QUOTE(Ichighost @ Apr 10 2011, 01:28 PM)

Really?
Too FM for me...but if Arsenal can really sign them all...quite a scary lineup...
I seriously think AW need to revolutionalize the team. Given that we have been making really good progress in the financial sector of the club, I think the team have to bear fruits by winning cups already. We have witnessed players nurturing from a nobody to somebody and in the end being sold. This feeder club trend is not good for Arsenal.
Year in year out, we have been hearing promises to win cups and how the players have matured and ready to deliver.
Much have been said lately on the spirit and the improvements of the players. Individually we really have the best of players. most of the were captain or former captain of their respective country, be it under-21 or senior squad. most of them r influential in major tournaments but collectively in arsenal have yet to shine during the crucial stages of every cups.
Mourinho said b4 that winning is winning. 3 points r 3 points. u can score one-nil u still get 3 points. u can play as beautifully but not getting 3 points u still loose.
We've seen it this season. On the run of 4 trophies...we were now mathematically chasing only 1.
Forget bout injuries, they r all human. All teams have injury problems. Its more to the mentality and will and desire and also composure during each finals. They cracked and succumbed to unnecessary pressure.
Am not gonna question the tactical mastery of AW coz he knows best who to field, when to field and why to field. Its a complex thing to understand.
Given the same tactical formation, i somehow will think the good ol' 49ers will shine through. Just my opinion.
Back to last 5 yrs or so, whenever we watch arsenal play, we know they can win back every ball and spring a surprise finish. I remembered one interview with AF...he said that the 49er's were the best team ever assembled under AW. and then he went on to say that they will end our run. In fact they did end it. Being unbeaten for 49 games is the best achievement ever.. 49 games unbeaten, beating Notts Forest 26 yrs old unbeaten record of 42 games. Classic. But being end by MU? its an honour. at least not some lower league teams.
Now? i dont think lower league teams have any fear in Arsenal. Most of them come to emirates to pile pressure...and most left surprisingly with 1 or 3 points.
Our glory era actually stops @ 96'.
I wouldn't wanna compare each and every players from the 49er's to the current crop but would like to stress on the whole as a team.
For me to feel the true arsenal will be the George Graham defensive arsenal. we won games without style and boring but we r consistent. 22 yrs old tony adams, voted the youngest captain that time got his big break during that time and captained arsenal all the way... the best part of it is to retired a gunner. same goes with the other famous five. non-english is dennis bergkamp.
Lately, we can sense the frustration in AW. He has been talking and defending too much of his position in the media. Not the "Iceman" or the "Professor" he used to be already. Clearly he lost the plot and composure. I guess he must and will always know wht it takes to be the best to be the champion side once again. He just need to acknowledge it and change it.
In another 4 yrs, it will be a decade since we last won major trophies already. And of course i want them to start winning...and if possible... lets start with english or british players. Lets really start to form the team around Jack Wilshere and Fabregas...if he stays to win something. Like the days of Vieira and Petit. You have 2 quality holding midfielders halting game flows and u have 2 swift wingers and attacking fullback to make runs.
we have solid and brainy vermaelen at the back already. and i kinda like koschielny's game reading mind. stick them like keown and adams. tht should solve the trick i suppose for now if AW dont wanna bring centrebacks in.
I apologize if i looked back at our past glory to sum up the current one. Because i think if we are really contender and good enough, we look forward to be the best, if not we have to look back to march forward.
This post has been edited by blixtboy: Apr 10 2011, 05:16 PM