What's changed?

Please don't think I am back to my moaning self of old.....but I've now watched all of our pre season games, and I know that it's all abut fitness etc - but I want to know what everyone else thinks.

1) How, in any way have we played a different style of football under MP?

2) Some didn't agree with me that Pepe should sign for us. Lescott is pants, Boyata no better. We should sign Pepe.

3) Defensively we look fragile.

4) Navas - has looked good in glimpses, but must be frustrated as a winger that the rest of the team constantly play tippy tappy football and only play the ball to him when a defender realises he is in space.

5) Negredo, works his socks off, scores nice one on ones, but do we need Dzeko and him together - ever?

6) Jovetic - would like to see more of him behind Aguero or Negredo.

7) Now.........here is my controversial one. I said it when we bought him. WTF does Fernandinho bring to the team as the highest transfer this season for us? Sorry, I just don't get it. I've watched him play 5 matches - and he is no better than Barry. Waste of money IMO.

We've bought width, but still play exactly like we did under Mancini - nothing has changed for £90m.


Over to you to shoot me down!

Just a quick point or two...

Negredo looks like Dzeko, except he seems t work harder and looks more aggressive. Fans like that, but is he any different with the chances he's missed?

Fernandinho hasn't done it for me yet. He is supposed to be pacy, but I haven't seen it.

Kompany always makes mistakes usually with the timing of a tackle which gets him booked or sent off.

Topdawg wrote:Just a quick point or two...

Negredo looks like Dzeko, except he seems t work harder and looks more aggressive. Fans like that, but is he any different with the chances he's missed?

Fernandinho hasn't done it for me yet. He is supposed to be pacy, but I haven't seen it.

Kompany always makes mistakes usually with the timing of a tackle which gets him booked or sent off.

 Can't disagree with any of your comments Dawg.

So, what's changed?

Stick up your team to start against the Magpies then Bluey. I'd also prefer Jovetic off Dzeko/Negredo.

We've looked good in parts going forwards, but always dodgy at the back. If we forget about the South African friendlies, and even the ones in Hong Kong, we've conceded 8 in 3 games whilst scoring 7. That may mean exciting football this coming season with stacks of goals, but there may be too many on our end for us to win the league.

The audi cup gave me more confidence for the season ahead but this match has dented that.

If I was Wenger, I'd stick a £50M bid in for Suarez as he would guarantee a top 4 finish for them and they may just be able to surprise people if they had his skill and work rate.

I'm not too worried about the score line - we have 4 new players and we haven't quite clicked although individually we played well - as a team not quite together yet.  Defence needs tightening up - Negredo showed his strength with that last goal - reminded me of Aguero.  We'll do fine.

It's too early to be critical Blueboy - let's see we where we are after a few games and see if anything's changed.

I think we are lucky with our start. We should really be getting a win against Newcastle especially since our guys will be getting a couple more days rest after the internationals than others.

Wensdi wrote:I'm not too worried about the score line - we have 4 new players and we haven't quite clicked although individually we played well - as a team not quite together yet.  Defence needs tightening up - Negredo showed his strength with that last goal - reminded me of Aguero.  We'll do fine.

It's too early to be critical Blueboy - let's see we where we are after a few games and see if anything's changed.

Wensdi - I'm called critical for asking what everyone thinks? Dawg has just said the same thing as I was pointing out - so is he critical as well?

I'm only talking on what we have seen so far. We were told by MP that we will be different to last season and he is supposed to be a manager that plays counter-attacking football at pace. So far, I just haven't seen that.

Dawg

My starting line-up on what I have seen so far, would be this.

.....................................Hart.......................................

Zab...............Vinny................Pepe/Micah...............Clichy

............Milner..................Yaya...................Silva..........

Navas....................Negredo/Aguero.................Jovetic....

.

I didn't direct my comments at you BlueBoy - as you said both you and Dawg posted.  My reply was just generic - not too worried about the score.  4 new players to integrate and gel.  So I'm not going to be critical at this point in time.

Wensdi wrote:I didn't direct my comments at you BlueBoy - as you said both you and Dawg posted.  My reply was just generic - not too worried about the score.  4 new players to integrate and gel.  So I'm not going to be critical at this point in time.

I don't mind you calling me critical Wensdi - old habits die hard!

I just do't see a change in formation and the way we play. If we have bought these players to accommodate MP's style of play, well it doesn't look like anything has changed from last season.

