Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:
Anzac wrote:
As much as the manager I'd also suggest we have the wrong style of play for where we are as a team.
Should we fail to regain top4 I'd take either Vieira or Ange to replace Arteta.
What do you think our style of play should be?
It's probably easier for me to start with what it is that I do not like. Â
IMO the 'positional play' has the same requirements and the same vulnerabilities as AW's 'intuitive style'. Both require player technical ability and intelligence and when everyone plays well they both produced some scintillating football. However they both rely heavily upon the starting XI to be both fit for purpose, and more importantly to remain fit. Neither approach lends its self to player rotation as they both rely upon consistency of selections to be able to execute effectively. Both styles struggle when there are a number of injuries because of the lack of game time and difference in quality amongst the squad depth. I also think the styles require elite level quality players to be able to impose upon the top teams which IMO is something we have not done since The Invincibles, and I find it interesting that Guardiola has not won the UCL outside Barca. Â
As I said in the match thread v Palace the performance and result is what can be expected when we do not have the ideal circumstances in terms of injuries and performance, and was an indication as to our current thin squad. I have also said previously that we are yet to complete our rebuild so IMO we are still not as yet 'fit for purpose' in terms of being suited to the style, let alone in terms of maturity and development. With having such a youthful core this team is probably another 2-3 years from being mature / developed to reach their peak capabilities as a unit, which may then last for 3-4 seasons subject to circumstances. This is what I mean about for where we are as a team.
I do like attacking, pressing, possession based passing play but do not think we need positional/intuitive styles to do so. I want our style of play to be sustainable beyond any Golden Generation or managerial tenure. Paddy V took us to the cleaners for our biggest loss outside MC & LFC with a team he has had for less than a full summer pre-season, let alone a full season, compared to being in our 3rd season under Arteta. Arteta needed to purge the squad in two levels - the rotten eggs/dross/culture, and suitability to his system. That said I think he could have done better with the players he had if he had looked to a style that better suited his available resources, particularly after the collapse of the market post COVID.
Hope that makes some sense.
