Mr McCarthy. Please read this.

[Big Mack]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2462721.ece (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2462721.ece)

And please make your defence read it too.

[Del Woppio]

Yeah Mick. Assembe a back four capable of emulating the consistant level of excellence by the top flight's most successful and stable defence. Easy, innit.

[Big Mack]

Might be advantageous to take some tips from the best is what I'm saying. They weren't born the best, they worked hard at it on the training ground. Our back four don't seem to know each others names at times.

[Del Woppio]

In that case, lets get Keogh to read this then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferenc_Pusk%C3%A1s

[Big Mack]

Now if you could get an article to give some pointers of what he did in training and methods he used to put the ball in the net rather than a list of acheivements, it might be of some use!

Oh... ;)

[Essex Wolf]

Individaully Wolves have some good defenders but Saturday there was a lack of understanding on too many occasions. A decent quality LB is a must and it angers and frustrates me that MM has failed to address this area.

[ProudWolf]

Thought Collins did ok again on saturday. Not the long-term answer but didnt do a lot wrong and wasnt responsible for their crucial first two goals.

[fenella]

A decent quality LB is a must and it angers and frustrates me that MM has failed to address this area.

Less than 12 months ago, Michael Gray was considered good enough to play regulalry in the Premiership for Blackburn, so it seemed a good move to bring him. It perhaps doesn't look like its going to work out, but I appreciate that MM attempted to address this area, and I can't argue with his logic. I thought he looked good as well, until his balls up against Blackpool.

[kennyB]

I too wonder why we bought Gray in, especially since after a couple of games he isn't considered good enough. Bad judgement perhaps? Wouldn't dare knock MM though, being the sacred cow he is to some!

[saturday boy]

Less than 12 months ago, Michael Gray was considered good enough to play regulalry in the Premiership for Blackburn, so it seemed a good move to bring him. It perhaps doesn't look like its going to work out, but I appreciate that MM attempted to address this area, and I can't argue with his logic. I thought he looked good as well, until his balls up against Blackpool.

We're 5 games into a 46 game league season and already 'it doesn't look like it's going to work out'?

Many more defeats and people might actually die.

[Templeton Peck]

We're 5 games into a 46 game league season and already 'it doesn't look like it's going to work out'?

Many more defeats and people might actually die.

Gray hasn't even played in all 5 games either. This board is getting funnier by the day at the moment.

[fenella]

We're 5 games into a 46 game league season and already 'it doesn't look like it's going to work out'?

Many more defeats and people might actually die.

What I mean't was, McCarthy appears at the moment to prefer to play a make-shift left back rather than Gray. I appreciate Gray might come back in and play well, hence the word 'perhaps', but at the moment, he's brought in a Premiership left-back on decent wages, had a look at him, and dropped hin. Why? I'm assuming he's not injured?

[Zico]

and I can't argue with his logic.

His logic being...
buying ex-Sunderland players

[saturday boy]

What I mean't was, McCarthy appears at the moment to prefer to play a make-shift left back rather than Gray. I appreciate Gray might come back in and play well, hence the word 'perhaps', but at the moment, he's brought in a Premiership left-back on decent wages, had a look at him, and dropped hin. Why? I'm assuming he's not injured?

I wasn't at Sheffield Utd game but he appears to have played Collins to deal with aeriel threats down the flanks when teams play direct. Neither Foley or Gray are particularly big and good in the air so it does limit our physical presence and height when both of them are on the field.

[fenella]

I wasn't at Sheffield Utd game but he appears to have played Collins to deal with aeriel threats down the flanks when teams play direct.

Good point. Perhaps Gray will come back. Though I don't like chopping and changing a back four. I think understanding comes from playing the same four week-in, week-out, regardless of the opposition.

[Zico]

I wasn't at Sheffield Utd game but he appears to have played Collins to deal with aeriel threats down the flanks when teams play direct. Neither Foley or Gray are particularly big and good in the air so it does limit our physical presence and height when both of them are on the field.

He was targeted in the air by Blackpool. So what we are saying is he's rubbish both on the ground and in the air. It's like we are feeling sorry for the manager because we have a fullback who's easily beat in the air.

Surely McCarthy has a set idea of how he wants his team to defend and therefore the personnel required to do it. He must have known Gray's attributes otherwise he wouldn't have signed him but you would hardly believe it.

It beggars belief that we are in this position until the January transfer window. We don't have a leftback in the squad capable of performing at CCL level.

[kennyB]

What also beggars belief Zico is that if Collins was included to help combat aerial threats is how we came to concede goals precisely because we failed to deal with them. (Not having a go at Collins by the way but the defence in general).

[Dewsburywolf]

12 months ago Gray was considered good enough to play in Prem for Blackburn ???? Six months ago he " helped " Leeds get relegated ??????

[Wolv3nsam]

12 months ago Gray was considered good enough to play in Prem for Blackburn ???? Six months ago he " helped " Leeds get relegated ??????

I believe he was first choice left-back at Blackburn for some time.

[The Weasel]

He was targeted in the air by Blackpool. So what we are saying is he's rubbish both on the ground and in the air. It's like we are feeling sorry for the manager because we have a fullback who's easily beat in the air.

Surely McCarthy has a set idea of how he wants his team to defend and therefore the personnel required to do it. He must have known Gray's attributes otherwise he wouldn't have signed him but you would hardly believe it.

It beggars belief that we are in this position until the January transfer window. We don't have a leftback in the squad capable of performing at CCL level.

Erm, no. The loan window remains open.

[Zico]

Erm, no. The loan window remains open.

Wow the loan market....doohhh!
So we are going to get a top defender in until Januaury arrives...
and they will play their heart out (for a club they don't belong to).

Appart from a few instances, the loan market has never been that succesful for us.

Besides that. The fact is we still went into the season without a left back at the club capable of playing in this leauge

[Essex Wolf]

Less than 12 months ago, Michael Gray was considered good enough to play regulalry in the Premiership for Blackburn, so it seemed a good move to bring him. It perhaps doesn't look like its going to work out, but I appreciate that MM attempted to address this area, and I can't argue with his logic. I thought he looked good as well, until his balls up against Blackpool.

As yet Gray may well turn out to be okay but clearly he wasn't fully fit upon his arrival at Molineux and the LB area is weak with virtually no cover what with Mulgrew always being either injured or for some reason ignored.

[fenella]

the LB area is weak with virtually no cover

Well, the fact is McCarthy has brought in two specialist left backs, one of whom is currently fit, as well as several centre backs who should be able to do a job at left back if required. If he's to be criticised its surely for buying badly, rather than for doing too little. How many Championship clubs currently have more than two specialist left backs on their books?

If I were Morgan I'd be pretty peed off if, a few weeks after sanctioning the signing of Michael Gray, McCarthy asked me for *more* money to sign another left back, because Gray isn't deemed good enough to play there.

[Essex Wolf]

You say two fenella, guessing you mean Mulgrew I'd hardly class him as specialist in that area at all, poor, mediocre, ordinary maybe.

[fenella]

My point is, McCarthy has been allowed to bring in 3 new defenders this summer, at reasonably large expense, and only two defenders have left. All of those new signings are fit, and yet we appear to be struggling. I'd be reluctant to sanction further signings.

[Zico]

I'd be reluctant to sanction further signings.

Agreed. From Morgan's perspective it hardly looks impressive.

[wallace]

having seen the goals conceeded at sheffield id have been embarrassed if it was a sunday league team i was watching play. 3 hoofed balls down the middle which experienced defenders couldnt deal with is beyond belief. if it happened once you might accept it can happen, but 3 times? do some serious a*rse kicking mick.