From Phil Brune : rapid reaction
hi Myles,
1) Without Cazorla it really looks hopeless, especially against decent teams. And United were a marginally decent team, by virtue of being up for it. Similar to Spurs last time out. The number of balls MU were first to was shocking.
2) Coquelin and Elneny played “together” like they were told in the tunnel they’d both be on the pitch at the same time. Lots of positional redundancy in defense, which led to lack of awareness (I thought you had him, their expressions both said) for Mata’s goal. Why one of them didn’t stick on Pogba and the other on Mata is beyond me.
3) Playing C & E shifted the balance of the team backward, away from MU’s makeshift defense. Neither of them could transition the ball from defense to attack, something Cazorla does so well.
4) Wenger cleverly played Ramsey on the left, where his positional “discipline” hopelessly isolated Monreal and encouraged MU to attack down that flank, protecting Jenkinson.
5) Seeing lots of credit to Giroud for the goal. Good header, sure. But credit The Ox for making it happen. Instead of passing the ball backward or sideways, he goes at a guy, leaves him for dead, and floats a great ball across.
6) Wait, Walcott played? The announcers were prattling on about how he’d get in a helicopter or something if his wife (?) had a baby.
Myles says:
I made notes on the game, as always.
But today I’m not gonna write about a team that doesn’t turn up.
Arsenal didn’t turn up at Old Trafford.
From John : torn up season ticket
On the 62nd minute I tore up my season ticket and vowed never to watch Arsenal (dead football club) again whilst Arsene Wenger is manager.
My 38-year love affair is over. I have finally had enough of his tactical incompetence.
Man United with the worst defence in their Premiership history and Arsenal with their useless center pairing couldn’t even muster a shot.
AFC is stale, Wenger has no new ideas .
Hate is a strong word, but I hate the club and all that it stands for.
AW is not even a nearly-man.
If someone could explain the tactical genius of Elneny and Coq, I would love to hear it…I watched for 62 minutes and finally had enough of watching passionless Wenger sitting there and not seeing the obvious, no midfield……….Good luck AFC and I hope you do well but I am no longer a Fan..
Myles says:
Man United are a rabble these days and should have been torn apart.
I knew Ozil would do nothing… and so did Wenger.
But he played Mesut Invizobl to maintain the sham that continues, and will continue for many years.
Yes, Wenger comes over very well on TV.
He can fool most of the people most of the time but not Phil or John.