A valid question. But Arteta’s in the perfect place to judge Saliba’s mentality and readiness by observing him in training. There’s also personal issues that have been an obstacle.
Why don’t West Ham sign him on loan?
One thing that has infuriated me since the latter years of Wenger that has persisted through Emery, Ljunberg and now Arteta is the pitiful speed of our transition play leading to almost always playing against a set 10 behind the ball. It doesn't matter what level of football you are talking about, if you can attack defenders on the back foot you are always going to create more and better quality chances than to let them get their banks organized against you. There is absolutely no good reason for all this pissing about laterally with the players we have, especially in a match like today with a weakened Leicester there for the taking.
Every time Luiz dropped one over the top, there was at least the whiff of a chance. Instead of continuing along that route, we started going side to side and dithering as has been our downfall in matches where we dominated possession for the last 15 years. It's such a basic thing to force defenders onto the back foot because it not only challenges their ability to stay in front of the play but even their field of vision. Insane to me that nobody makes it a focus in attack.
It is basic because Wenger is quoted on numerous occasions as lamenting it. It's precisely where the famous handbrake quote comes from and quite frankly any football manager who cannot see how attacking against an unsettled defense is better than attacking against a settled one probably doesn't belong in a job anywhere. It's also basic enough that Thierry Henry whose managerial career has been far from spectacular has pointed it out numerous times in his appraisal of our play.You make it sound so basic and you make Arteta, Wenger and Emery sound like basic managers for not thinking about it. Maybe it’s not as basic as you make it out to be?
We’re in uncharted waters tbf.
If we’d have seen him manage other clubs we’d know whether he’s capable of a progressive style of play.
The problem is we see Guardiola football and assume it’d be more of the same. I’ve thought for a while with the way he sets up his teams he’s more of a Moyes disciple.
He’s spent the longest part of his football career with him above any other manager. It’s not a bad thing per se but it does remind me of peak Moyes era Everton as we’re very difficult to beat, very reliant on crosses and poor creating a lot from open play that isn’t a counter attack.
It is basic because Wenger is quoted on numerous occasions as lamenting it. It's precisely where the famous handbrake quote comes from and quite frankly any football manager who cannot see how attacking against an unsettled defense is better than attacking against a settled one probably doesn't belong in a job anywhere. It's also basic enough that Thierry Henry whose managerial career has been far from spectacular has pointed it out numerous times in his appraisal of our play.
Yes, poor management. Notice 2 of the 3 managers listed were sacked and one is headed in that direction if this continues. This is not quantum physics here.My point is that three highly knowledgable managers know very well about what you said. There must be valid reasons why it’s not happening in application.
Yes, poor management. Notice 2 of the 3 managers listed were sacked and one is headed in that direction if this continues. This is not quantum physics here.
It doesn't matter what he says so much as what they do now does it? Management is not about what you say in training, it's about what happens on the field as a result of that. If you cannot get the players to do what you want then you aren't doing a good job. I like Arteta and I want him to be successful. That doesn't mean he gets a pass for some piss poor decisions and tactics of late.I highly doubt Arteta goes to the team and tells them: “Let’s make our attacks slow guys. Slow transitions and slow attacks unsettles the opposition, fast attacks are wasted”.
It doesn't matter what he says so much as what they do now does it? Management is not about what you say in training, it's about what happens on the field as a result of that. If you cannot get the players to do what you want then you aren't doing a good job. I like Arteta and I want him to be successful. That doesn't mean he gets a pass for some piss poor decisions and tactics of late.
But 10 months we seen nothing that indicates his football will get better. If arteta was not former player, young, charismatic and worked with pep people would turn on him. A lot of this is based on what we hope he is rather than what he shown. If he was middle of the road Spanish coach with weird accent we would want him out. I just don’t get where this attacking football from Arteta will suddenly come fromThe tactics will improve. I have faith that Arteta can turn this around. The only mistake so far was not binning Leno and keeping Martinez.
We are still lacking in certain areas but when Özil is gone we will hopefully have money to find partner for Gabriel, a midfielder with Partey and new striker.
Can we please talk about the lack of urgency when we are losing by one goal?
They are capable of it though. That's the point. You can see it occurring under each of the aforementioned managers but it is not being done consistently enough. A manager's job is to get consistent performances out of his players. Nobody is saying he's been given Zidane and Vieira in the engine room. He's managed to make them tougher to break down than they have been for years but that doesn't excuse being ponderous in possession. Just as you can drill playing out from the back so too can you drill transitioning quickly to increase your attacking efficiency. One is on display to mixed results and the other is not. That's management.If players aren’t capable of fast attacking transitions then that’s on the players. You can’t polish a turd. You said it’s persisted throughout 3 managers but it’s largely the same group of players.
But 10 months we seen nothing that indicates his football will get better. If arteta was not former player, young, charismatic and worked with pep people would turn on him. A lot of this is based on what we hope he is rather than what he shown. If he was middle of the road Spanish coach with weird accent we would want him out. I just don’t get where this attacking football from Arteta will suddenly come from