Granit Xhaka: 2019/20 Performances

[Balboa]

He's average compared to the majority of our starting midfielders from the Wenger era.

Not his fault he doesn't matchup to their standards but for us as fans it's frustrating to see him as the main man after four years.

We have to aim for better but in fairness we can say that for quite a few other positions as well.

But do you think that jeering or booing him is a solution to that?

What will players who could potentially replace him think when they see it and compare it to say, much as it pains me to say it.....Liverpool and their supporters (formerly some of my least favourite fans because they tend to have a belief that the are the best fans, but it's hard to deny they've been fairly resilient in supporting the team through bad times and good)

 

[Mark Tobias]

Xhaka must be paying some PR firm big time because there's a few thousand of these defenders lurking around the interwebz.

 

[Balboa]

Errors leading to goals and penalties conceded are numbers which quantify the mistakes. The fact that he has a record for it shows that he is more prone to these mistakes than others at the same level. We are just people watching the game and commenting. Obviously we are not as good as him in football. But this record clearly shows that he is worse compared to other players in the league?
A typical Xhaka fan's response to this is that the problem lies with the manager/team. The answer to that is he made such mistakes under Wenger and also in Swiss national team.

So are you saying that Arsenal fans should jeer/boo any player who starts for Arsenal, who they decide is not good enough to take Arsenal up a level, until they are alienated out of the club? Is that the plan?

 

[Balboa]

Xhaka must be paying some PR firm big time because there's a few thousand of these defenders lurking around the interwebz.

Likewise the supporters must be paying big bucks to have people come on and defend the indefensible.

 

[Mark Tobias]

If they were avoidable errors then why, given that you accept that Xhaka is trying his best, didn't he simply avoid them?

I'll give you my thoughts on this subject.

This is at the core of this whole problem. "Silly" and "avoidable" errors are definitions that people like to imagine and tell themselves, but which don't actually apply to these examples.

People deem these things worthy of stick in a way that they don't really think that they need to dish stick out to Özil for not putting in strong tackles, or to Chambers for not being particularly quick.

People watch these things and think "that was silly", "I wouldn't have done that", without realising how far beyond their ability Xhaka is in so many ways as a footballer. That's why he's in that situation where he makes a mistake, and you are not. You, me and most others can't even make it anywhere near to that situation.

People fail to understand that decision making is as much a difficult thing to do well and improve as is strong tackling or pace. Basically, it is excessive armchair quarter-backing and it is selfish and ignorant. By pretending these decisions are easy, it EFFECTIVELY almost accuses Xhaka of deliberately causing errors.

Granted, Xhaka isn't Liam Brady or Patrick Vieira. But that DOES NOT justify giving him stick in this way. There are ways and means that Arsenal supporters are too lazy, impatient, selfish, egotistical or ignorant to do. Protests should either be outside games, boycotting games, or boycotting merchandise. Supporters in general can't be arsed to do them. Some do, and that resulted in a response in the summer from Josh Kroenke. Some would be pleased with the last two transfer windows, but the job in hand is something akin to turning an oil tanker around, it won't happen fast. Most of the players from last FA Cup winning squad are no longer involved, that is A LOT of change in a short space of time.

You're assuming that anybody commenting against xhaka are the same people who booed him off the field. I've never even been to the Emirates mate. I throw peanuts at my tv when xhaka is ****

 

[Mark Tobias]

Likewise the supporters must be paying big bucks to have people come on and defend the indefensible.

Maybe go to the thread i created on Rhys then...

 

[Balboa]

You're assuming that anybody commenting against xhaka are the same people who booed him off the field. I've never even been to the Emirates mate. I throw peanuts at my tv when xhaka is ****

I am absolutely fine with peanuts being thrown at the TV. You'll not get me debating that one!!!

 

[Big Poppa]

If they were avoidable errors then why, given that you accept that Xhaka is trying his best, didn't he simply avoid them?

I'll give you my thoughts on this subject.

This is at the core of this whole problem. "Silly" and "avoidable" errors are definitions that people like to imagine and tell themselves, but which don't actually apply to these examples.

People deem these things worthy of stick in a way that they don't really think that they need to dish stick out to Özil for not putting in strong tackles, or to Chambers for not being particularly quick.

