One thing that is very noticeable at the moment in fact it's been a problem for a while is that those outside the inner circle of the squad never get a chance. The likes of Campbell, Podolski, Rosicky etc have in my eyes been criminally under used having said that I'm still annoyed about Podolski just jogging back when he could of stopped the Anderlecht cross for the last goal. Anyway I just don't get why they are just sitting there considering how big an investment the club has made in them as they are all going to be on big money and they are just kicking their heels at the moment.
If these players are never going to get a game they might as well replace them with youth players and spend the money on genuine quality rather than just seeing money being thrown away on spare parts because that's all these players are. To me what makes it even worse the players that are keeping them out aren't even playing well just seems like madness to me.
Squad utilization
posted on 23/11/14
All three are deadwood tbh, Rosicky's been here nearly 10 years and apart from a few of matchwinning performances what has he done for us. a couple of good half seasons and that's about it. Surprised they aren't getting more minutes though.
posted on 23/11/14
Wenger's been poor for ages in regards to rotation and keeping the fringe players happy.
It's such a crucial part of the modern game and he just doesn't seem to be able to do it.
Great example is Chamakh. Was playing really well, scored 9 in 12 I think, as soon as RvP got back he started on the bench for months.
Surprise, surprise, when RvP got injured, Chamakh looked awful and never really got a look in again - 20 mins here, half an hour there, what did we really expect him to do?
posted on 23/11/14
Because of the injury issues and lack of consistency in the defensive areas, it is harder to throw in fringe players further forward.
Especially if you cannot trust them to do the hard work (Podolski), fear their legs are gone (Rosicky) or they are a raw talent (Campbell).
posted on 23/11/14
Problems have been at the back and midfield. No reason to play Joel or Pod. Rosicky maybe.
posted on 23/11/14
Problems have been at the back and midfield. No reason to play Joel or Pod. Rosicky maybe.Problems have been at the back and midfield. No reason to play Joel or Pod. Rosicky maybe.
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You don't just change players if there are problems you have to keep players fresh. Wenger said himself that Ramsey got injured last year because he was overplayed.
Cazorla for the most part has been poor this year, he could have been easily swapped out for Campbell. Podolski could have interchanged with Welbeck. Rosicky should have been given some game time in front of Ramsey.
posted on 24/11/14
Yeah lets play our worse players all the time, the same way Madrid, Barca and Chelsea do...
posted on 24/11/14
"Yeah lets play our worse players all the time, the same way Madrid, Barca and Chelsea do..."
Because that's exactly what everyone is suggesting we do?
posted on 24/11/14
Can't believe some fans are only realising this. Wenger is awful at many things, and squad rotation is one of them.
Wenger has a simple mind-set. Pick a team. Keep that team until it clicks, no matter what the results. When it does click, keep that same team. Change only when injuries (which are frequent) hit.
As many have stated before, Wenger is a reactionary manager. He doesn't think that far ahead. So for example if we're winning comfortably in, say, a FA Cup tie with Coventry, he'd still play his top players for 90 mins.
It's partly the reason why Wenger never wins the big games anymore. His rotation is so poor all the top managers know exactly what team and tactics he will play, a month beforehand.
posted on 24/11/14
Why was Rosicky offered a contract extension when we had no plans to play him?
Arsenal's inflated wage bill is down to Wenger's incompetence and indecisiveness, keeping average players at 80k/week has been our Achilles heal for years and it's no surprise that Wenger still hasn't learned anything from his past blunders.
posted on 24/11/14
I feel you guys are barking up the wrong tree. Those players won't solve our problems.