Today's game for example - as soon as Arsenal lost the ball, they kept 2 banks of 4........we looked like we didn't have a clue how to break them down, just like last season.

Navas came on and took up some great positions out wide..........not one single long pass to him out wide.....he had to keep coming inside and short to get the ball...........Silva can do that, so why buy him?

Fernandinho I suppose, was bought to allow Yaya more license to go forward - just didn't see him going forward, saw more of Fernandinho forward than Yaya.

Negredo - I actually like the look of him. Strong and physical, unlike Dzeko, but takes his one on ones..........though missed a bag full today.

Jovetic, I really like the look of this kid.........he seems more direct and would be great out wide on the left or off a striker.

I still think we look disjointed. No doubt Nasty getting injured is a blow..........but we cannot rely on Lezza and Boyata to fill his boots. Nasty is young and will be a superb player....but I think with Vinny, we need another assured pro, and though Pepe can be hot-heated, he is great at reading the game, quick and has lot's of experience, which may make Vinny stop his 'lunging' tackles to make up for others being out of position.

The defence does concern me.....don't think Clichy had his best game for a long time - woeful in possession, though better than Alex K.

I think we have set up exactly like Mancini did........I watched Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher talking about how City and United would line up this season, and both said with Navas, they have the player that will change the way they play, as they need width...............I haven't seen us play with proper width all summer.

Same bombing runs from Milner and Zaba...............but that's not real width, that's just like last season.

Here's hoping MP is just using these games to look at players, but with 3 weeks to go, I'd much rather see what is in store from a formation point of view and the 'different' style he promised, rather than a lighter version of last season.

I haven't changed my mind from a week ago about my starting 11.

Hart
Richards, Kompany, Lezza, Clichy
Yaya, Fernandinho
Milner, Silva, Jovetic
Dzeko

Actually, I will change Fernandinhoi for Rodwell, though I don't think the boss will.

Contrversial, but Hart makes me nervous at the mo, I think he's lost his mojo, and it will send a message out that no one is untouchable.
Pants
Richards, Kompany, Lezza, Clichy
Yaya, Fernandinho
Milner, Silva, Jovetic
Negredo


Then alternative 2nd half changes


Pants
Richards, Kompany, Lezza, Clichy
Yaya, Fernandinho
Navas, Silva, Nasri
Aguero



Still some kinks to iron out in the team/system, I think we were more up for the Bayern game than this against Arsenal, I'm sure Pellegrini was just going thru some permutations, I still think we will have a good season, and  once the whistle goes against Newcastle we will soon be back, getting carried away with the result, but we might have to temper the dreams of world domination at the moment...

Highlights available on the Arsenal website.

In answer 2 ur question Nothing has changed
Fernandinho is not as good as NDJ but is apparently worth 26m more - madness ! Unless we change the formation and our style of play we will be in exactly the same boat as last season, lots iof midfield possession but not enough penetration, goals or shots on target
I too like the look of Negredo Him & Aguero up front wd be my choice wi Dzeko as last season in a support role, off the bench
Jesus needs to be given far more of the ball than he has this far
I also agree bout the defence Kompany is the only top class defender we have The others are ok Zabba is excellent going forward but TBH I wd prefer Micah as a defender if he can manage to remain injury free for more than 5 minutes

I've managed to watch nothing but highlights of this pre-season and, frankly, it doesn't look like we're doing anything much different.  Which is worrying, because so many PL sides know how to keep us quiet now it'll make even qualifying for the CL next season a tall order.

All I can hope is that Pelle has told them not to play the new way, so nobody's expecting it when we do finally start doing it.

I'm concerned, but I'm not going to panic just yet.

I think there has been a bit of sandbagging going on, we haven't started our strongest 11 yet.
Fernandinho is quality, he has several moments each game that have really impressed, the rest seems to have been ticking over in 2nd gear.

I'm hoping we have more gears to kick in once the season starts properly..

If we don't get a result next Monday I will worry, but it was a training game and a little reverse psychology to make the gooners think they can beat us ;-)

Well in my head anyway, lol

Anyone else think Yaya is just completely past it? When was the last time we saw Yaya have a good game? Definitely can't think of a game last season. The season before perhaps? 

He slows us right down, doesn't exactly break up the play like Barry does. I'd much rather Rodwell given a start or Milner there and Navas on the wing.

I'm not panicking guys, just confused.

Of all the big teams, we are the ones that have got our signings in early, and spent big money.

