I think it's probably only fair to judge Pinto when he's had as many chances as Martin. He's playing in the PL for the first time and only played a couple of games.
Yes that's exactly what our recent performances have been. It's time some supporters got their heads out of the sand and recognise that all is not rosie in the the AN garden.
Very true, but in those two games he's shown aggression and pace going forward - and cluelessness when asked to do his defensive duties, re tracking his man, positional sense etc. So far, he looks no better than Steven Whittaker in any department. I hope he adapts - but how the hell can he when Russell Martin is selected ahead of him
Everyone is blaming Rudd for the second goal, but the way Martin just let Agbonlahore cruise past him was embarrassing. He's had his day. As much use as a chocolate teapot!
Martin has been a great servant to the club and there is a lot of goodwill for him, however I fear AN will continue to play him until all the goodwill is used up. If Ruddy had been in goal for our last few games he would have been crucified. Whilst I don't think Rudd has been horrendous over the last few games, particularly bearing in mind the defence he's been playing behind, I think it's time Ruddy had a chance to respond to being dropped.
The Barclay is ****e these days especially in the upper tier where I usually sit. The demographics have changed over the years, where you used get a block or so making a noise is now isolated pockets of people.
Yes, I'm in the N&P lower and if we're playing well (when we went 3-1 up against Liverpool!!) it can be quite raucous, but I least there is no one near me who treats it like a picnic site - we get one or two who may have a pie/hot chocolate etc at half time, but not great rucksacks full of munchies.
I've never seen a more pathetic attempt to get back and help out as the one from Klose yesterday, it was like he was moving in treacle - could he have run any slower? Not really the kind of effort you'd expect from a big money signing making his second appearance in a game of such magnitude - I just can't believe Russell Martin as captain wasn't cracking the whip behind him making him run faster!
I'm beginning to think that my criticism of Russell Martin was a bit harsh, the whole damn team are fluffing awful!
Not the whole team ILD, it was Klose strolling back, did you notice who tried to prevent that first goal ?
"bit harsh"?? I have no idea how you blamed him for it in the first place, the ball was past him on the halfway line and Agbonlahor wasn't his man, that was the job of our new £8m international, Champions League centre-half Timm Klose who should be absolutely ashamed of himself. I've just watched that goal again a few times and I would love to know how he justified that piece of defending, ok Rudd was at fault for charging out like he did (how many times is that now?) but Klose should have made it a lot tougher for him rather than pretty much stand still and let him have a free run. Interesting to see how everyone thinks he should be starting with Bennett in the next game though
His position was right back, he was in no mans land for that move, agree Klose should have done more. I don't think it will matter who we start with, we're just so awful all over the pitch.
For a little bit of enragement at the injustice of it all, these articles are often pretty good (and much more comprehensive than the totally biased Untold Arsenal ref review): http://www.teamtalk.com/news/ref-review-the-incorrect-decisions-from-week-25 Although our game isn't featured in the highlights this week, you can see from the table that based on the analysis, yet again we had four decisions go against us incorrectly as opposed to one in our favour, and you only have to look at weeks 24, 23, 22 and 21 to see that this is a clear trend. We are simply not getting the rub of the green - part of that is in actually trying your luck, so we need to go for it more, but we could do with getting one or two favours in return! Particularly as one big decision going against you is definitely enough to completely change a game.