Laurent Koscielny ~ Lolo

[PairyGrows]

The fact he and Mustafi made similar mistakes shows that its the tactics/coaching that are the problem not the individuals.

What? How can a player giving the ball away cheaply be to do with coaching/tactics?

When we're transitioning from defense to attack, all of our players apart from defenders tend to push further up the pitch. This causes the distances between players to stretch, which in turn makes it harder for defenders to initiate the attack.

The task is made even more difficult when we play against teams who are very good at denying space and passing opportunities. Usually our players just stand there without making themselves available or creating space for their teammates. Thus, our defenders can become very isolated, leaving them to do what he's been practicing throughout the season; looking for a short pass.

This deficiency in our system best explains the occasional yet consistent howlers by our defenders.

[Luzh 22]

cant play 3 games in a week anymore, looked really really tired today

So tired, he has to play a square ball across the defence? Please.

Xhaka plays the same pass too. Coaching definitely has a part in it.

C'mon, it's the first thing you're taught at school boy under 9's level.

You don't play square balls across the defensive line.

We just have total dip shit players it seems.

[Luzh 22]

The fact he and Mustafi made similar mistakes shows that its the tactics/coaching that are the problem not the individuals.

What? How can a player giving the ball away cheaply be to do with coaching/tactics?

When we're transitioning from defense to attack, all of our players apart from defenders tend to push further up the pitch. This causes the distances between players to stretch, which in turn makes it harder for defenders to initiate the attack.

The task is made even more difficult when we play against teams who are very good at denying space and passing opportunities. Usually our players just stand there without making themselves available or creating space for their teammates. Thus, our defenders can become very isolated, leaving them to do what he's been practicing throughout the season; looking for a short pass.

This deficiency in our system best explains the occasional yet consistent howlers by our defenders.

If you're under pressure, you smash it up the pitch or into "row Z". You don't play stupid balls like that.

[Losmeister]

i deny "pressure"... pressure is 2/3 players swarming. lingard loping at you isnt pressure.

make a sound football decision and execute it.

peeps seem to be letting kola off... koz didnt play a good pass, but kola made it worse by misjudging and creating an odd man situation.

[PairyGrows]

i deny "pressure"... pressure is 2/3 players swarming. lingard loping at you isnt pressure.

make a sound football decision and execute it.

peeps seem to be letting kola off... koz didnt play a good pass, but kola made it worse by misjudging and creating an odd man situation.

Sometimes the lack of sound decisions can be pressurizing in itself.

[GoonerAlexandre]

I'll say it here, so the Ramsey fans don't jump on me.

I really agree with PairyGrows above, and he makes a very, very valid point. When we have the ball, Ramsey goes AWOL, and can not be passed to. Xhaka's positioning is absolutely dreadful to get the ball and he has no chance of holding on to it under pressure. Even our wingbacks have pushed up too high, and can't be passed to. So we play a high risk pass forwards, and that is why we are susceptible to being caught. It's why Mustafi was dawdling, and it is why Kos played that square pass. Bellerin was too far forward, the midfielders were too far forward, and the only pass available was to Kolasinac, who was somewhat positionally reliable. That was screwed up, 1-0 to United

Few minutes later, Mustafi is looking for an option, nothing's there, keeps going, Lingard takes the ball.

These are basic errors, but they occur because there is no option open. The only midfielder with which they do not happen is Elneny, because he drops in deep for the ball.

None of this is excusing Mustafi or Kos, who should have booted it forward, but we're trained to retain the ball, but our midfielders aren't trained to drop in deep for it

No one should say that it's because Ramsey is an attacking player to excuse him. Gerrard used to drop in between the two center backs, and he was a billion times more attacking and better than Ramsey. It's the basics of being a midfielder.

[GoonerAlexandre]

Kos Rapid Fire with Lacazette

Lacazette to Kos: What skill or talent do you wish you had?
Lacazette:- To be able to defend?

[ALLCAPS_]

I'll say it here, so the Ramsey fans don't jump on me.

I really agree with PairyGrows above, and he makes a very, very valid point. When we have the ball, Ramsey goes AWOL, and can not be passed to. Xhaka's positioning is absolutely dreadful to get the ball and he has no chance of holding on to it under pressure. Even our wingbacks have pushed up too high, and can't be passed to. So we play a high risk pass forwards, and that is why we are susceptible to being caught. It's why Mustafi was dawdling, and it is why Kos played that square pass. Bellerin was too far forward, the midfielders were too far forward, and the only pass available was to Kolasinac, who was somewhat positionally reliable. That was screwed up, 1-0 to United

Few minutes later, Mustafi is looking for an option, nothing's there, keeps going, Lingard takes the ball.

These are basic errors, but they occur because there is no option open. The only midfielder with which they do not happen is Elneny, because he drops in deep for the ball.

None of this is excusing Mustafi or Kos, who should have booted it forward, but we're trained to retain the ball, but our midfielders aren't trained to drop in deep for it

No one should say that it's because Ramsey is an attacking player to excuse him. Gerrard used to drop in between the two center backs, and he was a billion times more attacking and better than Ramsey. It's the basics of being a midfielder.

Good point, one of the reasons Barca were so able to beat the press was due to the intelligence of their midfield players. That's something we really lack.

However, the pass was beyond wreckless from our captain.

Expect way more.

[fredd1]

Played the same pass again tonight which he did against Man U and they nearly scored is he bloody brain dead

[Nuggets]

He is slowly getting worse.

[GoonerAlexandre]

Not even gonna blame him for that pass, we had three opportunities to clear it after that and managed to make even more brain dead decisions than that pass from Koscielny

[BouncySean]

He really needs a rest (as does Monreal) how Wenger can't see that is beyond me.

[Va-Va-Voom]

He is past it.

Sad times.

[Sims]

Guy with 1/4 of an Achilles’ tendon can’t hack a heavy Christmas schedule

Colour me surprised

[Cripps]

We aren't in the Xmas schedule

Plus hes bang average

Always has been

And rest? He doesn't play in Europa or League cup games. All hes had are PL games

f**k rest