MP said 4 weeks ago - "the fans will see a different style of play".....well so far, we haven't.

To suddenly switch a style of play on a Monday night against Newcastle seems a little odd.

I know he probably doesn't know his best 11 and with Aguero being out, he can't see who will fit best with him......but come on, let's see Navas and Jovetic unleashed and drop one of the 2 defensive midfielders.

I actually think, apart from yesterday, Milner has been consistent on the right side, so maybe give Navas a go on the left wing and keep Silva in behind Milner.

I also agree with Shaken - Hart looks a little under-confident at the moment. The way he let Ramsey round him - showed this. Maybe give Pants a go, as Shaken said.

Therefore - a possible team could be this one.

.................................Pants.....................................

Zaba.............Micah....................Vinny...........Clichy....

.................................Yaya.....................................

...............Silva...................................Milner............

Navas..........................................................Jovetic

.................................Aguero/Negredo

Sorry Bluey, you spoilt your post by playing Micah as CB when he hasn't played there all pre-season. Hardly likely he'll suddenly get a run out against Newcastle at CB.

Pellegrini has already stated he has a good idea on his starting 11 but he'll wait and see after the internationals next week how everyone is.

The reason to have 2 DMs is so that you are tight defensively which also means your 4 attackers have to do more work themselves.

Well, we have been crap defensively, so the 2 DMs haven't been working well enough (I'd pin more blame on the defence though - how poor was Vinnie for 2 goals yesterday?).

If we play with 2 DMs, maybe Negredo would be better than Dzeko as he will work harder and can create more on his own.

With one DM, I'd definitely play Dzeko and Jovetic with Silova, Milner and maybe Navas supplying him.

Micah has always said his preferred position is a CB.....something has happened with Vinny and Lezza, they look on different wavelengths at the moment.

Nasty would be my first choice with Vinny, but why not give Micah a run there, as he is quicker and more comfortable on the ball than Lezza?

Micah and Lezza? SHow that no-one is indispensible?

Although Lezza had several good moments yesterday, andvduring pre-season, he ain't that quick, what're the odds we get another CB in? 
Saying that against Bayern we soaked up loads of pressure, wave after wave ,and scored on the break, just the way Arsenal did yesterday, only that Arsenal scored with almost every attack, while we had a 10% hit rate, so I think yesterday was just one of those days where we couldn't score in a brothel, and a mix of a few poor defensive lapses, just like against AC Milan.
Newcastle won't pose the same threat Arsenal did, and I predict we'll be we'll drilled and ready for the season come the game a week tomorrow, obviously a early goal for us will ease the pressure, and make Newcastle come out to play, that is, unless they're already planning to attack us with an expansive game?

I watched the first 40 minutes against ACMilan and was in heaven.But since then there has been nothing to shout about,we are in dire need of a shake up at the back.Everyone is saying how we are going to do well,but I hope that MP gets it together in time for Newcastle:)

I think we should be too strong for Newcastle even if we don't perform as well as we could.

We have a nice first 3 games (Newcastle at home, Cardiff away and Hull at home) but we need to be on our game for the next 3 (Stoke away, utd at home and villa away)

Does anyone else think Boyota could be given a run in the 1st game. Thought he did very well against Munich

My team would be
--------Joe 
Micah Vinny Boyota Clichy
------ Fernando
Navas Yaya Silva Milner
-----   Negredo

no, just never liked Boyata. Cast my mind back a few seasons, we were chasing a game and he ambled over to take a throw in with seconds to go, and limply tossed it backwards. Screamed out to me he didn't have the heart in it then, never seen anything to change my mind since.

Im happy to go with Vinny and Lescott to start the season.
Hardest choice at the minute is Micah or Zabba again..

Is Sergio coming straight back in though? All reports are he is fit, but he hasn't played a minute of pre- season?

We won the title with Vinny and Lezzer so they can do it.

In my eyes if we set up with a single DM on Monday we will do the business, two of them and it will be the same old same old and the teams know how to stop us.

It's Ferandino or Yaya not both.

But Yaya isn't really a defensive MF. He doesn't defend particularly well which is why we need Fernando in

He's not doing much very well at the moment? I'd leave him out but that just isn't going to happen?

Has our 25 man match day squad been announced yet? Just wondering if they are going to squeeze anybody out?

We have 26 players according to the OS. Scotty Sinclair seems the most likely to leave.

Isn't Scott under 21 though?