Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on October 22, 2021, 07:01:04 PM
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On the back of two very poor results this is a game we have to go all out to win. Arsenal have improved of late so this won't be easy at all. Again a back three selected and again Ings and Watkins up front. At least Bailey back on the bench
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FCUm6eyX0AMUeiL?format=jpg&name=large)
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No Traore. Hmmm
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Saka fit and in the line up for them
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Oh dear Smith showing his stubbornness.
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Same as last two matches expect same outcome :'(
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Big fan of Deans’s but again seems to be very myopic in going 3-5-2 again. No real changes after a couple bad results doesn’t send players the right message. Lose tonight and he’s really going to be on thin ice with an increasing number of fans
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352 is a formation for the odd game, not something to use continually to prove a point. Either way come on Villa.
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It's like he's trying to turn me against him. Even Lambert wasn't stupid enough to stick with five at the back every week when it clearly wasn't working.
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Underwhelmed. Please prove me wrong boys.
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I don't like that at all.
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Traore will be in the squad btw.
I really need to stop watching our bs press conferences. They are a complete waste of time.
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Oh bloody hell, five at the back again? What we playing at.
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also sanson...would like to see some more of this please
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Underwhelmed. Please prove me wrong boys.
Bit underwhelmed too but glad Bailey isn't starting. If it's not going to plan take off Watkins or Ings off and put Leon on.
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Back 5 - groan. Oh well come on Villa.
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Surprised by this. Can't see why we need this formation in this game.
If I was Hause I'd be well pissed off that Tuanzebe is ahead of me.
Let's see what happens.
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It's like he's trying to turn me against him.
He did mention you in his presser, he also said "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps" was his favourite TV show.
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Tuanzebe instead of Hause again? 3-1 Arsenal
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Underwhelmed. Please prove me wrong boys.
Bit underwhelmed too but glad Bailey isn't starting. If it's not going to plan take off Watkins or Ings off and put Leon on.
So 85th minute then?
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He seems to be trying to shoe-horn both Ings and Watkins into the side.
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It's like he's trying to turn me against him.
He did mention you in his presser, he also said "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps" was his favourite TV show.
Apparently he has to keep watching "Two Pints" because Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer has lent him the DVD.
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Is this match on Sky or BT?
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Is this match on Sky or BT?
Sky
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sky
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Ta
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Come on boys, keep it tight first ten then go at them..don’t mess up once you are ahead!
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Very disappointing selection. Effectively a 5212 really. Deano doubling down on this set up. Our bench looks strong and he'll be calling on them early I fear.
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Tuanzebe instead of Hause again? 3-1 Arsenal
Yep, that’s the biggest issue for me too. Mr Sloppy not impressing so far and not even our player so what’s the point?
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He seems to be trying to shoe-horn both Ings and Watkins into the side.
We could still do that with a 433, Liverpool play like this with their three strikers.
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So we’ve gone from playing 4-3-3 every game last season to 3-5-2 this season? Yet we’ve been conceding more goals and having Targett and Cash as our width rather than two attacking players. I do no get this at all. I had hoped that we’d be a bit more varied now with the players we have but that isn’t looking to be the case at all.
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He seems to be trying to shoe-horn both Ings and Watkins into the side.
not trying. Doing
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FFS Smith, I hope you don’t end up looking like a massive div by the end of the game.
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I hope Dean’s right and I’m wrong. But that looks poor.
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Very disappointing selection. Effectively a 5212 really. Deano doubling down on this set up. Our bench looks strong and he'll be calling on them early I fear.
Dean doesn't do early subs. Let's hope we're not calling on Bailey to rescue the game.
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I'd have dropped Watkins and Tuanzebe and started Bailey and El Ghazi and gone 4-2-3-1
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Surprised by this. Can't see why we need this formation in this game.
If I was Hause I'd be well pissed off that Tuanzebe is ahead of me.
Let's see what happens.
To be fair, Hause is unsuited to playing with 3 CBs. We saw that at Spurs, ball at his feet is not his friend. Unfortunately it doesn't suit our other CBs either.
When a manager gets as pig headed as Smith has done tonight, they better hope it goes their way.
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I don’t have a good feeling about this at all. My Gooner brother thinks we are there for the taking and having seen that formation I have a feeling I might be avoiding him for a while.
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The 5 at the back thing HAS worked this season. And it hasn't worked at times too. I'm not tactically savvy enough to know why, but assume it's related to the opposition shape and intent. If that's right, you would assume Arsenal away would be a similar proposition as Manchester Utd away.
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Very disappointing selection. Effectively a 5212 really. Deano doubling down on this set up. Our bench looks strong and he'll be calling on them early I fear.
Early subs? At Aston Villa?!
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Trying to be positive but 5-3-2 might work better against the 'better' teams rather than against the 'weaker' teams?
Although I think Axel is very lucky to still be in the side after last Saturday and Watkins needs to step up as well!
UTV
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I can only assume Axel will be playing as a defensive midfielder, protecting the back four, breaking up play and supplying the midfield with a short pass, the kind of 10 yard pass he made to Mings every time he had the ball against Wolves.
Only a madman would persist with 5 at the back and Dean is no madman.
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Last season we conceded on average 1.2 goals per game, 1.5 this season. Why switch from 4 at the back that looked so solid?
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It's simple really. Play Ings and Watkins with either Bailey or Traore alongside and go back 4.
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Not an Axel fan
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For another stat - their Thierry Henry statue looks 0% like Thierry Henry.
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Axel isn't the issue. It's that we don't 3 CB's and I would rather we had 5 in the middle or 3 with 2 wingers. We are constantly bang the ball long and lose it more often with less in midfield.
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I can only assume Axel will be playing as a defensive midfielder, protecting the back four, breaking up play and supplying the midfield with a short pass, the kind of 10 yard pass he made to Wolves players every time he had the ball against Wolves.
There was an obviuos error in your post but fixed.
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“Interesting” coverage on sky… are we playing??
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Axel isn't the issue. It's that we don't 3 CB's and I would rather we had 5 in the middle or 3 with 2 wingers. We are constantly bang the ball long and lose it more often with less in midfield.
Not an issue for you, but I think he has been crap
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All he has to do is drop Axel for Ramsey, push Buendia out right and Ollie to the left…then we have the makings of a much more cohesive team in both attack and defence.
Edit: …and when Bailey/Traore are fit, simply rotate Ings/Watkins up front.
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Impressive. 32 mins in Sky and barely mentioned Villa
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Not surprised Bailey didn't start he only started training fully a couple of days again, Dean will definitely bring him on sometime in the 2nd half. It's a very good bench.
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Boring boring boring Arsenal. This Sky coverage - Jeez. I’ve seen more interesting curing of paint.
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Arsenal are mediocre the sooner they get used to it and bore off the better.
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“Interesting” coverage on sky… are we playing??
It doesn't look like it does it?
I think they've already decided they would have 6 points this week.
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Looking more and more like we promised Ings he will always play.
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Impressive. 32 mins in Sky and barely mentioned Villa
I understand they've got planned 30 seconds, in which they will talk solely about Villa.
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Not surprised Bailey didn't start he only started training fully a couple of days again, Dean will definitely bring him on sometime in the 2nd half. It's a very good bench.
There's a lot of talk about how good our squad is but that only means anything if our results show the value of it.
We need a result tonight
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Maybe this is the game that Ings and Watkins click and prove they aren't another 'Yorke and Collymore' * prays hard *
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Maybe this is the game that Ings and Watkins click and prove they aren't another 'Yorke and Collymore' * prays hard *
Watkins needs to sort his body language out and if he gets a chance, put it away. That will go a long way.
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The team he has picked is the opposite of a meritocracy.
Not sure what message that sends to the rest of the squad.
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Impressive. 32 mins in Sky and barely mentioned Villa
I understand they've got planned 30 seconds, in which they will talk solely about Villa.
I never watch Sky prematch these days. Its about.their favoured four or five - the rest of us are just the teams that play them.
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Impressive. 32 mins in Sky and barely mentioned Villa
I understand they've got planned 30 seconds, in which they will talk solely about Villa.
During the advert.
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Looking more and more like we promised Ings he will always play.
more worrying is he has promised Manure Tuanzabe will start.
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Just been listening to talk bollocks, just the same, all about Manure and Scouse match.
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Impressive. 32 mins in Sky and barely mentioned Villa
I understand they've got planned 30 seconds, in which they will talk solely about Villa.
During the advert.
Who gives a shit what they say / don't say really though. As annoying as it can be, we all know the score. Until the Villa is genuinely challenging we are, as somebody else has said, the equivalent of cannon fodder for etc super-duper 6 (or 7 or whatever it is these days). Fuck em.
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Amazed we're unchanged, was expecting 4-3-3.
Don't get Traore not making bench if he's fit either.
Think we're just happy with a point tonight.
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Just heard his pre-match interview with Sky. Deluded.
