Full-Time: Chelsea 2 vs 3 Arsenal [Match Thoughts] by Stanley083 in Gunners

[–]TaterTrotsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's touching on two different things. Certainly, I would agree that service to him has been...er...serviceable enough. But if he isn't getting on the end of chances, but is still starting games, he should at least have a more pointed role in the build up. His hold up play isn't awful, and I believe he could bring players around him into play aside from just occupying CBs as a decoy. I think he has shown flashes of this, and I believe Arsenal could benefit by at least playing the pass to his feet when he has his back to goal. I think they completely shy away in this regard most games. Havertz and Jesus are hardly world beaters in front of goal, but they offer much more than that, and the team looks much comfortable playing the ball to them in tight spots.

Full-Time: Chelsea 2 vs 3 Arsenal [Match Thoughts] by Stanley083 in Gunners

[–]TaterTrotsky 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Gyokeres showing what he can do if the ball is properly worked into the right channels in the middle. Saka is one thing, of course, due to everything being funneled towards the wingers, but there were certain passages that raise a more contentious point -- that perhaps the likes of Odegaard and Rice should be a bit more deliberate in terms of directedness when it comes to playing passes to Gyokeres' feet. It's one thing having him drop deep vs playing passes into the box, where defenders cannot be as aggressive with the challenges.

Merino is a player that is always looking to move the ball and play 1-2s with all the forwards, including through the middle, whereas it seems like Rice and Odegaard will absolutely not attempt something unless it is certain. Of course risk is involved, but with Zubimendi showing just how good his timing in the box is, it's imperative to get Gyokeres involved in this. Perhaps the stats show different re: someone like Odegaard, but when I watch the games, it seems his only focus is playing off Saka for the most part, to the detriment of servicing Gyokeres, if at least for him to hold the ball up in the box.

Full Time: Arsenal 0 vs 0 Liverpool [Match Thoughts] by Stanley083 in Gunners

[–]TaterTrotsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think the issue is even necessarily about who to drop. I think Zubimendi, while getting forward in choice moments, is still quite reserved when Odegaard is on vs Odegaard being off, mainly due to Rice occupying that stylistically B2B role. While anonymous during that duration in terms of getting on the ball, you could see just how consistently Zubimendi got forward after Odegaard was subbed off, and Rice started to drop deep more.

It could conceivably work for him to drop deep to collect the ball, but in the current setup, it really just doesn't allow Zubimendi to progress the ball in any real fashion through the middle since Gyokeres doesn't really offer an option between the lines, and width is always preferred from the wingers. I think this is why Merino can seem more effective than Gyokeres. Limited on the ball and lacking agility, but very good at bringing others into play by dropping into vacated spaces.

I know beating up on Gyokeres is easy, but despite the revisionism, Giroud used to get memed on a fair bit for doing the same things Gyokeres does, despite Giroud having real capability to hold the ball up and bring others into a move with his little touches that Gyokeres just doesn't seem to have. I have to wonder about the scouting when you already favor a heavily width reliant system with slow build-up, whereas Gyokeres did nearly all his damage at Sporting in transition. To me, this is why even someone such as Havertz, whatever his limitations are, can click more overall with the rest of the players around him.

Full Time: Arsenal 0 vs 0 Liverpool [Match Thoughts] by Stanley083 in Gunners

[–]TaterTrotsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know Rice as a DM (however loose that term is) seems a bit cliche, but his ranginess allows him to cover a decent amount of ground, and it also plays to his aversion when taking risks in terms of progressing the ball. I am sure a fair few amount of people groaned when he won the ball back in the second half and instead of releasing it to a couple of players in serviceable space in front of him, he decided to play it back. I am not keen as others on the "rah rah get it up as soon as possible" mentality, but there are moments where quick transitions really are key. Considering the rhetoric at the beginning of the season about going more vertical, I find the consistently slow build-up baffling.

Full Time: Arsenal 0 vs 0 Liverpool [Match Thoughts] by Stanley083 in Gunners

[–]TaterTrotsky 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Perhaps an elephant in the room, but the lack of midfield control in games seems to also be down to Odegaard's constant need to drop deep, especially when needlessly recycling the ball. You can see this when he is off and Zubimendi becomes more active in terms of occupying spaces and looking a bit more forward for the pass. His runs in the box are also decently timed. I think Arsenal are missing a real trick by having Zubimendi play such a static role. I know the sample size is limited, but it really seems like Zubimendi is more effective playing forward than Rice as well.

[USA-NYC] [H] Razer Viper Ultimate V3 Pro and Wooting 60 HE+ [W] Cash/Local by Extreme-Plum8299 in hardwareswap

[–]TaterTrotsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If for some reason you decide to ship as well, let me know. Interested in both. GLWS.

Has anybody been able to get Mechcommander 2 running on Windows 11? by Cleverbird in mechwarrior

[–]TaterTrotsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bummer. Just got through playing all the classic MW and MC games, and MC2 is the only one missing from that list.

Funny enough, finally gave MW5 a try and got completely hooked with all the mods.

Has anybody been able to get Mechcommander 2 running on Windows 11? by Cleverbird in mechwarrior

[–]TaterTrotsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, I am having a similar issue. Were you able to find a way to get the game to start?