Comments on: Gut check time for Arsenal http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/1459 Daily News & Analysis of the English Premier League Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:00:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ferd http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/1459#comment-4663 Ferd Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:37:23 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/#comment-4663 I really want to like Eboue because I think he is a useful player but sometimes his dramatics on the pitch make it difficult to support him. It will not hurt my feelings too much if they offload him this summer. This maybe would not be so much of an issue if Rosicky could manage to stay in the lineup! I really want to like Eboue because I think he is a useful player but sometimes his dramatics on the pitch make it difficult to support him. It will not hurt my feelings too much if they offload him this summer. This maybe would not be so much of an issue if Rosicky could manage to stay in the lineup!

]]> By: dragonki2012 http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/1459#comment-4662 dragonki2012 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:32:31 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/#comment-4662 If we(Arsenal) get a chance to offload Eboue to Milan in the summer, cuz there are rumors around that issue, then I think AW won't hesitate. But Eboue is the comic relief in the locker room, so they say, and he's important for the chemistry, but doesn't show it on the pitch, imo. If we(Arsenal) get a chance to offload Eboue to Milan in the summer, cuz there are rumors around that issue, then I think AW won’t hesitate.

But Eboue is the comic relief in the locker room, so they say, and he’s important for the chemistry, but doesn’t show it on the pitch, imo.

]]> By: Ferd http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/1459#comment-4660 Ferd Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:37:23 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/#comment-4660 Arsenal did look much better yesterday and maybe I was a bit too harsh in my character assessment. I still believe that it is a duty to at least put forth your best effort every time you take the field. That is what these guys are paid to do and I deliberately singled out Eboue because I do in fact feel he has some character issues that have been a pattern on the field for the last few seasons. Sorry Todd I was not trying to be cute but instead brief. Arsenal did look much better yesterday and maybe I was a bit too harsh in my character assessment. I still believe that it is a duty to at least put forth your best effort every time you take the field. That is what these guys are paid to do and I deliberately singled out Eboue because I do in fact feel he has some character issues that have been a pattern on the field for the last few seasons. Sorry Todd I was not trying to be cute but instead brief.

]]> By: Todd http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/1459#comment-4656 Todd Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:33:36 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/#comment-4656 please dont call us man u please dont call us man u

]]> By: jm http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/1459#comment-4642 jm Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:54:30 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/gut-check-time-for-arsenal/#comment-4642 I disagree with your assessment as I generally think "character" games are nonsense. When Arsenal were winning tons of matches late, they were hailed as a team of great character (and then came the no-Henry explanations for that, etc. etc.). When they play terribly, it is their character. I dunno. I think I can explain away both of those with more at least equally plausible explanations - Arsenal are a team with great talent and fitness, and not all teams with great talent perform greatly all the time. Even in big matches. The problem with "character" hypotheses is that from the outsiders' perspective (which we share), it has prima facie explanatory value but we can only offer it on insufficient evidence. Thus, we use performance as evidence, and assume it is the right explanation because of its explanatory power. That's not a terribly good inference. Arsenal played awful against Man U. They apparently played better today (at work during the match, will have to catch a replay before I can comment). If they continue to play better, they could win the league. If they play like they did against Man U, they will not. That's all I think the evidence warrants saying at the moment. I disagree with your assessment as I generally think “character” games are nonsense. When Arsenal were winning tons of matches late, they were hailed as a team of great character (and then came the no-Henry explanations for that, etc. etc.). When they play terribly, it is their character. I dunno. I think I can explain away both of those with more at least equally plausible explanations – Arsenal are a team with great talent and fitness, and not all teams with great talent perform greatly all the time. Even in big matches.

The problem with “character” hypotheses is that from the outsiders’ perspective (which we share), it has prima facie explanatory value but we can only offer it on insufficient evidence. Thus, we use performance as evidence, and assume it is the right explanation because of its explanatory power. That’s not a terribly good inference.

Arsenal played awful against Man U. They apparently played better today (at work during the match, will have to catch a replay before I can comment). If they continue to play better, they could win the league. If they play like they did against Man U, they will not. That’s all I think the evidence warrants saying at the moment.

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