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“Interesting” coverage on sky… are we playing??
that's why I watch on DAZN or NBCSN - the coverage from America is miles better
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Just seen the Smith prematch interview - unconvincing
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Looks like a ver poor team selection again. I’m sure DS watched different Villa matches to me.
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Just seen the Smith prematch interview - unconvincing
His usual one in the week was just as bad. “If both your strikers are scoring you’ll win more than you lose.” They’ve both scored 1 in 6 and we lost both of the games they did score in.
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So should Dean Smith or several of the players read the crap being thrown on this thread it’s not really going to help them is it. Crikey, support the people out there tonight for goodness sake…so many bloody experts and not enough supporters
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Just seen the Smith prematch interview - unconvincing
His usual one in the week was just as bad. “If both your strikers are scoring you’ll win more than you lose.” They’ve both scored 1 in 6 and we lost both of the games they did score in.
He looked desperate, we are in OGS world, he is now at the mercy of his players to pull out a result.
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So should Dean Smith or several of the players read the crap being thrown on this thread it’s not really going to help them is it. Crikey, support the people out there tonight for goodness sake…so many bloody experts and not enough supporters
I’m guessing they might not spot it, I heard they’re out doing something or other tonight.
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So should Dean Smith or several of the players read the crap being thrown on this thread it’s not really going to help them is it. Crikey, support the people out there tonight for goodness sake…so many bloody experts and not enough supporters
Yes, I’m sure they’re all logged on to H&V to see what we’re saying about them, 5 minutes from kick off.
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Wonder if Deano is losing the dressing room? he looks a bit out of it - talking a bit of shite to be honest
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Even G Neville is calling out our formation as the biggest risk for us...hope everyone is wrong!
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Stubbsy, very unlikely the players read this thread. We are expressing our different opinions on the team selection and, of course, we will all be behind our team once the match starts but, that’s the good thing about differing opinions. I have had Villa down to win on my last two accumulaters, didn’t do me much good.
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Even G Neville is calling out our formation as the biggest risk for us...hope everyone is wrong!
I hope we’re all wrong and we run out 2-0 winners.
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Even Neville not convinced about the 5212 setup. Carra and Neville hyping up Arsenal ridiculously so. They were bang average v Palace four nights ago. This is a mid table clash even with Smith's selection.
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At least Tierney is out for them, hopefully Cash wins the battle that side and we can get plenty of crosses in.
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Risso, same here.
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So the third kit makes it’s debut.
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Dean Smiths reaction to the defeat is to play the same team.
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Watkins booked after 20 seconds. Great.
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Good by Buendia then.
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Not feeling the formation, again feels like trying to shoehorn both Ings and Watkins in rather than playing to our strengths.
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Seems like all our players are getting more stupid by the match…Watkins this time!!
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Watkins you fucking moron. Jesus.
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So thick from Ollie.
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Body language. Bad.
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Jesus, we look really, really poor.
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So I've paid 9.99 to watch this on now tv and it's two minutes behind. Utter crap.
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Classic moves against a back 3
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Not looking great, likes of ESR and Saka already getting through our midfield and into the space infront of 3 CBs.
Look out of sorts.
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Terrible start. Really sluggish.
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What's wrong with us. Arsenal pressing and we can't cope. Could be 2-0 down already.
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This formation is fucking wank, how many more games have we got to lose before you change it Smith?
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Wake up lads, match started at 8pm.
Would love to have heard the team talk.
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So far, we are under fire. I fear the worst (for devilla's 9.99)
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What the fuck was that Tuanzebe? He is properly shit.
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Jesus, we look really, really poor.
I think 5 minutes is some sort of record for that post!
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Oof. You've heard of the diamond formation, the christmas tree. This one is the sieve.
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Tearing through our back 5 at will. All over the place.
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Yikes. We look cak.
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Our back 3 are terrifying. We’re now making Ben White look like Maradona….
DS on borrowed time I think…..
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Change that fucking formation Dean. We are giving them the run of midfield.
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Ridiculous booking for Watkins, I may be reading too much into his petulance, but he doesn't give the air of someone who's happy and enjoying his football right now.
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They’re just running through us at will.
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Pathetic from the forwards and midfield there.
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Luiz and McGinn been awol so far, should've played a third CM.
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Shite so far.
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None our players able or willing to tackle
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Samson on for Alex I reckon.
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We are playing exactly how you'd expect from a team who suffered a humiliating defeat, and then had a manager basically say "more of the same, please, lads".
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What on earth is going on. This is abysmal.
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Ridiculous booking for Watkins, I may be reading too much into his petulance, but he doesn't give the air of someone who's happy and enjoying his football right now.
100%
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We’re going to get stuffed here if Smith perseveres with this crap formation.
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Getting bullied by Arsenal. Arsenal!
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Don't worry. Smith will change it on 60 minutes.
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FFS who told our defence we were good at building from the back? It’s fucking embarrassing.
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The main problem with this formation apart from being totally disorganised at the back, is trying to accommodate 2 forwards but failing to provide them any service other than hit and hope long balls into the channels.
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Arsenal get ball in net but disallowed. This is like a game from the first season back. Horrific.
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Best player for us so far is the ref.
How many times we lost the ball already, 7?
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Ridiculous booking for Watkins, I may be reading too much into his petulance, but he doesn't give the air of someone who's happy and enjoying his football right now.
The England effect does that to our players.
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Really poor. Have not come out of the dressing room.
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this game needs to calm the fuck down
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433 ffs
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Oh good, Mings has got his clownshoes on again.
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We look a right rabble.
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We look nervous
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This is a complete mess. Smith has got this all wrong.
All totally predictable.
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Oh good, Mings has got his clownshoes on again.
Does he ever take them off?
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And it's a meat-and-two-veg 442 we are struggling against.
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I’ll raise the issue again from last week, no mention of VAR checks even though we seemed to get four or five a game previously, has something changed?
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What a mess
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I hope Edens and Sawiris are watching this.
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Looks like we've been on the p*** in Camden since 2 o'clock.
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Smith, fucking do something.
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Im a bit confused, are we playing football or Rugby? Or are we playing football but Arsenal are allowed to play some sort of Football / Rugby combo if it means they get an advantage?
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Just stuck some money on Arsenal. We look shite.
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I would be nice to see us string 2 or 3 passes together.
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Im a bit confused, are we playing football or Rugby? Or are we playing football but Arsenal are allowed to play some sort of Football / Rugby combo if it means they get an advantage?
He had to stop there really, head injury.
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Joe fucked us up.
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Why were the Arsenal crowd giddy with excitement when a player managed to take the ball from a wide position to a further wide position?
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I must’ve dreamt VAR was a thing….
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Just in. We look like a pub team.
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Watkins is being gang raped at the moment
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I hope Edens and Sawiris are watching this.
This formation could well cost Smith his job if he doesn't pack it in. We need to go back to what we know.
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Watkins is being gang raped at the moment
Eeesh. That's uncalled for.
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Joe fucked us up.
No, but I'm starting to think perhaps he kept an average manager in his job.
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Watkins is being gang raped at the moment
Out of order
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This is as hopeless a 15 minutes as I can remember from us. Only blessing is it’s still 0-0.
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Watkins is being gang raped at the moment
Could do without that comment.
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Lucky they keep whacking the ball over the bar for no apparent reason.
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Surely people get banned for saying horrific shit like this?
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Lacazette is putting himself about
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Watkins is being gang raped at the moment
WTF?
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Has SJM even touched the ball yet?
Buendia also feels a luxury in this sort of game.
Have to change this at half time regardless of score.
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Watkins is being gang raped at the moment
Less of that please.
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If Arsenal could shoot they would be 4-0 up here. We look completely unprepared.
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I agree. I think DS will be gone in days should we lose this which is looking increasingly likely. Fucking headless chickens.
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Truly awful so far. Picked up where we left of on Saturday
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Seems like Arsenal have 3 extra platers on the pitch.
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What is the point in 5 at the back if it makes your defence worse?
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There's so much fucking room for them to play, can we please drop this 3 centre half shite now?
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How will our best player fit in into a 3-5-2 on the off chance he is ever fit? Lucky again…
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Pathetic from Mings. Stupid place to give a free kick away.
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Right I'm going against the grain and say we will grow into this...cue 1-0 Arsenal.
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It’s so bad I can hear Arsenal fans.
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Yikes. Lucky we had our five defenders to save us, then. Oh no, it was the bar.
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Jeez
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I don't like this blue top either.
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Watkins is being gang raped at the moment
Less of that please.
Or preferably none at all.
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this is a brain dead performance so far - annoying
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This formation aaaaaaaaggggghh.
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If you're going to play three centre halves, one of them has to step up when you have possession.
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Arsenal hit the post. This is ridiculous.
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Sorry. Just frustrated as we seem to be getting pushed all over the place but bad taste.
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Fuck, off the bar from Arse. How are we not already dead and buried?
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Now can we say smith is out of his depth
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How did he miss that?
