Realist Benitez outshines Wenger

[tomasjj]

I know what you are saying Tomas and as I said I do think he is a good manager and they play good football, I was just saying in Europe Wenger's ability as a tactician isn't that great IMHO.

That point I agree on.
Let's just not go overboard.

[Parm]

As I have been saying to Arsenal fans for a couple of weeks now, a team with European pedigree and a tactically astute manager can beat Barcelona whether it is in the second round or the CL final.

Arsenal are a pretentious bunch of ****s with delusions of grandeur but with a small-time mentality. They were heralding getting to the CL final as an achievement in itself, treating it as if they already reached the big time.

Moronic ****s.

Where's their European Cups?

[Neil Young]

That point I agree on.
Let's just not go overboard.

Do you think really that, with certain notable exceptions, we are going overboard? I don't think it's Schadenfreude to redress the balance after the ludicrous overhyping in the media after the League and FA Cup games. Also accusing Wenger of weakness by being unwilling to develop a Plan B is not new and the truth of it was once again borne out by events last night.

The most important point about the article for me is that it recognises Rafa's real strength: his pragmatic approach. He'll do what it takes to get the job done. So, I think we have genuine reason to believe that he will address the problems we have and will not be held back by any overblown "footballing philosophy".

[carrsim]

i'll save my crowing until after the 31 march to be honest.

its not like we knocked them out or anything.

and frankly our season is just as much in the balance as theirs. They don't give out trophies for winning in the round of 16 no matter who you beat

if we get knocked out of the CL next round, finish 4th, made the league cup QF and the FA cup 4th round but won the charity shield who out of us and arsenal will have had the better season overall?

[dww]

Do you think really that, with certain notable exceptions, we are going overboard? I don't think it's Schadenfreude to redress the balance after the ludicrous overhyping in the media after the League and FA Cup games. Also accusing Wenger of weakness by being unwilling to develop a Plan B is not new and the truth of it was once again borne out by events last night.

The most important point about the article for me is that it recognises Rafa's real strength: his pragmatic approach. He'll do what it takes to get the job done. So, I think we have genuine reason to believe that he will address the problems we have and will not be held back by any overblown "footballing philosophy".

To be honest I think his problems last night were more the result of poor personel choices. He did in fact seem to make a slight change to his regular tactics - playing Gilberto at the back and no deep lying or ball winning player in midfield. A sort of exageration of his usual system to accomodate more players who were comfortable on the ball.

In my opinion if Diaby was still carrying an injury then Gilberto had to play in CM and Djourou come in at the back.

I think that there are about equal chances of ourselves or Arsenal finding the missing pieces to our teams in the summer. Although I only think Arsenal need one or at most two players to do and we need at least two or three, I agree with you that Wengers search for some unattainable ideal forward may hold them back. He also seems to have a touch of the AFII's when it come to young players.

[Neil Young]

To be honest I think his problems last night were more the result of poor personel choices. He did in fact seem to make a slight change to his regular tactics - playing Gilberto at the back and no deep lying or ball winning player in midfield. A sort of exageration of his usual system to accomodate more players who were comfortable on the ball.

In my opinion if Diaby was still carrying an injury then Gilberto had to play in CM and Djourou come in at the back.

I think that there are about equal chances of ourselves or Arsenal finding the missing pieces to our teams in the summer. Although I only think Arsenal need one or at most two players to do and we need at least two or three, I agree with you that Wengers search for some unattainable ideal forward may hold them back. He also seems to have a touch of the AFII's when it come to young players.

at your last sentence.

Unless he was down to his last eleven players, is not the personnel dictated by tactical plans? In other words, I think we're in danger of getting bogged down by semantics - we agree.

I suspect Arsenal need more than just one or two players. I think they need to learn how to adapt their game. It's about finding ways to win. Untill they do that they will be reliant on moments of individual brilliance in order to win games in which they've been tactically outmanoeuvred. They had Henry and Bergkamp (and to a lesser extent Pires) doing that for some years but, as we know all too well, world class strikers and wingers are pretty thin on the ground.

[dww]

at your last sentence.

Unless he was down to his last eleven players, is not the personnel dictated by tactical plans? In other words, I think we're in danger of getting bogged down by semantics - we agree.

I suspect Arsenal need more than just one or two players. I think they need to learn how to adapt their game. It's about finding ways to win. Untill they do that they will be reliant on moments of individual brilliance in order to win games in which they've been tactically outmanoeuvred. They had Henry and Bergkamp (and to a lesser extent Pires) doing that for some years but, as we know all too well, world class strikers and wingers are pretty thin on the ground.

I was generally agreeing with you but I was trying to say that he does alter his tactics in the sense of personel, and the way they play certain positions, even if his formation and general approach/philosophy remain constant.

Henry has been in rubbish form this season. I say they only need one or two players as I think he can come back to the player he has been in the past.

I also think that Adebayor and van Persie when they played together seeme to encourage the rest of the team to play a more direct game at times which did give Arsenal a slightly different dimension. They also have players like Diaby and Denilson who have showed at times that they could really improve the deficiencies in the Arsenal game. Diaby particularly impressed me against Bolton in the cup.

We would be a much better team with Hleb or Rosicky in the team.