Arsenal v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Jamie Shackleton replaces the injured Kalvin Phillips

[1964white]

I've got to ask mate , why did you put us down to finish 5th then

Same reason I predict Leeds to win every game, I may have to change my tune when we play Citeh.

Daft as a brush would be an appropriate reply

[1964white]

If it is either from Bielsa's perspective why even put him on the bench??

He featured in the Everton match so.... what do we take from that, he still rates him/forgiven him?.....

Right now we are missing Pablo's wizardry....

You know my stance on Pablo young lady, I love the man.

[YorkshireSquare]

Much better from Roberts today although I don't think he is a long term answer if we have ambitions to compete with the big boys.

Honesty, neither do I.

But we can’t afford to replace the whole squad in two seasons. We replaced White, Hernández and arguably Costa this summer. Next summer left back and a centre mid sound like they are the priority.

For me that still leaves Robert’s with a role to play and if we want him to develop he needs game time. You can’t lament him for being ineffective off the bench if he rarely gets more than 20 minutes here and there.

[1964white]

Wishful thinking.?
To be fair we are in a good place in the table, but all season we have been atrocious defensively when we've come under any pressure. Most of the time it's self inflicted and leeds seem never to learn. Positively we can score goals and entertain.

Also I didn't expect us to lose Koch. Llorente & Rodrigo for long periods, plus Phillips & Cooper have missed several games due to injuries. Raphinha didn't seal his first team place until November.

Had we had the services of those players for a big part of the season I reckon we'd be higher than 11th.

Unfortunately we've had to make do with a less quality squad.

[1964white]

Honesty, neither do I.

But we can’t afford to replace the whole squad in two seasons. We replaced White, Hernández and arguably Costa this summer. Next summer left back and a centre mid sound like they are the priority.

For me that still leaves Robert’s with a role to play and if we want him to develop he needs game time. You can’t lament him for being ineffective off the bench if he rarely gets more than 20 minutes here and there.

Roberts is on the bench for a good reason.

[WhiteRose]

Assuming we ever get koch and llorente back, we then just need a left back and a more experienced keeper to sort defence. Midfield we need 2 decent centre midfielders and then a striker to compete with bamford. 100-150 million should do it. Then we are a decent prem team.

[1964white]

Assuming we ever get Koch and Llorente back, we then just need a left back and a more experienced keeper to sort defence. Midfield we need 2 decent centre midfielders and then a striker to compete with bamford. 100-150 million should do it. Then we are a decent prem team.

Totally agree

[BobHirst]

Those of you who think that Pablo is the answer need a re-think.
Just like with Pontius, it's obvious that Bielsa has finished with Pablo.
Being on Bielsa's s-list, plus being an old man (in football years) means we have basically seen the last of Pablo.
Maybe we will go in for DePaul again this summer. We definitely need a Pablo replacement.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Assuming we ever get koch and llorente back, we then just need a left back and a more experienced keeper to sort defence. Midfield we need 2 decent centre midfielders and then a striker to compete with bamford. 100-150 million should do it. Then we are a decent prem team.

I was trying to think when we last had a really solid reliable keeper who wasn't prone to horror shows every few matches. I think I would have to go back to Schmeichel in 2010/11. I know that Meslier is inexperienced, and he is often a great shot stopper, but it may be quite a while before he becomes a really reliable and consistent keeper. He still gets into trouble covering his near post and when the ball is at his feet. He does seem to panic a bit when he does those botched passes around his box.

I think part of the problem is this concept of signing ' sweeper keepers ' - Wiedwald and Casilla are both in that category. I wouldn't say that Peacock-Farrell, Wiedwald, Casilla and now Meslier have provided the stability and consistency which we need at the back. We need an experienced keeper to compete with Meslier for the jersey and to hopefully mentor him a bit as well.

[Smudge3920]

I've got to ask mate , why did you put us down to finish 5th then

Absolutely. We were totally outplayed in the first half.
But the quality of the players does not change on the basis of 45 minutes or 90 minutes of football. We are as good now as we were before the Arsenal match started.
I have no problem with people saying we played badly, I do have a problem with people saying we are rubbish.

You know my stance on Pablo young lady, I love the man.

Sadly that love, which we all have does not make him 28 again nor strengthen his legs,,,

Honesty, neither do I.
But we can’t afford to replace the whole squad in two seasons. We replaced White, Hernández and arguably Costa this summer. Next summer left back and a centre mid sound like they are the priority.
For me that still leaves Robert’s with a role to play and if we want him to develop he needs game time. You can’t lament him for being ineffective off the bench if he rarely gets more than 20 minutes here and there.