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Awful performance so far.
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Tuanzebe off Bailey on 4-4-2
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We've got no midfield Buendia is just a passenger right now.
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The same mistakes over and over. Including the formation.
And there you go.
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Anyone suprised ? As soon as we saw lineup we knew this was coming.
Sort it our ffs smith this is ridiculous
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Amazed McGinn escaped a booking then.
We are finally behind, though.
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Inevitable.
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1-0
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This is horrible. I think we'll get hammered now.
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This is like boys against men. Embarrassing.
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And there we go, inevitably
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There’s a shock. DS just missing a piece of straw in his mouth whilst talking to CS.
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It's been coming.
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Christ we’ve been fucking dreadful.
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Well done Dean Smith
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And there you go
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We are a fucking shambles from front to back and in and out I’d possession.
Do we have any midfielders on the pitch because I haven’t seen any of the fuckers.
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Well done smith you absolute genius with your fuckinh shit 5 at the back
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Remind me how many goals our four at the back conceded last time we played Arsenal? Or the previous meeting? Or the one before that?
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Shit formation, shit defending, shit manager.
Every inch of this is on Smith.
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Smith out, fuck it I don’t care. Utterly useless. Most predictable goal ever. shambles.
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This is shocking.
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Why was McGinn marking him?
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What was Martinez doing?
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Garbage
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Good news is Dean is really good at turning games round….
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How come since we recruited a set piece coach we've become fucking shit at defending set pieces?
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Five at the back means a man less in an already lightweight midfield.
Bleeding obvious to everyone watching.
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McGinn not bothering to jump, Martinez piss poor too. Deserved.
Smith needs to change this asap
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Fair to say that's been coming.
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We will be in a relegation fight if this continues.
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Fuck off Dean.
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Fuck off 3-5-2. Dean Smith burning through his good will with this formation.
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This is pathetic.
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Remind me how many goals our four at the back conceded last time we played Arsenal? Or the previous meeting? Or the one before that?
With Jack Grealish carrying the ball for 20 mins of those games?
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This is going to be a long night. A complete shambles from start to finish.
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Change it Smith. Change it. What's wrong with you.
There we go 1-0.
As bad as it's been since the season we went down. Horrific.
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This has been utterly embarrassing.
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Fucking useless hoofing.
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SJM sold Tyrone Mings down the river there in my opinion.
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9 shots v 0 shots.
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Would get Bailey and a CM on at half time.
Might be too late though on evidence of first 20 minutes.
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Dean Smith will be looking at jobs in the Championship soon. This is horrific
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Time to go Dean.
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How come since we recruited a set piece coach we've become fucking shit at defending set pieces?
Play 3 CBs and lose every header at set piece time. Tuanzebe never wins a header.
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0 shots, 2 touches in the Arsenal box.
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We defended fine last season with four at the back. Why do we suddenly need five?
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So fucking fed up with us making average teams look good.
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A better team than Arsenal would have this game wrapped up by now. Utterly embarrassing so far
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This is dreadful.
We don't even look like a decent Championship side.
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How the fuck can he stand there watching this and not change it?
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CHANGE THE FORMATION ffs
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Buendia is £33m pounds worth of fuck all……again.
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just shift axel into DM midfield and push up the pitch a bit.
luiz mcginn ings buendia not in the game at all. defenders just hoofing down the channels.
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5 at the back is wrong.
The midfield is being over run.
And two up front ain’t working.
Maybe Dean wants the sack..
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He’s chewing his fingers. He does that when he doesn’t have a clue how to deal with the shambles in front of him. Time to go.
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Five at the back means a man less in an already lightweight midfield.
Bleeding obvious to everyone watching.
This is just a continuation from Saturdays last 10 minutes.
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This is where I struggle with Smith.
Every minute we stay like this improves the likelihood taking a hammering here, it is clearly not working.
But as per always, he persists with the not-working.
What does he think is going to happen watching the first 26 minutes that makes him think will tilt things in our favour?
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Someone is going off tonight.
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5 at the back is wrong.
The midfield is being over run.
And two up front ain’t working.
Maybe Dean wants the sack..
Or the players are trying to get him the sack
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Also, what's the point in playing two strikers if you can't get the fucking ball to them?
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Stop being so weird Dean.
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Mings booked. Could've easily had McGinn booked aswell.
We're five hours late to everything tonight, horrible first 30 mins.
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Buendia is £33m pounds worth of fuck all……again.
Not his fault.
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That was a foul by Mings but it didn't merit a booking in my opinion. Although he had conceded a couple of fouls previously.
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Targett been awful.
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What grieves me even more is we’re giving game time to a Man U player above one of our own who is a superior player. He’s lost it I’m afraid, not a single positive from this game.
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5 at the back is wrong.
The midfield is being over run.
And two up front ain’t working.
Maybe Dean wants the sack..
Perhaps he fancies two weeks in Portugal playing golf with Bruce? I’ll drive him there.
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Lambert type performance
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Targett been awful.
Lets be honest they all have.
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Fucking hell
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This formation needs to go now. Whatever happened in the first game or 2 with it we're now clearly 5 at the back and their fullbacks have the freedom of the fucking city.
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The pundits know it
We know it
But sadly our manager does not know it
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Targett been awful.
They all have.
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We are so easy to play against with this formation.
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Buendia is £33m pounds worth of fuck all……again.
Not his fault.
It so is.
Lightweight, slow to react and easily robbed of the ball.
Fucking shit and we expect better.
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Smith needs to fucking learn or fucking go. This is a fucking shambles.
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Targett and Cash not good enough crossers and this formation demands they need to be. DS must see this isn't working.
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Dean is drinking a bottle of water. When he could be organising the team.
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This is 1-0 going on 10
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WE SURVIVED A CORNER!
YAAAAAAAAASSSSS!!!
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Even the commentators get it with our formation “it seems to not be working very well so far this season.”
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We do know the game has started, right?
Looking exactly like a team that chucked away a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes to go last weekend.
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What a save Emi.
We are horrible.
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Buendia according to all Norwich fans... At his best wide right. They all said it. And we insist on him at ten.
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How the fuck can he stand there watching this and not change it?
Because he doesn't know what to do.
Cut to pieces again.
What's wrong with you Smith. Change it!!!
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We don’t need 3 fucking centre halves.
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Schoolboy defending. This shambles of a formation is suiting them down to the ground.
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Thank you emi for this save.
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Targett been awful.
He's so slow he looks injured. Saka is absolutely destroying him.
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Shambles.
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It wasn't a set piece coach we needed, it was a physics teacher. If you kick the ball directly at an opposition player, it won't got through him, it will bounce off.
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Brilliant from Martinez as he stops a certain second as they cut us open yet again.
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Running through us at will. Smith doesn't have a clue how to stop it.
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The pundits know it
We know it
But sadly our manager does not know it
Even the commentator knows it...Smith horrid stubborn streak.
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Absolutely shocking so far really poor
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Buendia according to all Norwich fans... At his best wide right. They all said it. And we insist on him at ten.
He's reminding me a bit of N'zogbia.
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We're going to end uo with ten men at some point soon, too. We can't get a hold of the match so we're diving in.
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We are getting a red here tonight. And losing by about 5.
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Change it now. Don’t wait until we are 3=0 down with 15 minutes to go.
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We are gping to end this game with 10 or 9 men.
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Fantastic pass by Targett.
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I’m actually embarrassed by this shit show.
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Arsenal are getting better the longer the game is going on.
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Change the fucking system Dean. I’m sorry this is classic managing when they don’t understand tactics - stumble across a formation that works for a game or two then think you’ve cracked it and stubbornly stick to it.
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I don’t usually comment on match threads but this is atrocious….
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This has to be one of worst halves any prem team has played this season, weren't even this bad at Watford.
McGinn booked so I'm afraid DS is going to have to hook someone otherwise we'll be down to 10 men at some point.
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If there's no half-time changes I'll be gobsmacked.
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Targett…. Fucking hell. Our main attacking options are our fullbacks and we wonder why we’re shit.
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He has wrecked a really solid defence by going 3 at the back. Why fix the one thing that didn’t need fixing ?
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Targett been awful.
He's so slow he looks injured. Saka is absolutely destroying him.
If any manager watched him against Watford, we’ll probably lose.
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Should have changed it at 10 mins.CHANGE IT NOW!
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Luiz and Targett are terrible. We are being over-run and need more width. Change it Dean. We are atrocious.
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Mark my words, this is relegation form the way we are playing. Giving away leads when we get them, looking panicked at the back, diving in, not having any real attacking threat in games.
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Buendia 😂
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Every time one of our midfielders gets the ball he's thirty yards from the nearest Villa player.
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Whoever said Buendia was shit, spot on.
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We're trying to help Buedia fit in by playing like Norwich.
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Why dosen't DS just do something instead of having the coaches advise him? Just wastes time to me.
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If there's no half-time changes I'll be gobsmacked.
