Firstly, not gonna point fingers at anyone. Not really any point. Everyone gave 100% from players, to manager, to fans. Cant ask for more. Dudek should've done better with the goals, Carra messed up with Henry's, Rafa maybe got team selection wrong (Dudek and no Bellamy) but those things do happen.
What became apparent though, was that when teams put men behind the ball and maintain their solidity and shape, we struggle for answers. It got so congested in the middle that it was impossible to play through them.
Lesser teams would probably fail to keep their shape and concentration all the way through and we'd probably be able to open them up eventually.
But top sides are different. They were superb at making it busy and closing off space in the central areas of their third of the park. And we lacked spark and creativity needed to break them down. That can often happen, no whinges there. What the problem is though, is that, when teams do that, you have to stretch it and go wide. And we did.
That's where we hit on the crux of the problem - we do not have any genuine quality in wide areas. None. We have 'ok players' there, which is enough for mediocrity, yes. But not enough if you want to challenge. We failed to do what was necessary to get through a well-drilled backline.
And that left us with only one option - random hopeful high balls, hope Crouch can knock it down to a red shirt and maybe something can materialise.
It's very disappointing. It left us with set pieces as our only genuine threat IMO.
But i suppose it's nothing we dont already know. We're woeful in wide areas, our options are average at best. Solving it, is another issue maybe.
Dunno how good this Ashley Young lad is, but if he's any good, bring him in.
Move heaven and earth to get Aaron Lennon too.
All that aside, superb effort from the Kop today, was a pleasure to be a part of it. Credit to Arsenal who did their job and you cant fail to admire the class of Henry, as a player and a gentleman.
Our lads worked their socks off today and we should be proud of that. I certainly am. Fingers crossed for more of the same on Tuesday, with a different outcome.
What became apparent though, was that when teams put men behind the ball and maintain their solidity and shape, we struggle for answers. It got so congested in the middle that it was impossible to play through them.
Lesser teams would probably fail to keep their shape and concentration all the way through and we'd probably be able to open them up eventually.
But top sides are different. They were superb at making it busy and closing off space in the central areas of their third of the park. And we lacked spark and creativity needed to break them down. That can often happen, no whinges there. What the problem is though, is that, when teams do that, you have to stretch it and go wide. And we did.
That's where we hit on the crux of the problem - we do not have any genuine quality in wide areas. None. We have 'ok players' there, which is enough for mediocrity, yes. But not enough if you want to challenge. We failed to do what was necessary to get through a well-drilled backline.
And that left us with only one option - random hopeful high balls, hope Crouch can knock it down to a red shirt and maybe something can materialise.
It's very disappointing. It left us with set pieces as our only genuine threat IMO.
But i suppose it's nothing we dont already know. We're woeful in wide areas, our options are average at best. Solving it, is another issue maybe.
Dunno how good this Ashley Young lad is, but if he's any good, bring him in.
Move heaven and earth to get Aaron Lennon too.
All that aside, superb effort from the Kop today, was a pleasure to be a part of it. Credit to Arsenal who did their job and you cant fail to admire the class of Henry, as a player and a gentleman.
Our lads worked their socks off today and we should be proud of that. I certainly am. Fingers crossed for more of the same on Tuesday, with a different outcome.
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