The way Rafa is.........

[Red Chilli]

That is why practically the whole of the Spanish league tried to mimic his system then of playing two holding midfielders? It is a great platform to play from if you have the sufficient quality to play off it.

Meh, we're not playing in the Spanish league and the best tactical manager in the world should be able to respond to that.

[Red Chilli]

Liam Brady has alot to do with the way the young Arsenal players play its not all Wenger.

You could say the same for Pako and Rafa in the past.

[bazza76]

I didn't see today's game, I listened on the radio and watched MOTD2 but judging from that and from others comments on here, Gerrard was essentially played behind Mascherano in the latter stages today.

Even so, the Reading formation beggared belief

Good move going to Vegas

I would have watched it if I could have but after hearing the result later, I was glad I didn't, it meant getting up at early too when I had no sleep and getting a taxi to somewhere I didn't know, so it was a non runner.

[Dhav]

Yeah but you're biased

Come on, the way his teams play with flair and passing and moving against some of the hoofers in the premiership.
To play football like his team does AND still win in the high paced headless chicken Premiership takes an outstanding feat of tactical nouse, if you ask me.

May be a little biased

Yes I agree that the way he has his teams playing is an outstanding feat, but I do not think it is specifically a feat of tactical nous. Wenger has his teams playing technical, not tactical football (if that makes sense). I think it's actually very basic and simple, and not very sophisticated tactically, but it is devestating nonetheless. I dont remeber ever seeing a team play such one-touch football, passing it so quickly and accurately and then moving to make and exploit space, perhaps since the 88 Liverpool team. It's the one way he wants to play and he brings in players with good technique and control who he knows can fit into that pattern.

Problem is, Arsenal seem to only play one way, they dont have a lot of variation in their play so on the rare occasions when it doesn't work, Wenger doesn't seem capable of changing it. I look at how they've struggled particularly in Europe. The one year Wenger tried a different style of play in Europe, yes they got to the final, but they almost stumbled their way through.

[Red Chilli]

May be a little biased

Yes I agree that the way he has his teams playing is an outstanding feat, but I do not think it is specifically a feat of tactical nous. Wenger has his teams playing technical, not tactical football (if that makes sense). I think it's actually very basic and simple, and not very sophisticated tactically, but it is devestating nonetheless. I dont remeber ever seeing a team play such one-touch football, passing it so quickly and accurately and then moving to make and exploit space, perhaps since the 88 Liverpool team. It's the one way he wants to play and he brings in players with good technique and control who he knows can fit into that pattern.

Problem is, Arsenal seem to only play one way, they dont have a lot of variation in their play so on the rare occasions when it doesn't work, Wenger doesn't seem capable of changing it. I look at how they've struggled particularly in Europe. The one year Wenger tried a different style of play in Europe, yes they got to the final, but they almost stumbled their way through.

Seriously though, how often do Rafa's plan B's work?
I think because of the famous Istanbul he is credited at being able to change a game with tactical awareness when in reality I can't remember THAT many league games where we've come from behind so to speak.

[Alpha]

Anyway, the very fact he bothers toplay with 2 defensive midfielders automatically rules him out of the running for the best tactical manager in the world race IMO

Examples please...

[Red Chilli]

Examples please...

Mascherano and Sissoko

[Dhav]

Seriously though, how often do Rafa's plan B's work?
I think because of the famous Istanbul he is credited at being able to change a game with tactical awareness when in reality I can't remember THAT many league games where we've come from behind so to speak.

Yeah, I do worry whenever we fall behind. But I think Rafa's record at beating supposedly superior teams (especially in Europe) goes to show there are few better managers at forming gameplans for specific matches.

[Red Chilli]

Yeah, I do worry whenever we fall behind. But I think Rafa's record at beating supposedly superior teams (especially in Europe) goes to show there are few better managers at forming gameplans for specific matches.

**** Europe, I want us to beat superior teams domestically for a change.

[Dhav]

**** Europe, I want us to beat superior teams domestically for a change.

You and me both mate. And I just think Rafa is too stubborn to acknowledge that all his fancy dan tactics are a bit superfluous for the league.

[Red Chilli]

You and me both mate. And I just think Rafa is too stubborn to acknowledge that all his fancy dan tactics are a bit superfluous for the league.

He should take a leaf out of Wenger's book, I'd love us to try and play pass and move rather than hoof and run.

[Alpha]

Mascherano and Sissoko

Apart from Reading, when?..

[Dhav]

He should take a leaf out of Wenger's book, I'd love us to try and play pass and move rather than hoof and run.

We're a very cagey team. I'm getting the impression Rafa will only ever play pass and move against the lesser sides, and agianst the Man Us and Arsenals will revert to hoof and run

[Monty]

FFS Foxie you didn't even see the game lad!

[Monty]

For me, it's very ****ing simple as football generally is. We didn't take our chances, they had one and did. It ****ing hurts but all this ****e about Rafa not being tactically astute is, quite frankly, embarrassing, he's proved it time and time again. I do fear that we have a mental issue when it comes to playing Man U though, which is worrying.

This talk about Kuyt being **** and blah blah blah, he's there for a ****ing reason, to pressure the defence, run his socks off, and fair bollocks to him, he did that, it's not pretty and no and he'll never be an Henry. Man Ure defended ****ing deep today and I hate to say it but they did it ****ing well. There was **** all space to get behind them or in the channels and we missed chances, that's it, no secrecy no big deal, we lost.... again to the ****ing Mancs but IMO tactics were **** all to do with it, we bossed them for 70% of the game. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin, I daresay with Agger and Xabi it would've been a completely different game. Why do all the gob****es come out on here when we lose? They say **** all when we win and the minute we lose, it's doom and gloom. There is **** all wrong with critisism of your team when it's warranted, but f*ck me, some of youse (without even seeing the game in the ****ing 1st place some of you) don't half talk ****e.

Oh and one more thing I ****ING HATE THAT CUNT Rio ****ting Ferdinand, everytime he plays against us it's like they've won the fookin European cup, the cunt.