I won't.
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Smith is managing to make Arese look like world beaters
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Arsenal are playing very well. But if he cannot see this formation needs changing then I should swap jobs with him and he can become a Credit Manager.
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They’re all playing as individuals - there is no system.
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It's like we've decided to let them have midfield.
They're physically dominating us - Arsenal, a side with zero grit or heart.
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Yeah, that from Buendia might have just tipped me over the edge. What a fucking shambolic performance.
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Whoever said Buendia was shit, spot on.
Total bollocks. Which of his non-existent teammates was he supposed to pass to?
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Didn't we have the third best defence last season, playing with the 4?
I wish we hadn't signed Ings if Smith hasn't got the balls to drop one of them. And Buindea is cack.
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Two upfront and yet barely any options on rare occasions we cross halfway line.
It's a complete mess.
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I’ve got some alcohol free beer that’s stronger than Buendia.
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If there's no half-time changes I'll be gobsmacked.
If there are no halftime changes, sadly I will be Jack's complete lack of surprise.
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We've got to take a defender off and bring on a midfielder.
This is so bad it's untrue.
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Buendia is out of his depth.
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Like smith didn’t think we collapsed on Saturday, he can’t see we are being fucking mullered tonight,
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Why dosen't DS just do something instead of having the coaches advise him? Just wastes time to me.
Because he isn’t the messiah many thinks he is. Take off the claret and blue glasses he is out of his depth and slumped into another winless runs
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Arsenal are playing very well. But if he cannot see this formation needs changing then I should swap jobs with him and he can become a Credit Manager.
I'll match that with the option to get involved in the mobile payments tech space.
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There isn't a Villa single player out getting a 6/10 so far...all horrific. When that happens the manager has to help them out.
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When was it last this bad? Leicester away before the 1st lockdown?
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Even if we managed to fluke an equaliser it’s one of those games where you wouldn’t be happy about it. Everything is wrong and the manager needs to put his hand up and admit it.
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Fuck me, look, it's their penalty area.
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Like smith didn’t think we collapsed on Saturday, he can’t see we are being fucking mullered tonight,
Be fair Andy, it’s a good trait to check that your mistakes are as bad as you think they are.
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I’ve got some alcohol free beer that’s stronger than Buendia.
Pint of Buendia please.
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Amazing stuff
Two passes, give it back, they take 20 passes, repeat.
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We’re get schooled here , bag of shit!!! What changes can we make ?
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Like smith didn’t think we collapsed on Saturday, he can’t see we are being fucking mullered tonight,
The body language of the players seems to show something is not right. Lots of shrugging shoulders and exasperation out there.
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Just need to change the system. Arsenal aren’t good but they look like the Harlem Globe Trotters tonight.
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11 fucking shots to 0.
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Smith probably thinks that this has been an even first half.
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Like smith didn’t think we collapsed on Saturday, he can’t see we are being fucking mullered tonight,
Be fair Andy, it’s a good trait to check that your mistakes are as bad as you think they are.
So true…it’s all so Bruceesque.
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Even the commentators are saying five at the back is shite.
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10 attempts to 0. A decent team would’ve tore us a new arse by now….
I can’t watch this anymore, see ya folks.
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Why wait till half time to change something, do it now for fuck's sake.
It's not magically going to change in the next eight minutes on the basis of the last 37.
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We’re get schooled here , bag of shit!!! What changes can we make ?
Sanson on for Tuanzebe. Bailey for Buendia.
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What are they fcuking talking about? Whether to have masala or madras?!
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Harsh comments on Buendia.
No one has played well at all.
Were the ropes, lets just hope we can hang on until halftime and pray that We change formation.
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First time for a long time - our away support is silent.
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Hopefully this Lakonga guy can keep shooting into Row F enough times for us to get to half time 1 down.
This is arguably our worst 45 minutes since promotion. We've offered nothing.
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Lucky we are only 1 nil
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When was it last this bad? Leicester away before the 1st lockdown?
This performance is just as bad but is even more concerning as we started with Engels, Hourihane, Elmo and Samatta that match. No excuses for this, other than an utterly clueless, out of his depth manager.
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Smiths coming close to the sack for me
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Even the commentators are saying five at the back is shite.
Will you forgive me my lapse? I realise the error of my ways and will never endorse this godforsaken system again.
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I’ve got some alcohol free beer that’s stronger than Buendia.
Is it top Kaliber with the ball at its feet though?
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We’re get schooled here , bag of shit!!! What changes can we make ?
Sanson on for Tuanzebe. Bailey for Buendia.
Bailey for one of the strikers.
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Anti Football at its finest. We are horrid to watch, hoofing it long, playing for the long throws. Everything we mock Pulis and Allardyce for.
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What are they fcuking talking about? Whether to have masala or madras?!
Madras hands down.
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Would any other manager in the league have left the team and formation as it is, having witnessed this?
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We aren’t even competing, and that the sickening thing
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I hope we don’t somehow equalise otherwise he won’t change it.
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Whoever said Buendia was shit, spot on.
Total bollocks. Which of his non-existent teammates was he supposed to pass to?
Not shit but stuck deep in Parteys pocket because he's so easy to ease off the ball, he can't play in this role and it's making him look like a waste of money.
Everywhere that matters they have the extra man because we're just so badly setup. I like Smith and really want him to succeed with us but right now this feels a bit Bruce like in that he doesn't seem to know what he signed these players to do and is flailing around trying to find a way to fit them in.
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Would any other manager in the league have left the team and formation as it is, having witnessed this?
Steve Bruce, I was about to say, but he's not a manager in this league any more.
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I think the Ings signing is going to end up costing Dean his job.
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Fuck me, twenty seconds of possession here.
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We’re get schooled here , bag of shit!!! What changes can we make ?
Sanson on for Tuanzebe. Bailey for Buendia.
Ollie's been abysmal and on a yellow, can see him getting frustrated and getting sent off so he'd get the hook for me.
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I'm feeling enraged watching this.
What's the point fielding 2 strikers when we can't get them the ball because the midfield is completely overrun.
Smith is on very, very thin ice here with this.
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Even the commentators are saying five at the back is shite.
Will you forgive me my lapse? I realise the error of my ways and will never endorse this godforsaken system again.
Go on then, seeing as it's you.
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Harsh comments on Buendia.
No one has played well at all.
Were the ropes, lets just hope we can hang on until halftime and pray that We change formation.
He's our record signing, he needs to find a bit of space, try and keep possession, draw a foul and give us a breather. He's done nothing, but yes everyone has been equally shite.
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Keep this up and we're in a relegation battle before long.
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I think the Ings signing is going to end up costing Dean his job.
It’s got Collymore written all over it
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I think the Ings signing is going to end up costing Dean his job.
It's the Collymore conundrum again, fixing something that wasn't broke and breaking it.
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Where's Grealish when you need him?
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Whoever said Buendia was shit, spot on.
Total bollocks. Which of his non-existent teammates was he supposed to pass to?
Not shit but stuck deep in Parteys pocket because he's so easy to ease off the ball, he can't play in this role and it's making him look like a waste of money.
Everywhere that matters they have the extra man because we're just so badly setup. I like Smith and really want him to succeed with us but right now this feels a bit Bruce like in that he doesn't seem to know what he signed these players to do and is flailing around trying to find a way to fit them in.
You’re right Paul, he’s not shit, but it’s clear to a blind man that central midfield is not the position for him. Smith is an absolute clown.
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Watkins and Tuanzebe for the hook or Smith can do one
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I think the Ings signing is going to end up costing Dean his job.
It's the Collymore conundrum again, fixing something that wasn't broke and breaking it.
We needed another striker, but we didn’t need to insist on 5 at the back to accommodate him.
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Ings OR Watkins, not both.
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Bruce seen pulling into the Belfry car park.
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It's so obvious that they are doing us out wide and have two against one. We need to go 451 to stem the flow. What are Smith and shakespeare possibly debating? We have been awful. Buendia is trash. Luiz is nowhere near close enough in midfield.
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Nobody is enjoying this, not the fans, not the players. What’s the point.
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If he values his job, he'll adjust the formation at half time. I get the feeling the owners won't tolerate this woeful play and lack of tactical nous for long this season.
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Tuanzebe is wank.
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Reminds me of our Premiership relegation season while that ex Arsenal bloke was in charge.
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This is the end.
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We’re get schooled here , bag of shit!!! What changes can we make ?
Sanson on for Tuanzebe. Bailey for Buendia.
Ollie's been abysmal and on a yellow, can see him getting frustrated and getting sent off so he'd get the hook for me.
True, he has been useless. McGinn too, has sold Luiz down the river. Buendia, Mings, Targett, Cash...pick the worst!
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These are the sorts of performances that Bruce got panned for
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I still wouldn't mind seeing Watkins play wide.
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Bruce seen pulling into the Belfry car park.
I'd heard it was the kebab shop.
