Spirit, heart, character; you neeed all these things if you are a genuine contender.
And there were two brief moments which showed the gulf between Man Utd and Arsenal in that respect today.
When Nani was subbed, there were smiles and high fives from not just the players, but the managers and asst manager - and even Berbatov, who one might feel had little to smile about, was beaming from ear to ear.
When RVP and Walcott went off, the two senior players took their seats without so much as a glance at any of the coaching staff, and Wenger's made no indication of even being aware of their presence as they took their seats in front of him.
Of course I realise that they were in a dire situation at the time, nevertheless, I thought lack of any communication worrying for Arsenal.
Spirit
posted on 28/8/11
It's much easier to give high fives when you're up by that much.
I have seen Fergie's face of fury when his team are losing...
posted on 28/8/11
Yeah that's a pretty bad example
posted on 28/8/11
As I noted, I realise that obviously a good win is going to result in a good mood - would that always extend to players within a club who find themselves as out in the cold as Berbatov?
And, more pertinently, even with a bad loss, would you expect such lack of acknowledgement between the senior Arsenal players and the manager?
posted on 28/8/11
http://TheBusbyWay.com/2011/08/28/video-goals-rooney-co-run-rampant-as-arsenal-are-savaged-8-2/?
Check the highlights and keep eye out for Anderson in wall for freekicks and I dare you not to laugh !!!
posted on 28/8/11
"would that always extend to players within a club who find themselves as out in the cold as Berbatov?"
He is not exactly "out in the cold" if he's on the subs bench
"would you expect such lack of acknowledgement between the senior Arsenal players and the manager?"
Everyone must be feeling too **** to bother with niceties. As would anyone in that position.
posted on 28/8/11
I remember when we were 4-2 up against Spurs in 2008. Denilson was subbed off for Song with 5 minutes to go. They both smiled and gave each other a high 5 when walking past one another. We then drew the game 4-4.
What exactly is the point you are trying to make?
posted on 28/8/11
I don't remember seeing many smiles or 'high-fives' from the United subs and bench at Anfield last season, or at Stamford Bridge, or indeed at Wembley against City and Barca! Does this mean that United had no 'heart, spirit or character' at these times last season?
Or, is it simply the case that players tend not to do stuff like that when they are losing, if they did they would look rather foolish, would you not agree?
I guess this puts paid to your 'spirit' argument, not that it had much going for it in the first place!
posted on 28/8/11
"Check the highlights and keep eye out for Anderson in wall for freekicks and I dare you not to laugh !!!"
Yeah, I noticed that at the time... but just what was he supposed to be doing?
"He (Berbatov) is not exactly "out in the cold" if he's on the subs bench"
For the club's most expensive ever signing, the PL top scorer, finding himself on the bench and not having played a moment of competitive football this season (after ending last without even making subs bench in the ECL Final), seeing Welbeck starting ahead of him, yes I would certainly say he is "out in the cold".
In any case, I think that seeing him beaming as he congratulated Nani, under these circumstances, is a very positive indication of the team spirit.
"What exactly is the point you are trying to make?"
I have told you. Now perhaps you could try to explain your non sequitur.
Are you people as stupid as you are making out?
Who the hell expects a team losing like that to be "high 5's all round"? I certainly never said so.
I would expect however, some indication that the players and managers actually knew of the existence of each other when being subbed.
However, this deliberate choosing to ignore the relevant point is the same kind of wilful blindness that got Arsenal to this point in the first place.
posted on 28/8/11
Adam Z
To be fair, your original comments did not make much sense...it looked as if you were trying to make something out of nothing with regards to the body language of defeated players!
You are usually better than this, I expect/expected a better quality of debate from yourself...maybe you have peaked and this is what I should expect in the future.
Never mind!