f**king hell that's not good for my heart! We play some beautiful football but the defence needs to be drilled and drilled and drilled... where's Steve Clarke these days???

Positive signs going forward, but worrying at the back. As with all the pre-season games, we started the game doing the quick 1-touch pass and move, but then it faded as the game wore on, it seems as soon as tyhe opposiion score or have a spell of dominance, we lose confidence in it and start playing slower. Will probably take most of the season to fully get to grips with.

At least it feels like ive watched a game of football tonight, not like that display at city last season, the total opposite, makes you want to go and watch the team, fair play to Sarri for getting six goals out of the team in the first two games, must be close to a record ?

That second half was so much better than the first. Felt like we dominated and controlled the second half. 

56 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

 

Or it could have been 5-2 to us.  You people really do turn on the team very quickly, don't you?

And I see that the same boring old posters are doing the same boring old blame-storming, Willian and Alonso getting blamed for everything, regardless of facts.  I suppose we have to have a new Mikel every season.

@coco Don't be f**king stupid, mate, it was all Willian's fault, except for the bits that were Morata's fault, and the bits that were Alonoso's fault.

 

Oh, and I forgot it was ALL Luiz's fault as well.

So making some points about where we were going wrong in the first half, is turning on the team? If anyone is posting the same old boring sh*t over and over again, it's you.

1 minute ago, coco said:

At least it feels like ive watched a game of football tonight, not like that display at city last season, the total opposite, makes you want to go and watch the team, fair play to Sarri for getting six goals out of the team in the first two games, must be close to a record ?

City have probably broken them already. But they still can't win past the QF of the UCL though hahaha !

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by Londonisblue

Well that was a heart stopping performance.....really don't know what to make of it.  Clearly lots of work still to be done defensively, Sarri is going to have to have a good look at the defenders we have in our squad.  Luiz definitely has to be on the bench, for all the good Alonso does offensively he is a nightmare defensively and just isn't quick enough getting back when he's in the opponents half; I guess its a case of risk and reward with him or does Sarri have a look at Emerson and give up some of the forward movement.  Midfield looks strong any combination of the players we have will work and the attack looks certainly better than last year.    Very early days but the signs are certainly promising for this season.

In regards to the defensive mishaps we just need to get used to playing as a back four again, and Luiz hardly played last season so I'm hoping Sarri can iron out some of the mistakes.

1 minute ago, yorkleyblue said:

Or three or four goals up at halftime.  Have a look at your glass, Phillip.  Is is half full ot half empty?

My missus has said mine is completely empty and I can't have anymore until I stop shouting at the telly!

7 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Very poor defensively. Acres of space out wide, as was the case in pre-season, with this narrow back 4. Midfielders not following runs. Against a better side, we'd be 2-5 down now.

 

One of the great matches of recent times, it had everything. We were both great and poor during the match, one thing for certain we will be good to watch this year. Hazard and Kovacic made the difference in the end. Great entertainment from both teams...one of those matches you are buzzing to have won.

Just now, Malcolm9 said:

In regards to the defensive mishaps we just need to get used to playing as a back four again, and Luiz hardly played last season so I'm hoping Sarri can iron out some of the mistakes.

I can guarantee that won't happen.

6 minutes ago, The Brit said:

As neat and tidy as Barkley played, and I want him to succeed, Kovacic is different gravy 

Yep, I'm a Barkley fan and I think he will be useful for us going forward, but Kovacic look a little be different ability wise. Touch, movement, passing, awareness, it just seemed to be on a different level to what Barkley can do.

Our 2nd half display was fantastic. Lacazette and Aubameyang barely had a sniff

1 minute ago, just said:

My missus has said mine is completely empty and I can't have anymore until I stop shouting at the telly!

sh*t, you'll die of thirst. That's harsh. 

1 minute ago, just said:

My missus has said mine is completely empty and I can't have anymore until I stop shouting at the telly!

Mine's coming straight out of the tin, @just .  And I have been told I have to stop shouting at the moaning minnies in here :)

Second half we played a far more realistic brand of football. No balls to the wall attack, but just a more solid platform offensively and defensively.
Hazard is still going to be key to unlocking tougher defences.

I think that's more of what he wants and hopefully we'll see more of it.

3 minutes ago, Malcolm9 said:

In regards to the defensive mishaps we just need to get used to playing as a back four again, and Luiz hardly played last season so I'm hoping Sarri can iron out some of the mistakes.

Think I've more chance of shagging the Duchess of Cambridge

3 minutes ago, Zeta said:

So making some points about where we were going wrong in the first half, is turning on the team? If anyone is posting the same old boring sh*t over and over again, it's you.

If that was all it was, I'd be cool about it.  Go back and read some of the poison posts and tell me that it was just "making some points"

Just now, just said:

I can guarantee that won't happen.

He's a frustrating player our Luiz. He's very good but very bad at the same time. It's a small thing, but that ball played back to Kepa towards the end of the game sums his game up, not fully concentrated and too casual. It rushed the keeper, made him run out of his box and he had to knock it long. It's something Luiz will never change, it's just how he is as a player.

Positives are we look dangerous going forward, very dangerous in fact. I actually rate Barkley, I thought he done really well in the early stages. Same with Morata, who was playing very well with our attacking football, both went off the boil when the defence went all at sea to give arsenal their two goals. Understandable because it looked like panic set in. 

 

Down sides... the goal was poor, barkley gave Willian a hospital ball but he was on his heels. I thought Kepa should have done better with their first. The second was just ridiculously poor defending. 

 

All in all, it was a positive result which is what we wanted before the match. I love watching us play attacking football but if we defend like we did in the first half I can’t say I’ll  enjoy it come the end of the season. I almost had cardiac arrest watching us defend. It was a much better showing in the second half defensively. Hazard makes such a difference to us it’s frightening. I still don’t believe Luiz can play in a back four & although Alonso lacks pace, he’s fit as a butchers dug. He gets up and down the line like a whoores knickers for the full 90.

2 minutes ago, dkw said:

sh*t, you'll die of thirst. That's harsh. 

if Sarri keeps picking Luiz he'll die off a cardiac first.

Just now, Scott Harris said:

Yep, I'm a Barkley fan and I think he will be useful for us going forward, but Kovacic look a little be different ability wise. Touch, movement, passing, awareness, it just seemed to be on a different level to what Barkley can do.

The thing is we have seen examples, in both games so far, that Barkley does have that ability to burst past players. I would like to see him do it more. I really hope is kept in for now. He hasn't done anything wrong IMO.

Great second half. The best playyer in PL, Hazard brought so much offensively. Barkley played well but so did Kovacic. Alonso MOT to me.

 

1 minute ago, coco said:

if Sarri keeps picking Luiz he'll die off a cardiac first.

He won't be the only one....