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Bruce seen pulling into the Belfry car park.
He’s had enough pay offs to buy it.
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The way we have played so far makes me think that going in for the break just one goal down is a good result for us so far.
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To be clear, I am moaning about Buendia being shit, but I know hes not actually shit.
He is completely wasted in this formation and as a result his form is suffering and so is his confidence now.
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If he values his job, he'll adjust the formation at half time. I get the feeling the owners won't tolerate this woeful play and lack of tactical nous for long this season.
First and foremost, Purslow shouldn't tolerate it and should make that clear to Dean. Given the great football the U23s play, there is no excuse for the first team to be this shite.
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Fuck this zonal marking bollocks off. Mings on Partey now!!
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I still wouldn't mind seeing Watkins play wide.
Watkins has given up and I don’t blame him.
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18 months away from champions league is laughable
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To add a second striker to your team yet make it look like you haven't got even one is quite an achievment. Surely the fact that it looks like they have twice as many players as we have is proof that this formation is bordering on suicidal.
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It's not like Arsenal have a better team than us. On paper we should be fairly evenly matched. Instead we're looking like a bad League 2 side.
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The way we have played so far makes me think that going in for the break just one goal down is a good result for us so far.
Totally agree. What are the chances that there will be no changes because of Smiths stubbornness?
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18 months away from champions league is laughable
6 months from championship more like.
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What is the Fcukin deal playing Axel all the time?
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Players now rowing with one another, some shambles. Getting bullied in the air so wouldn't mind Mings being replaced by Hause too.
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18 months away from champions league is laughable
There is a simple retort to that one.
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Good work, McPhee.
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The way we have played so far makes me think that going in for the break just one goal down is a good result for us so far.
Going in 1-0 down is a fantastic achievement. Even 2-0 would be a positive given the way we played.
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What a shit free kick from McGinn.
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Hope our form picks up by the FA cup run
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What the fuck was that set piece
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I wonder if this is our bad half.
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SJM gets booked after his opponent has had a fistful of his shirt for two minutes. :o
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Hope our form picks up by the FA cup run
Not sure a game counts as a "run".
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To be clear, I am moaning about Buendia being shit, but I know hes not actually shit.
He is completely wasted in this formation and as a result his form is suffering and so is his confidence now.
You’re right Andy. There might be a good player in there and almost certainly is, but if he’s out of position he looks like Carles Gil’s weedier cousin.
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Some proper bed wetting going on here tonight
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What the fuck was that set piece
A poor ball in
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Uh oh. Penalty incoming.
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Jesus Christ. This will be insane.
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Fuck off Smith and take you set piece expert with you…
Appalling first half. Looks like Arse gonna get a penalty after the half time whistle.
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Reading this thread has been far more enjoyable than watching the match.
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To add a second striker to your team yet make it look like you haven't got even one is quite an achievment. Surely the fact that it looks like they have twice as many players as we have is proof that this formation is bordering on suicidal.
Two quality strikers isn't the problem.. shoe-horning them into this non-sensical formation/system, is.
Dean is going to get himself fired with drivel like this.. although, I'm not hoping for it. Unmotivated, inept, disjointed.
This is pathetic. Oh, and Emi Buendia wake tf up.
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I still wouldn't mind seeing Watkins play wide.
I wouldn't mind seeing Watkins play.
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The way we have played so far makes me think that going in for the break just one goal down is a good result for us so far.
Is that all it is? I forgot we were playing, did the weekly shop, then read the last page of this and presumed we were 4 or 5 down.
Poor performance so far, I take it?
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That's not a pen
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Some proper bed wetting going on here tonight
So?
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Yeah that's a penalty, ffs.
All because of a useless Buendia FK.
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That isn’t a penalty, fucking joke.
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Formation is abysmal, Smith living on borrowed time and out of his depth. Never a top manager for as long as I have an arsehole and no grealishto get us out of a corner. Formation change has made us look terrible compared to last season Back to cornalties, thanks set piece coach,. Total shit all round.
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Mon Martinez... keep us in it, please.
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Nice one. FFS.
What is the fucking point.
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He fuckin threw himself
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Our attacking tactic once we have the ball that is is just to launch it forward.
Desperate, desperate stuff.
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Well that first half was simply terrible, but what's interesting now is whether Smith will be able to bring about any improvement in the second half. if he doesn't, I reckon he's in trouble.
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That will be a penalty against us surely.
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i THINK it's a pen but how can you judge from that?!
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No fucking way.
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Utterly embarrassing. Truly terrible. The only positive is it’s only 1-0. Sort it the fuck out Dean your system doesn’t work.
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We’d have wanted it
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Targetts been the worst player on the pitch. I thought it was a pen live.
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Oh FFS
-
Arsenal penalty.
Scandalous Smith. This is totally on you.
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Gives Dismal Dean an excuse to moan about I guess.
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Absolute tripe.
-
At least Smith has got his excuse here.
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Shite. From start to finish. Shite.
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How does that count?????
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Gives Dismal Dean an excuse to moan about I guess.
Exactly
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Saved it, but they scored the rebound.
Fancy us to change it, now. Six at the back, anyone?
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Oh I missed the pen.
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Strange one Lacazette wasn't really playing the ball. But I can see why it was given.
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Sorry, this half has been absolutely disgusting.
-
Bollocks.
-
Harsh pen
-
Game over.
Let's be honest. Emi won't be here this time next year.
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Smiths out if his depth
-
2-0.
Bit late to change it now Smith. Well done son. You've played a blinder.
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Arse are good for 2 nil.
We have been shocking because Smith is clueless
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Were lucky to be going in 2-nil down.
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No changes at half time I suspect. Pathetic.
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Of course none of our defenders even get close to the rebound. It was a pen for me. Can't complain about being 2-0 down. Absolute rabble.
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Awful
-
harsh pen not harsh score
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He blew for half time ffs
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So, a penalty awarded on 48 minutes, when just 2 minutes of added time was signalled? How's that work then?
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This is utterly, utterly shit. WHERE WERE OUR DEFENDERS ON THAT REBOUND? Fuck off.
-
Some proper bed wetting going on here tonight
This aged well.
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I think we will be seeing the last 45 mins of Dean managing us.
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Worst display since Watford? Or last ten against Wolves?
Never a pen, brilliant dive from Lacazette who has done it all half, but we deserve to be 6 down not 2.
Smith out. Times up. Board need to show some balls and show that they will make the tough calls to keep us moving forward.
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I hope the team give Smith fucking pelters at half time, the useless fucking wanker.
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Utter, utter, utter, utter, utter, utter fucking garbage that half. As bad as anything in our first season back, rivalling 2016.
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Disgraceful 45 minutes. That’s not down to Arsenal being brilliant, it’s down to us being shambolic. A non existent midfield and allowing them acres and acres of space all over the pitch.
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Did the ref blow for half time before the pen?
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An absolute abomination from start to finish.
-
I'm not one for hyperbole, but that half was embarrassingly poor.
The fact that Smith hasn't changed anything already suggests he's simply not good enough. It really isn't rocket science and there's no excuse for it.
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Useless sack of ******.
Who's getting sent off then? The favourite has to be either Mings for a sloppy miskick then a tug back, or McGinn getting frustrated and taking someone out. I can also see Cash coming flying through someone for a straight red.
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How can he not see what's happening.
-
I’m going for 5-0 here. At least.
-
This reminds me of when we went to Anfield under Houllier.
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Looks like Smith has stopped moving us forwards as a Club.
I think the owners will be sounding out someone with a bit more tactical nous, come Monday.
-
Smith is a chancer.
Laughably short of where we thought we would be.
Currently nestled in 13th place.
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If he has already blown for HT and subsequently gives a VAR penalty, but then the keeper saves the penalty, surely the ref should blow again straight away as soon as the penalty is saved? Or is there a special VAR rule which says he shouldn't do so?
-
disgraceful.
-
We've beat this the last 3 times playing 4-3-3. Just baffling what he's doing with us.
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Utterly pathetic all round. Cheating Lacazette wanker, threw himself to the ground. Crap all round. Not one of them, other than Emi been any good. Several passengers. Luiz, Buendia is walking around. All clueless, and that bastard Carragher can fuck off as well. Worse than anything I have seen since we we relegated.
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Worst display since Watford? Or last ten against Wolves?
Never a pen, brilliant dive from Lacazette who has done it all half, but we deserve to be 6 down not 2.
Smith out. Times up. Board need to show some balls and show that they will make the tough calls to keep us moving forward.
We haven't stalled, we have gone backwards!
-
Arsenal 14 attempts - Villa 0
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I’m sorry there have been too many dreadful performances this year. We’re trying to shoe horn players in. It’s a fucking shambles.
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I've always been a big Smith fan but the fact he didn't change anything significantly in that half is a massive concern. It felt so obvious they'd score again before half time. Players all over the place, arguing with each other. Shambolic.
