Come on. That's as soft a penalty as you're going to see. It was a blatant exaggeration of almost no contact
Three months later, this is still the proper way to be an Arsenal fan until Wenger leaves the club.I'm rooting for them to win but when bad results happen I'm now able to just shake my head and then go about the rest of my weekend without brooding about it. Or even really thinking much about it. Arsenal gonna Arsenal, as long as Wenger is in charge.
I’m hoping that with the new talent evaluators that things will improve at least in scouting.. but everything else about the club seems cynical at the moment.. tactics, lineups, contract negotiating, etc. trying to find bargain basement finds, expecting players that are constantly injured to play a full season (does anyone doubt Wilshere will get a new contract and immediately get hurt?), negotiating with your stars in the press, and in general taking no responsibility when the club is failing.Three months later, this is still the proper way to be an Arsenal fan until Wenger leaves the club.
Agreed. This was a good test case showing how technology can make sure you get it right, all without disrupting the match that much.The glimmer of goodness in this garbage heap of a match (entertainment-wise) has been two successful - and quick - penalty reviews for VAR.
VAR needs to be in the PL next year and beyond.
Yes.So as an Everton fan, am I happy or not that the Toffees are rumored to be in on Walcott?
As happy as one should be pursuing a player that is aging but relies on speed to beat defenders in order to find multiple ways to kick the ball anywhere else but in the net...while being well overpaid in the process.So as an Everton fan, am I happy or not that the Toffees are rumored to be in on Walcott?
So as an Everton fan, am I happy or not that the Toffees are rumored to be in on Walcott?
He is not good enough for a truly top flight club (which Arsenal may not be at this point but that's another matter). But I think he will help Everton for sure. Walcott doesn't have the skills to play in a side that seeks to dominate possession. But his runs off the ball are very intelligent, he is blazing fast and can help stretch defenses that play high, and his finishing isn't all that bad when you look at statistics over large samples. Given that the attack is currently built around Rooney, who is basically the opposite of Walcott - slow and best with the ball at his feet - he could be a good complement. And he obviously knows the league very well and won't need a big adjustment period.So as an Everton fan, am I happy or not that the Toffees are rumored to be in on Walcott?
I think a club like Everton needs a mix. You obviously want to focus on buying up cheaper young talent and developing that talent. That goes without saying. But they also have generated high expectations among supporters and making Europe is an important target for them, so there are legitimate reasons to seek more short term help. Buying another Sandro isn't going to get them into Europe.Walcott will help in the short-term, because he fills a crucial need for Everton in that he has pace, which Everton are desperately short of. But he's 28 and will be expensive, if not in terms of fee than at least in wages (he's currently on 110,000/week), and his game is not the sort that ages well. What's the point of hiring Steve Walsh to be your Director of Football if you're just going to overpay established older British players?
This is where age matters. Walcott will turn 29 in March, if you give him a four-year contract you'll still be paying him those wages when he's 33. It'd be one thing to sign a player like that at 25 and know you're getting his prime years. But he's likely to be no more than a squad player for a good side by the end of that deal.I think a club like Everton needs a mix. You obviously want to focus on buying up cheaper young talent and developing that talent. That goes without saying. But they also have generated high expectations among supporters and making Europe is an important target for them, so there are legitimate reasons to seek more short term help. Buying another Sandro isn't going to get them into Europe.
Its hard to really know what high wages even constitute at this point in the Premier League, especially for a player who scores goal. 110K is a lot by Everton's historical standards, but they are paying Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, and Rooney more and even players like Klaassen, Sandro, and Ashley Williams in the 70K range.
I agree with everything you wrote. But given all they've done, signing Walcott this winter on the cheap (fee wise at least) isn't a bad move IMO.This is where age matters. Walcott will turn 29 in March, if you give him a four-year contract you'll still be paying him those wages when he's 33. It'd be one thing to sign a player like that at 25 and know you're getting his prime years. But he's likely to be no more than a squad player for a good side by the end of that deal.
