That goal RVP scored for United...

That goal Frank Stapleton scored against Brighton... we could have used it.

What's your point, OP?

I am glad you brought up the Man Utd game.

We did not need RVPs goals. We were in EXACTLY the same situation as Man Utd. 1-0 up to an early goal. A good team does not allow the opposition to get back into game by a mistake. Everton didn't open us up for the equalizer.

The difference was that we have players who are Championship level at the moment. And that player gave the ball away that allowed Everton to get back into the game.

You cannot hide players at premiership level.

Cygan ----> Senderos -----> Denilson ------>Ramsey

Add that to not having a decent goalkeeper since Lehmann.

Add that to not having a decent goalkeeper since Lehmann.

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I call shenanigans on that. Sir Chesney is a good keeper and will only get better.

I call shenanigans on that. Sir Chesney is a good keeper and will only get better
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Chesney is an above average keeper at best. He is awful at judging angles.

There is no way a decent keeper is beaten from a passing shot from the edge of his area.

Just like Bale's goal against him.

He's young so has got time on his side. He has been more than good enough to earn my patience.

He's young so has got time on his side. He has been more than good enough to earn my patience.
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And thats the problem right there.

True. He is young and may suddenly improve his footwork and starting positions. But how long do you wait? And how may points do you lose in the meantime. That also applies to Ramsey.

And by the time he matures to that level he would be leaving on a free or demanding competitive wages.

Sounds like you're tapping into a more general issue with the club. So what is the answer? A reshuffle of the wage structure so the allure of other clubs doesn't come into play; or a different approach to the players brought in?

Its simple. Assess players based on immediate results and keep your developing players just below or out on loan.

Chesney is good enough to be a backup keeper at the moment but he has too many deficiencies to be starting. Its always been the norm to have a keeper around 30 or a bit older as your starter. Thats what we had with Lehmann, Seaman, etc going back to Jennings.

Ramsey needs to be on loan growing his game and learning midfield positional play. Aaron hasn't recovered his pace after his injury. Ramsey may actually adjust to never getting it back if he makes mistakes out of the limelight. Not gifting goals to tough teams like Everton.

And make sure your central core who do excel are well contracted and kept for the long term. Do not allow them to run down their contracts. Keep them happy monetarily.

I have a soft spot for Sir Chesney so I'm somewhat blinkered when it comes to assessing his abilities. I'm happy for him to remain No. 1 but Mannone and Fabianski are nowhere close to good enough to give him competition. Sir Chesney would improve greatly if he had to fight for his place and better cover for him is essential.

Rambo is a tricking one. He hasn't really improved in his time at Arsenal which is almost entirely to do with his injury. I fear it may be one of those really serious ones the player simply can't fully recover from. It happened to Pires but that was much later in his career. I love Ramsey and I really don't want to see him end up like Alvaro Recoba and never reach his potential because of that injury but that maybe the situation we're faced with.

Sir Chesney would improve greatly if he had to fight for his place and better cover for him is essential.
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Competition can have an adverse affect on youngsters. They really don't have the inner confidence to compete. But its different to have a mentor. Chesney's weakness are his angles. It happened last year against cross shots and its happening again this year. He really should not be the starter at this age. Very few keepers have long careers when they start that young.

Moyes saw that yesterday and brought on Hitzlsperger. A player who has built his career on long shooting. This problem is exaggerated by not having a proper physical player who can defend the back 4. Arteta just doesn't have the sharpness to block shots from long range.

Ramsey has to reinvent his game. I don't think he will get his acceleration back. He is not going to do that Arsenal. As soon as he makes a mistake it costs us points. That turns the crowd against him and consequently he loses the little confidence he has left. Wenger constantly protecting him doesn't help. Aaron needs to reinvent himself somewhere a clever coach can help him and he won't be under the type of pressure that will end up with the crowd booing. Arsene tried to persist with Denilson and it got him nowhere under the top 4 club pressure. At least Denilson is forging a career back in Brazil.