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Yep. Officially worried now. That was nothing short of abysmal. The 5-3-2 isn't getting the best out of anybody.
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How can we follow a win at OT with this shit. There is no way Dean Smith will be in charge against West Ham…..
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Did the ref blow for half time before the pen?
Makes no difference. It has happened before in other matches where a penalty has been awarded post HT/FT whistle.
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Did the ref blow for half time before the pen?
Yes, but as the incident occurred before he blew, and penalties must always be taken, it was still reviewable.
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Forget the pen 0 shots all half. Absolutely shocking and its all on dean smith. Another pathetic display
-
This formation is an absolute abomination. Dean and the team have had weeks to come up with something decent and this is it. It’s ugly to watch, easy to walk through and helps us give the ball away again and again.
I don’t get this stubbornness. As soon as most people saw the formation they knew what was coming. But even when the coaches can see it isn’t working they just talk and talk and analyse but change nothing - what’s the point. Game preparation - zero, in game management - zero.
And I’m a big DS fan. It’s like he’s had a labotomy. And what on Earth are the other coaches saying to him when they talk constantly but do nothing. Dog shit Friday night. But at least nobody had a ticket spare so I didn’t waste any money.
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How can we follow a win at OT with this shit. There is no way Dean Smith will be in charge against West Ham…..
We didn't.
We followed a win at Man United with a limp 2-1 defeat at Spurs, a disgusting 2-3 home defeat to a piss poor Wolves, and this disgraceful spineless nonsense.
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I did not see the Watford game, but this has been the most useless inept performance i have seen this season
They are ripping us apart
Mings, Mcginn someone will be sent off
Sorry for Martinez, never a penalty ,with the exception of him you could change the other 10 and not miss any of them.
-
How fucking predictable was this?
-
Dean Smith is burning through the goodwill he's built up at a rate of knots the longer he persists with this system. Its not working, the players look totally lost and confused, and Smith and his staff seem to have frozen
-
As soon as I saw the formation I feared the worst but not this bad.
-
We've made Arsenal look like world beaters, shocking Villa.
-
A week of wank bantering at the hands of Wolves fans followed by another week of wank bantering by Arsenal fans. Thanks Smith.
-
I must admit I don’t watch much of Arsenal these days as they’re a neither here nor there team but I don’t usually associate them with having the level of battle they showed tonight. Fucking typical. Unfortunately the ref seemed pretty tolerant of them particularly early on. We were utterly shit though, no doubt.
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Very harsh penalty IMO but Targett gives the ref and VAR a chance to award a penalty challenging like that. He’s largely been a liability all this season and needs dropping. Unfortunately we don’t really have the back up.
Smith too slow to react yet again when things are clearly not working means we’re out of the game again.
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Too late for changes, I don’t want his ineptitude to be covered up.
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Back to conceding goals from cornalties.
Not a single attempt on goal.
Smith out!
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Off to watch coronation street, hopefully I be surprised when I come back
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We've been shit, but that was never a penalty.
Five at the back doesn't work & it should have been changed after 15 minutes.
-
How can we follow a win at OT with this shit. There is no way Dean Smith will be in charge against West Ham…..
We didn't.
We followed a win at Man United with a limp 2-1 defeat at Spurs, a disgusting 2-3 home defeat to a piss poor Wolves, and this disgraceful spineless nonsense.
That’s what I mean, the performances since have been shite.
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The worst i have seen for ages.
-
Do the players want John Terry back as manager or something? I couldn’t bear to watch after about 10 minutes, it was like watching a car crash in slow motion.
-
I must admit I don’t watch much of Arsenal these days as they’re a neither here nor there team but I don’t usually associate them with having the level of battle they showed tonight. Fucking typical. Unfortunately the ref seemed pretty tolerant of them particularly early on. We were utterly shit though, no doubt.
I have watched them a lot and they are generally ordinary wit the odd flash of excellence here and there. We have been so bad & so limp we have made them look like the Arsenal Invincibles of 04...that's how bad we've have been.
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We've been shit, but that was never a penalty.
Five at the back doesn't work & it should have been changed after 15 minutes.
It obviously should, but has Smith ever made a formation change so early that wasn't inforced? I don't think he would have a clue how to.
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Well the team weren’t playing for the manager in that half. Completely run over by the most mediocre arsenal line up I’ve seen for a long time.
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Heeeeeeres LEON !
-
My younger daughter is miserable, in with Arsenal fans watching this shit for her first game
-
You don't have to make substitutions to change the shape of the side. He will bring Bailey on now, when it's possibly already too late. No doubts, he will be injured again by the end of the game! Could have pushed Konsa right, Watkins up front on the left and gone 451. Terrible in-game thinking. Saying that, the excuse will be that we conceded two set pieces, rather than in open play, although open play led to the penalty to be fair. Get rid of zonal marking, go and buy a fucking DCM in January.
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Well, go 2 down then make the change that should have happened after 1 minute.
-
Hadn't they changed the rules to stop players buying penalties by sticking their leg in front of someone who's trying to play the ball?
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Smith has made a substitution. I need to lied down to recover from the shock
-
FA cup 2015 stats here, 0 shots on or off target. Arsenal had 14.
At least we've had one corner.
-
Changed my shirt. That should fix it.
-
There have been consistently dreadful efforts this year. We’re really poor far too frequently and less than the sum of our parts.
-
Ffs it has taken 2 defeats and a 2 nil deficit to realise that maybe just maybe he has got his tactics wrong.
-
This isn’t going to work without a bit of snap in midfield.
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Looking better already since ditching The Formation That Shall Not Be Named.
-
I don't think the rebound should have been allowed to stand as a goal?
https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11/law-14---the-penalty-kick
-
I'd have taken off Mings rather than Axel. Mings has been atrocious today and is a red card in waiting too. The system hasn't helped any of the CH's to be fair, but still. Mings is an accident waiting to happen.
-
More like it from Buendia + Watkins there
-
Booing Martinez because he didnt want to sit on their bench for an 11th year. Self entitled twats.
-
Ollie too slow, should've squared it.
-
Toying with us. Ings dived.
-
I don't think the rebound should have been allowed to stand as a goal?
https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11/law-14---the-penalty-kick
Why?
-
This is better already
-
Should I go to bed and not sleep or watch and hope ?
Off to the fridge
Dean has gone has far has he can, no tactical nounce, the end could be drawn out and painful
-
Now we have changed the system .I'm convinced have a chance of getting something second half. Will be far better now.
-
Is a shirt tug a penalty regardless of how forceful?
-
Fuck me, 100 times better inside 5 minutes.
-
Much better.
-
Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken and completed at the end of each half of the match or extra time.
When additional time is allowed,
the penalty kick is completed when, after the kick has been taken, the ball stops moving, goes out of play,
is played by any player (including the kicker) other than the defending goalkeeper,
or the referee stops play for an offence by the kicker or the kicker's team. If a defending team player (including the goalkeeper) commits an offence and the penalty is missed/saved, the penalty is retaken
-
I'd have taken off Mings rather than Axel. Mings has been atrocious today and is a red card in waiting too. The system hasn't helped any of the CH's to be fair, but still. Mings is an accident waiting to happen.
Agreed....don't think Cash looks fit either. Much better since the system change
-
18 months from the Champions League and 45 minutes from the sack.
-
That to me reads as the penalty taker gets one kick only.
-
As expected, bastard Smith-Rowe has been everywhere.
-
If we do manage the next goal a lot of doubt will start to enter into the Arsenal team and fans.
-
What the hell is Buendia doing.
-
It’s a big if
-
18 months from the Champions League and 45 minutes from the sack.
This could actually happen with a good manager in charge.
-
Have to say, though, the improvement being so marked accentuates the question over why he waited till the game was lost before making it.
-
Good defending Targett.
-
Fuck me, 100 times better inside 5 minutes.
It is better but why wasn't 433 the formation from the start?
Smith has got some explaining to do because he's killed us today.
-
It's amazing what playing a system suited to your players can do. Deano hasn't helped himself. It's taken him too long to see this system doesn't work. A game and a half of it working doesn't make it an effective system (for us).
-
18 months from the Champions League and 45 minutes from the sack.
This could actually happen with a good manager in charge.
I think we have seen enough regardless of a miracle tonight
-
If we'd played like this from the start we'd be well in the game rather than hoping for an early goal to make them nervous.
-
No reason why Dean Smith could of made these changes after 15 mins. We could all see what was happening/going to happen.
-
Fuck me, 100 times better inside 5 minutes.
It is better but why wasn't 433 the formation from the start?
Smith has got some explaining to do because he's killed us today.
Exactly what I meant in my post. The one after.
-
Ah well, it was an enjoyable ten minutes.
Fuck this shit.
-
Jesus this could get ugly.
-
Can’t do much about that….
-
Dean Smith is no longer the answer.
-
Fuck off
-
Great pass McGinn you plank. Fucking shocking.
-
FFS McGinn.
3-0.
-
Smith out.
