only position to cause any doubt there is Babel's. Just think he's the most creative and given the chance would be the most successful, compared to Kuyt, Veronin, Crouch, Yossi..... Bench: Charlie Pennant Riise Veronin Yossi

Right. Since football began (Premier League) I can reveal the following. The team leading the table after 8 games has gone on to win the league on 5 out of 15 occasions (33%). The team leading the table at Christmas has gone on to win the league on 7 out of 15 occassions (47%). The biggest points chase to win the league after 8 games is 6pts, by Man Utd in the '02/'03 season. The biggest points chase to win the league from Christmas is 12pts, by Man Utd in '97/'98. My conclusion is this. Don't panic & kill all the Sky generation.

f*** me. Speechless......

Indeed. I have a feeling we were too once. Obviously the further back in time you go there are lot's of incidences of this. I'm particularly keen to see the stats since football began though, circa 1992 Kaizer!!

The article is crap. The idea of starting with Babel, Torres, Yossi, Veronin and Gerrard isn't though.

I'm just praying that said poster is busy geting the 'stats' and that's the only reason there has been no reply so far.

Surrounded by Sky Sports generation idiots. So, if anyone knows where I can get stats that show the league table at Christmas and then at the end in May, for the last 10, 15, even 20 seasons, let me know. Ta Apparently nobody will catch Arsenal, already!!!!

I think Torres and Veronin are our best two up front. I want to see Babel more. Yossi or Pennant - either really. I guess I agree with "Lawro" then. Dammit!!

To rub salt into the fan's wounds, Boro posted it back. No escape

He's definietly the one who a) is rarely rotated, if at all, and b) needs a rest the most. He's looked dead on his feat a lot recently.

The 'one footed' arguement is truely pathetic. Show me a player who isn't, and I'll show you 1,000 that are. It's his choice of pass/punt that's the problem. He's not all there, like many footballers.

Yes - I do still think we can win it. Zoob - you mention the whole Arsenal training thing (playing 3 & 5 a side). I agree that it's the movement of players in 3's that stands out for Arsenal. It's basic pass and move, but there is nearly always 3 players working together at any one moment in that team. Essentially they all want the ball, and they all find space so they can get the ball. They all take responsibility for the performance of the team. Sign more triangles

We badly miss Agger at the moment. For the simple reason that we play too deep when he's not on the pitch. The gap between our midfield and defence, mostly highlighted against Marseille, is a real problem right now. Both Agger and Alonso don't normally let that happen. Because Hyypia is slower, he instinctively drops deeper and deeper, and we then lose much of our own attacking abilities. Bring back the 'A' team.

True, But look at Henry. What was he when he joined Arsenal. An OK winger who was turned into an excellent all round forward. For me Babel is a forward to be honest, rather than your traditional wide man. Having said that, i'm sure if you played him on the left for the rest of the season, he'd become really excellent in that position. None of this happens over night, just as it didn't with Henry (to an extent), Ronaldo, Fabregas and so on. Sure these are real amazing talents, but Babel isn't far behind at the same age. I'm sure lots wouldn't agree, but I believe if either Pongolle or Le Tallac were played regularly, they too would have been successful. If you want to invest in young talent, do it properly and play them. Just don't buy all of them in one go.

I agree to an extent. But Ronaldo was just full of step overs, forever losing the ball and there was no guarantee. He took loads of stick from everywhere about his lack of end product. But they stuck with him, built him up, worked on his end product then bingo. Nobody knows exactly what sort of player these boys will turn out to be, but you'll never know unless you play them, watch what they do, show where they went wrong, then go again. Fergie is often praised for what he does with young talent. But all he really does is keep them away from the press as long as possible, after games etc, and play them regularly. The key here is that you can only really do it with one 'special talent' at a time. Can't do it with Leto, Babel, and Lucas all in the same side for example. Of all our potential talents, Babel looks like the one to me. Torres is already on the way in my opinion.

Pick Babel and stick with him. It's the only way he'll become good enough and it's exactly what Fergie ro wenger would do (see Ronaldo, Nani, Fabregas etc)

Based on what's available, i think that is a very strong team. Hard to choose between Kuyt and Benayoun, but Benayoun just shades it for me in that position. Rush and Dalglish in style, if not ability. More Cole and Beardsley perhaps.

Fact is, in the games that must be won (and last night was one of those) Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd all pick the same 11 assuming they are fit (give or take maybe one selection). We could all name their start 11's too. Rafa needs to start doing that. He's starting to look silly now. Pick the same team. Watch them play well, give the squad players something to aspire to be part of.

When was the last time Gerrard and Momo started a game together as the CM pairing? I can't think of a time when this happened. All bar Reina and Finnan were awful last night, and I include Rafa in that. He should have made better changes a lot sooner. It was clear after 20 minutes we were in trouble. Riise, Babel and Mascherano should have all come on at half time IMO, for Leto, Momo and Aurelio. As someone mentioned elsewhere. Rotation doesn't mean competition for places, quite the opposite in fact. You don't need to try hard because sooner or later you will play. Pako leaving has had an effect. We've not been the same since Gerrard returned from the toe injury either, which is worrying. Carra's legs look dead too. He's someone that DOES need a rest by the looks of things.

Strange one isn't it. If Momo goes to the ACoN he'll get more games. If Gerrard gets injured he'll get more games. If we don't sign Mascherano he'll get more games. Personally, I think for his own sake he should have gone elsewhere for his own progression. It reminds me too much of Le Tallac and Pongolle. They should, for their own development, have played a lot more games, but it was never going to happen based upon who was ahead of them in the pecking order. I love the fact that we can and have signed someone like Lucas, but it only really works when he is either 3rd or even 4th choice in his position (like Fabregas was initially), not 5th choice. He'll lose confidence and his game will suffer (Biscan anyone). Maybe Rafa will turn him in to a centre half or right back

Teams should be clever with this rule and abuse it more. Easy way for a striker to find space. Say to Torres - Stay offside all the time. Say to the rest - Pass to our wingers* at every opportunity. Only pass to Torres if you're a winger and you're either in line with him or ahead of him. Football is easy. *The above scenario assumes we have wingers, also known as wide midfielders.

Not - see "backward pass"