I don't understand what the plan is here. They've constructed their squad so that they have of a lot of older players (Jagielka, Baines, Williams, Rooney are all 32+, Coleman, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Bolasie, Sigurdssson are 28+) and a bunch of interesting kids (Sandro is 22, Holgate 21, Vlasic 20, Calvert-Lewin 20, Davies 19), and almost nothing in between. The only players aged 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 to start a game this year are Klassen (24, 3 starts), Keane (25, 15 starts), Niasse (27, 5 starts), and McCarthy (27, 1 start). By the time the kids get good (assuming they all do, which is obv a big risk), the older players will all be declining. There doesn't appear to be any coherent long-term strategy.
He's not a great finisher, but not a bad one either. His passing isn't great, and he's not great with possession in traffic. There were a lot of times where his defense was questionable. And he is offsides a lot. But he is damn fast and does have a knack for finding the seams in a defense to make his runs. I don't think he makes other players better directly, maybe more by a team honoring his speed and that creating openings. I was more frustrated by the flashes he showed than anything else, but he would be fun to watch and root for if you have certain expectations. His were raised pretty high by early success.He is not good enough for a truly top flight club (which Arsenal may not be at this point but that's another matter). But I think he will help Everton for sure. Walcott doesn't have the skills to play in a side that seeks to dominate possession. But his runs off the ball are very intelligent, he is blazing fast and can help stretch defenses that play high, and his finishing isn't all that bad when you look at statistics over large samples. Given that the attack is currently built around Rooney, who is basically the opposite of Walcott - slow and best with the ball at his feet - he could be a good complement. And he obviously knows the league very well and won't need a big adjustment period.
You could get the last Europa league slot with a strong second half and you need more offense to do it. I think he is a pretty good gamble all things considered.
Honest question: Is scoring goals Arsenal’s biggest problem?For what it's worth, there's some rumors swirling about Aubameyang to Arsenal. He's been great for Dortmund, but 28 and reliant on speed. Would be a desperation move for this season.
They're tied for 5th for goals scored, 26 goals behind the leader. They're tied for 8th in goals allowed, 14 behind the leader. So they could probably use both, but I'd think shoring up the D would be the first priority. I just feel like a lot of these players, especially in midfield, are just not put in a position that suits their skills. It's confusing that Wenger brought all of these guys in, but so many of them don't seem to fit what he wants them to do.Honest question: Is scoring goals Arsenal’s biggest problem?
And they'll need the goals with Sanchez leaving.They're tied for 5th for goals scored, 26 goals behind the leader. They're tied for 8th in goals allowed, 14 behind the leader. So they could probably use both, but I'd think shoring up the D would be the first priority. I just feel like a lot of these players, especially in midfield, are just not put in a position that suits their skills. It's confusing that Wenger brought all of these guys in, but so many of them don't seem to fit what he wants them to do.
If you're inclined to optimism, the switch of Elneny to the 6 behind a more-advanced Xhaka & behind a back four, really looked like it made a difference to Arsenal's solidity in the back two-thirds. Also, while I love Sanchez with the fire of a thousand suns, it's not beyond possibility that there's a little Ewing Theory in effect, with Ozil now better-enabled to mix in the rest of the attack when going forward.It’s nice to see arsenal dispatch a bad opponent early for the first time in a while. That ozil pass for the fourth was also very nice.
I'm trying to stay positive. I've thought for a while that Ramsey is the problem in midfield. I like Elneny and Xhaka...in that they concentrate on D first. They've both been a disappointment in a way..but Elneny has not been given half the chances that Ramsey's been allowed.If you're inclined to optimism, the switch of Elneny to the 6 behind a more-advanced Xhaka & behind a back four, really looked like it made a difference to Arsenal's solidity in the back two-thirds. Also, while I love Sanchez with the fire of a thousand suns, it's not beyond possibility that there's a little Ewing Theory in effect, with Ozil now better-enabled to mix in the rest of the attack when going forward.