-
3-0. Shocking from McGinn.
-
Going to lose about 5-0 here.
Was just going to say would love to see McGinn's passing stats tonight, must be about 20%. One of those nights for him.
-
They’ve stopped running for him. I think the end is night.
-
FFS McGinn.
3-0.
Yep shameful.
-
Mings and McGinn...just wow
-
That was written tonight really wasn’t it 😀
-
Why did it take Mings so long to decide to come across.
-
Taxi for Dean Smith
-
Mings is fucking wank.
-
Can’t do much about that….
You can not give the ball away cheaply - again.
-
Terrible. We need a bigger manager than smith. We are going nowhere under smith
-
Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken and completed at the end of each half of the match or extra time.
When additional time is allowed,
the penalty kick is completed when, after the kick has been taken, the ball stops moving, goes out of play,
is played by any player (including the kicker) other than the defending goalkeeper,
or the referee stops play for an offence by the kicker or the kicker's team. If a defending team player (including the goalkeeper) commits an offence and the penalty is missed/saved, the penalty is retaken
He did blow for ht right?
-
There ya go. Badge kissing from the player we tried to sign (but didn't).
This Villa is a pretender. Isn't it?
-
Perhaps we should have spent some of the money we got in the summer. Not just the player sales fee. You have to spend to stay still, we didn't.
-
Why did it take Mings so long to decide to come across.
because, and I don’t say this lightly, HE’S FUCKING SHIT.
-
No coming back from that now. Weekend well and truly ruined. And make no mistake, we need to be looking down not up this season. The gap to 18th is the important thing.
-
Utter dirge
-
Mings is fucking wank.
Way to slow to get across.
But made up for it with the finish.
-
We will play five at the back, none of our "recovered" players will start, Smith-Rowe will score and celebrate by kissing the badge, and we will lose.
Sigh.
-
Buendia has been arsenals best midfielder
-
Game was already gone. We only changed things and started playing at 2-0. It's the people who've paid money to go watch this I feel sorry for.
-
Might aswell get some minutes into Sanson. Archer too.
-
No coming back from that now. Weekend well and truly ruined. And make no mistake, we need to be looking down not up this season. The gap to 18th is the important thing.
That's simply not good enough really.
Really think owners will act if we don't win any of our next 4.
-
It's quite remarkable how often Mings has the wrong body shape leading to deflected goals
-
“Blah blah, good response in training, blah blah, want to put things right, blah blah”
*serves up this shit*
-
Is ings still on?
-
Smith Rowe seems extra motivated against us tonight.
-
I'd play Martinez CM, at least he can pass a ball.
-
There ya go. Badge kissing from the player we tried to sign (but didn't).
We did sign him. Wasn't that Thomas Hitzlsperger that scored just now? Looks like him.
-
He’s gone. Football has been poor, signings have been shit. No alternative for the top brass….
-
We will play five at the back, none of our "recovered" players will start, Smith-Rowe will score and celebrate by kissing the badge, and we will lose.
Sigh.
Yep we are going backwards at a rate of knots.
-
It's quite remarkable how often Mings has the wrong body shape leading to deflected goals
He's afraid to turn onto his right side in case he falls over
-
Let's not forget we have good players. We do. We just need a manager that can bring the best out of them.
Dean Smith has reached the end of the line.
Let's get a progressive, tactically astute new manager and we can still save this season.
Keep Smith and we are going nowhere.
-
We are bang in trouble this season.
-
The signings are not shit.
-
A sending off is coming as well.
-
Even making Ramsdale look decent. And he's wank.
-
So that’s what £38m buys you. Rubbish, utter tripe from Buendia.
-
Last season loads of players improved so much on the previous season and the new signings had a big impact. This season many of the players have gone backwards and the new signings have had little impact (partly due to injury). The coach is also going backwards and I do wonder whether Terry going is having an impact.
-
Fucking clear chance. Missed. Natch.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
-
Might aswell get some minutes into Sanson. Archer too.
Agreed.
-
I've stopped watching .I don't do that very often.
-
Missing a dynamic cm that we were all screaming for but according to smith we didnt need one. Well done deano
Dont give him another penny he cant be trusted 40m on bloody lame buendia
-
So that’s what £38m buys you. Rubbish, utter tripe from Buendia.
That was a great save.
-
Buendia nearly caused number 4. This is a total car crash isn’t it?
-
Norwich fans must be pissing themselves. Buendia is a shadow of himself. Didn't take long did it?
-
So that’s what £38m buys you. Rubbish, utter tripe from Buendia.
That was a great save.
"Great"
-
Smith has to go now. This is utterly appalling. Not good enough
-
Buendia is not a number ten. He's just not. Play 3 centre mids and a Buendia wide right. Bailey left. Watkins middle.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
It's only a problem if he's undroppable.
-
Buendia has been utter Blues. has he passed to a Villa player yet?
-
Sanson and Archer should come on and have a chance.
This is utter garbage.
-
Mings!! Leave the twat on the floor. Stop being so fucking nice.
-
So that’s what £38m buys you. Rubbish, utter tripe from Buendia.
That was a great save.
Anywhere off the floor it would’ve gone in…. Keeper didn’t have to move.
-
Buendia isn't a centre mid, it's not his fault but him being there is a big part of why this isn't working.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
-
Buendia is not a number ten. He's just not. Play 3 centre mids and a Buendia wide right. Bailey left. Watkins middle.
It's not just that, we can't play a 10 with Luiz and McGinn. We simply have to play 3 in midfield.
-
Norwich fans must be pissing themselves. Buendia is a shadow of himself. Didn't take long did it?
He's just not that good.
We signed him based mostly on his championship performances.
-
Sanson and Archer should come on and have a chance.
This is utter garbage.
I don’t think it’s fair to taint them with this shite.
-
Buendia not happy
-
Where is this baller that everyone said Buendia was?
-
Buendia off. No surprise there.
-
Sanson and Archer should come on and have a chance.
This is utter garbage.
Take Watkins off, put Sanson as an extra midfielder in.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
It's only a problem if he's undroppable.
Indeed. It has to be binary - Watkins or Ings starts, not both, not ever again.
-
Put Sanson on ffs.
-
Matty Cash with the best short long throw I’ve ever seen….
-
Buendia having a hissy fit coming off.
-
So that’s what £38m buys you. Rubbish, utter tripe from Buendia.
That was a great save.
Anywhere off the floor it would’ve gone in…. Keeper didn’t have to move.
The keeper saved it with his leg.
-
Ramsey on to do… what?
-
Buendia doesn’t play centrally. We play him centrally and he struggles big fucking surprise.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
Really?
Selling Grealish has fucked us. Nowt else.
-
Where is this baller that everyone said Buendia was?
He is, and was in the prem at Norwich. But he's out of position with no movement in front of him. He's a good player, in the wrong set up.
-
Buendia not happy
He ain’t the only fucking one.
-
If you’re going to sign a Championship player, at least play him where he was good for the Championship team.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
No they haven't. The manager picks the team, the tactics, the formation.
All the fears expressed before the game have come to pass. This result is on Smith and no one else.
You can see that the players are frustrated. Don't blame them.
-
Is it an exaggeration to say this has been more one-sided than the cup final under Tactics Tim?
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
The formations have. Not the players.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
Really?
Selling Grealish has fucked us. Nowt else.
We had no choice in that.
-
We've had a shot!
-
Where is this baller that everyone said Buendia was?
He is, and was in the prem at Norwich. But he's out of position with no movement in front of him. He's a good player, in the wrong set up.
Lost possession, pass completion shit.
That's bad even in a wrong position
-
Bailey reconsidering his life choices.
-
Is it an exaggeration to say this has been more one-sided than the cup final under Tactics Tim?
Said to a mate half hour ago that this was as shambolic as anything under Tim.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
Really?
Selling Grealish has fucked us. Nowt else.
What has fucked us is that this manager overly relied on one special player. That he never found a way to consistently play without him or differently when we had him will be his undoing. Dean Smith has been found out.
-
Great save Martinez.
-
I haven't been this mad since last weekend.
-
Is it an exaggeration to say this has been more one-sided than the cup final under Tactics Tim?
I've.never rewatched it. I'm sure I'm not alone.
-
Dean Smith without Jack Grealish = Emperor’s new clothes.
-
Matty Cash with the best short long throw I’ve ever seen….
He's ducked out of every single tackle tonight...nice of him to let Auba have a free shot on goal there..maybe not fully fit, hope so
-
Dean Smith without Jack Grealish = Emperor’s new clothes.
Nude?
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
Really?
Selling Grealish has fucked us. Nowt else.
We had no choice in that.
Maybe. But that will be the catalyst if we nose dive and DS gets the sack.
-
Very pertinent post made earlier I endorse. Signing Ings has screwed us. With no blame to Ings I hasten to add.
Ings and Tuanzebe have fucked us completely.
It's the manager not using them from the bench that's the problem.