People watch these things and think "that was silly", "I wouldn't have done that", without realising how far beyond their ability Xhaka is in so many ways as a footballer. That's why he's in that situation where he makes a mistake, and you are not. You, me and most others can't even make it anywhere near to that situation.

People fail to understand that decision making is as much a difficult thing to do well and improve as is strong tackling or pace. Basically, it is excessive armchair quarter-backing and it is selfish and ignorant. By pretending these decisions are easy, it EFFECTIVELY almost accuses Xhaka of deliberately causing errors.

Granted, Xhaka isn't Liam Brady or Patrick Vieira. But that DOES NOT justify giving him stick in this way. There are ways and means that Arsenal supporters are too lazy, impatient, selfish, egotistical or ignorant to do. Protests should either be outside games, boycotting games, or boycotting merchandise. Supporters in general can't be arsed to do them. Some do, and that resulted in a response in the summer from Josh Kroenke. Some would be pleased with the last two transfer windows, but the job in hand is something akin to turning an oil tanker around, it won't happen fast. Most of the players from last FA Cup winning squad are no longer involved, that is A LOT of change in a short space of time.

Lol, wow

 

[Eaststander74]

Are we really trying to redefine the word 'mistake' in a football context? The 'but he never meant it' defence, eh? Sublime

 

[Riou]

They did a tier list or Soccer AM of all Arsenal captains of the Premier League era,..Elite, Very Good, Good, Poor, Terrible were the tiers I think.

Elite - Adams, Vieira
Very Good - Henry
Good - Fabregas, Van Persie, Arteta, Per
Poor - Vermaelen, Koscielny
Terrible- Gallas, Xhaka

This would be mine all qualities considered, not ranking Auba yet...what would be yours?

 

[Eaststander74]

They did a tier list or Soccer AM of all Arsenal captains of the Premier League era,..Elite, Very Good, Good, Poor, Terrible were the tiers I think.

Elite - Adams, Vieira
Very Good - Henry
Good - Fabregas, Van Persie, Arteta, Per
Poor - Vermaelen, Koscielny
Terrible- Gallas, Xhaka

This would be mine all qualities considered, not ranking Auba yet...what would be yours?

I'd have Henry in the 'good' category at best. Too much of a moaner imo.

 

[GDeep™]

They did a tier list or Soccer AM of all Arsenal captains of the Premier League era,..Elite, Very Good, Good, Poor, Terrible were the tiers I think.

Elite - Adams, Vieira
Very Good - Henry
Good - Fabregas, Van Persie, Arteta, Per
Poor - Vermaelen, Koscielny
Terrible- Gallas, Xhaka

This would be mine all qualities considered, not ranking Auba yet...what would be yours?

Cesc, Arteta and Per are in the same league as Henry if not better.

 

[Balboa]

Are we really trying to redefine the word 'mistake' in a football context? The 'but he never meant it' defence, eh? Sublime

No, we aren't. As can be seen, we are discussing "silly" and "avoidable" errors.

 

[Balboa]

Lol, wow

The question remains.

If they were avoidable errors then why, given that you accept that Xhaka is trying his best, didn't he simply avoid them?

It is a very simple question.

 

[Riou]

I am taking into account the fact that Per and Arteta were both done as players when they were made captain, both very good leaders of the pitch...just felt Titi being so iconic took him slightly ahead of Cesc and Robin, all led by example brilliantly though.

They put Henry in elite with Tony and Paddy on Soccer AM

 

[Ricardinho]

When did Per get the captaincy?

 

[Riou]

When did Per get the captaincy?

Like a day before he got a season long injury in 2016!

Back in time for the FA cup final though

 

[YeahBee]

Like a day before he got a season long injury in 2016!

Back in time for the FA cup final though

Whatta performance!

 

[Ricardinho]

Like a day before he got a season long injury in 2016!

Back in time for the FA cup final though

He was still pretty much captaining the side in Artetas absence from 2013 onwards wasn't he? I remember him tearing Özil a new one up at the Etihad, was it?, Around that time.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

In Xhaka's defense, we haven't been doing better without him. We still look absolute crap.

That's because Emery is still here