All good and valid points YS, ignored by some... but all unarguable.

[whiteswan]

Those are holes that have taken us from bottom half of the Championship to 11th in the PL.

Manchester is just down the road, City are great to watch, perhaps start watching them. Cretin

Seconded.....

[Cjay]

Thought Arsenal played very well 1st half.

Moved the ball at pace, good movement and 1 touch football and pressed us high.

Have the makings of a decent side but dont think there is much between us and them all things being even.

But they did deserve to win, not a demolition but despite our attempts 2nd half we didnt deserve anything.

[Cjay]

Thought Arsenal played very well 1st half.

Moved the ball at pace, good movement and 1 touch football and pressed us high.

Have the makings of a decent side but dont think there is much between us and them all things being even.

But they did deserve to win, not a demolition but despite our attempts 2nd half we didnt deserve anything.

[whiteswan]

Absolutely. We were totally outplayed in the first half.



I have no problem with people saying we played badly, I do have a problem with people saying we are rubbish.

......or dogshit.....or arseholes

[gessa]

......or dogshit.....or arseholes

Regardless of what anyone thinks about our players abilities one thing that can't or rather shouldn't be doubted is their commitment, each and every one deserves respect for the way they have worked and bought into Bielsa's philosophy, they've bust a gut to get us where we are and for that should be applauded not ridiculed or abused on here or anywhere else for that matter. I know it's only a few but it's a few too many.

[Smudge3920]

Regardless of what anyone thinks about our players abilities one thing that can't or rather shouldn't be doubted is their commitment, each and every one deserves respect for the way they have worked and bought into Bielsa's philosophy, they've bust a gut to get us where we are and for that should be applauded not ridiculed or abused on here or anywhere else for that matter. I know it's only a few but it's a few too many.

...

[Smudge3920]

......or dogshit.....or arseholes

Even worse Swannie...

[Smudge3920]

So much repetitiveness in all the threads (with different headers) is just a waste of space... We can do so much better...

i can understand his frustration BB, but we have the tools to do the job, just need someone who knows how to use them
Could you clarify exactly what you mean Peter?...It comes across as a condemnation of MB?

We'll suffer second season syndrome if we continue with the whole of this squad.
We spent 100 mill last off season, the commitment is there to spend the same if not more this upcoming off season...untill then lets keep "over achieving" !...Injuries FORCED the continuation of this squad...
We are punching above our weight due to Bielsa even though he cocked up today, credit to MB for changing it in the 2nd half where we appeared a far more balanced side.
Every defeat MB "c**ks up"...Sometimes we are just clearly outplayed.
More quality required in several positions (first team & back up) come the summer!
Repeat (rinse)...new thread repeat (rinse) new thread repeat (rinse) ad nauseum...Come the summer at least we will be hearing (again) how we wasted money or bought another crock !

Yet Roberts gets constantly slagged off and condemned despite the same excuse. At least I'm not calling him s**t and ridiculing him
Sorry Faaip but have to make comment, I agree you are never derogatory to players... but those you simply do not like you just ignore, do not even rate them in your MothM thread, which makes a mockery of the ratings when you only rate 10 players honestly.

I posted on the first few pages on this topic that Roberts & Costa would be the first two substitutions & Pablo would be lucky to get ten minutes.
Tbh young lady I don't know either Bielsa doesn't rate him anymore or he has never forgiven our talisman for his disrespectful actions a few
months ago!
I, for one have never forgiven Pablo for his disrespect to the Rememberance day armband...I still recognise his past contributions. I also recognise that he can get injured now lacing his boots up and that is the problem. Most of his injuries seem to come on the training ground.

At the end of the day...IMO 2 main points re todays game;
1. (As I stated in another thread)...MB has to own this one, far to much over correction for the loss of one player.
2. ( -//- )...We came up against a player who caught fire and scored a superb Hat trick

Meslier had IMO the worst game of his yet young and brilliant career... and one poster reckons "throw him out, need more experience" (Para phrasing)... This is a keeper who has 7 clean sheets to his name this season in the prem (1st year), and still on course to break the record of 8 clean sheets in the prem before his 21st birthday...sure lets just get rid!

Everyone in this forum agrees on our injury problem being the worst in the league, never had the opportunity to field our best team and we need to continue building in the upcoming summer window.... yest a few will continue to post so much negative.

I could not be prouder of our over achieviing championship upstarts...(Think I have said that before) apologies for being repetative...

[Smudge3920]

How is that not a penalty?... two players holding you back by forming a wall... arms in front both leaning on him...one fair enough fair battle , but two...

[Smudge3920]

Given some of the comments aimed the lads way....apt for this thread...