-
Is it an exaggeration to say this has been more one-sided than the cup final under Tactics Tim?
I dunno how you work that out. If we’d started with this formation Arse would have been panicking. I’m afraid it’s all down to Dean this one
-
Is it an exaggeration to say this has been more one-sided than the cup final under Tactics Tim?
I've.never rewatched it. I'm sure I'm not alone.
Never happened.
-
Dean Smith without Jack Grealish = Emperor’s new clothes.
As it ever was.
-
Smith new his time would be short once Grealish left.
-
Putting aside the truly awful performance, I had forgotten how much I loath Arsenal. Every foul they are trying to get someone sent off and diving all over the place. Wankers of the first order.
-
Dean Smith without Jack Grealish = Emperor’s new clothes.
That’s a phrase we used under MON. TBF most managers are chancers.
-
Bizarre they're giving Emi stick.
Guy hung around for a decade and played big part in the only trophy they'll likely win in next 5 years.
-
We are playing like a bunch of strangers. That is really worrying.
-
They are singing that Ramsdale is better than Martinez. Yeah right.
-
Bailey been decent at least.
Sackable offence if he dosen't start v West Ham.
-
We’ve even made Ben white look good….fucking hell
-
Bizarre they're giving Emi stick.
Guy hung around for a decade and played big part in the only trophy they'll likely win in next 5 years.
They've always been a bunch of twats. Remember, these are the same fans that leave a cup final that they're winning before the end.
-
Hahahahahahahaha Ings off, surely Archer on.
Nope El Ghazi 🤣
-
Doesn’t help being 3-0 down but we look so completely clueless with and without the ball. Arsenal look in control and carry a threat with every attack…yet our players look like they’ve never played together before. Absolutely shite.
-
Smith said in the week that we didn’t deserve to lose the games we have lost. Bollocks as that was, even the deluded idiot can’t claim that this time.
-
I don’t love the new kit.
-
Smith said in the week that we didn’t deserve to lose the games we have lost. Bollocks as that was, even the deluded idiot can’t claim that this time.
He isn't an "idiot". He might well be out of time.
-
The only silver lining is that I think now we actually have a very decent squad of players.
You are in the shit when the both the manager and the squad are pants.
We will be fine with a new manager.
-
Yeah, who cares about Arsenal supporters.. most of them don't know how or why they came to be. Cringiest lot there is quite frankly and they genuinely loathe their own club 30 weeks out of the year.
I'm worried about us right now.
-
Well, he certainly won’t accept/admit it was a shit formation from the get go.
-
9 wins in 38 games w/out Grealish. Says it all; I have seen enough. I appreciate what Dean has done, but he is not up to taking the club to the heights and needs to go.
-
Arsenal wanted it more in the first half which is very disappointing.
-
Smith said in the week that we didn’t deserve to lose the games we have lost. Bollocks as that was, even the deluded idiot can’t claim that this time.
That’s when you know with a manager the wheels have well and truly come off. It’s the TSM2 handbook of delusion.
-
El Ghazi on. Just need four penalties and we could still win this.
-
Luiz is stealing a position
-
Yep. Padded seat Tarquins giving shit Emi can get fucked.
They must hold it against us for going in for Smith-Rowe.
-
Well, he certainly won’t accept/admit it was a shit formation from the get go.
I suspect he will have to
-
Luiz passing been terrible aswell.
No idea what team we'll pick next week, can make a case for 7-8 changes based on tonight.
-
GOOOOAAAALLLL
-
9 wins in 38 games w/out Grealish. Says it all; I have seen enough. I appreciate what Dean has done, but he is not up to taking the club to the heights and needs to go.
This says it all ⬆️
Nice goal
-
Ramsey on to do… what?
That
-
If we win this 4-3, I might forgive them for last week.
-
Game on!
-
The difference tonight? The player we tried (and failed) to sign.
-
We've got an exciting squad, Smith is just not the person to make the most out of them. His tactic was always 'give it to Jack' which which tbf you would do when you've got a world class player, but without him he's looked hopeless and tactically inept for the most part.
-
Well, at least we have scored the best goal of the night
-
Nice strike Jacob.
Bailey assist.
Those two will be starting next week without question.
-
What a goal that is. Well done son.
-
Nice goal AR.
-
Lovely finish.
-
Should have been 3-2.
-
Ramsey gives us that stupid little bit of hope….
-
Nice goal AR.
JR
-
nice goal, well done Ramsey.
-
Nice goal AR.
JR
JJ.
-
Apparently, last I heard we were 17th in the league for XG. And we are averaging almost 2 conceded per game.
Update: lovely goal from Ramsey, that will give him a huge lift.
-
That might well be the best finish I've ever seen, what a fucking goal.
-
Nice goal AR.
JR
Who shot? JR
-
Dear old OW. Missing another fucking sitter.
-
Luiz deserved to be booked but the foul on him was cynical 🤨
-
Ramsey on to do… what?
That
Let’s see if I can do it again
What is El Ghazi the answer to?
-
We've got an exciting squad, Smith is just not the person to make the most out of them. His tactic was always 'give it to Jack' which which tbf you would do when you've got a world class player, but without him he's looked hopeless and tactically inept for the most part.
Yep, pretty much in a nutshell.
I actually think we're a bit like Leicester in early 2019, look where they were in the table back then.
-
Great finish. The future is bright.
-
oh well done Luiz. FFS
-
Bailey injured again. Fucking great.
-
Fack sake, Bailey out until 2023.
-
Looks okay, hopefully.
-
We deserve fuck all from this however funny it would be…
-
Just goes to show how average Arsenal are.
-
Bailey no doubt will be fucked again now
-
Started with too many defenders, too many strikers and not enough midfielders.
-
Be funny if…
-
Started with too many defenders, too many strikers and not enough midfielders.
Wrong formation, inept tactics...
-
Started with too many defenders, too many strikers and not enough midfielders.
Wrong formation, inept tactics...
Wrong manager
-
Looks like give it to Bailey and shout "GO ON! GO ON!" will be our new tactic going forward.
-
Started with too many defenders, too many strikers and not enough midfielders.
Wrong formation, inept tactics...
Wrong manager
And some wrong players selected
-
Do they think the game only lasts 80 mins? The stands are half empty already. Tossers.
-
If nothing else we’ve looked slightly better since reverting to 433
-
Luiz is stealing a position
One of the few who get a pass for me...playing in midfield by himself
-
I don’t think the top ten teams have anything to fear from Arsenal….
-
Do they think the game only lasts 80 mins? The stands are half empty already. Tossers.
Tbf there was a.mass.exodus at Villa.Park on Saturday at 2-2
-
Arsenal on the ropes.
-
If nothing else we’ve looked slightly better since reverting to 433
Slightly?!? Chalk and cheese if you ask me
-
If we started with a proper formation rather than the car crash we did, I think we'd have won.
-
I don’t think the top ten teams have anything to fear from Arsenal….
Or us.
-
I don’t think the top ten teams have anything to fear from Arsenal….
Or us.
That goes without saying really….
-
I don’t think the top ten teams have anything to fear from Arsenal….
Or from us, based on this unfortunately.
-
This has to be the end of 3 at the back and Tuanzebe and Ings starting.
-
I’ve lost count of the amount of times we’ve passed to an Arsenal player. Same as last week. Just rank poor play
-
It’s miraculous that once we got rid of the third centre half, whilst we were still poor we at least carried a threat.
-
This has to be the end of 3 at the back and Tuanzebe and Ings starting.
The West Ham match thread will go in to meltdown when the team lineup is posted with 3 at the back again.
-
Half decent second half, we have some players here. They need better guidance.
-
Is it just me or is Jamie Carragher but a massive twat?
-
Ramsay has done well since he came on.
-
This has to be the end of 3 at the back and Tuanzebe and Ings starting.
The West Ham match thread will go in to meltdown when the team lineup is posted with 3 at the back again.
Definitely.
-
Is it just me or is Jamie Carragher but a massive twat?
So you've only just found out? Where have you been?
-
Utter cack
-
I’m not being bitter here but Arsenal were very average, only being called a twat is probably the biggest compliment Carragher has ever had.
-
0/10. Disgraceful.
-
Is it just me or is Jamie Carragher but a massive twat?
Horrible spitting twat
-
I’m not being bitter here but Arsenal were very average, only being called a twat is probably the biggest compliment Carragher has ever had.
He'd wear it as a badge of honour.
-
This has to be the end of 3 at the back and Tuanzebe and Ings starting.
The West Ham match thread will go in to meltdown when the team lineup is posted with 3 at the back again.
That would be Dean Smith's resignation letter.
-
I think the West Ham game is massive now.
Lose and I think he's gone.
But we won't lose as its my BIRTHDAY on the 31st.
-
We’ll that was all a bit shit. If we don’t beat West Ham
I think deans is real trouble. That first half was a shamful
-
Deano don’t say “them and us”. Set up was wrong.