I’m going to be disappointed if Viera and Keane don’t have a punch up at some point this afternoon.
Great result for Villa who are struggling with injuries and a stick thin squad
Good value for the win, but they were 2 massive saves at key times by Emi M. He is such a shitehouser too
The only person better at Shithousery than Martinez is Jamie Vardy
Anyway… this is pretty edgy stuff. 2 goals from 2 defensive howlers. Both defenses look like there’s more of that in them. At least we’re looking organised like last weekend.
It’s a great win for Villa considering they were away in Europe and Newcastle were at home with an extra day recovery.
Wow! Couple of wonder goals v the usual Arsenal OG and goalmouth scramble.
Well that’s the premier league a little predictable.
Has there been some kind of glitch in the matrix this last couple of weekends? 😳
Seems a long time ago that bell end Amorim was preaching about his magic formation.
All the players have looked really organised these last 2 games and like they’re actually enjoying themselves.
The same players that looked so uncomfortable playing Amorims mad formation, which they all clearly hated!
It wasn’t just the result today it was the build up play that led to 2 absolute screamers. Really strong defensive performance too (bar Martinez’s howler). Slabhead got a well deserved MOTM
Well, as I feared, a rejuvenated Man Utd made the most of a team which has simply run of inspiration. As the commentary noted, it was three points dropped today but it also casts a cloud over the rest of the season for the Arsenal, it’s time for a bit of spontaneity. As for Man U, a classic case of how round pegs in round holes make for motivated players.
To be fair to Man U - their early season tatic of getting dumped out of all the cups seems to allow them to play less games & concentrate on the league looks to be paying dividends.
I think you’ll find that the masterplan started last season in failing to qualify for Europe
Man Utds player of the match - Zubamendi... what on earth was he thinking? A carbon copy of Gabriels a few weeks back vs Bournemouth.
I particularly liked that Arsenals big money subs Eze, Gyokres and Madueke made absolutely zero impact on the game. Eze especially did a grand total of nothing whereas at least Madueke ran past a few defenders before running it out for a goal kick.
Both teams playing with 10 when Gyokres and Sesko were on the pitch at the same time...
Sesko did at least provide us with a laugh after Bruno hoofed the ball into his face and he looked like he was going to have to go off with concussion, about 5 seconds after he’d came on 😂
I particularly liked that Arsenals big money subs Eze, Gyokres and Madueke made absolutely zero impact on the game. Eze especially did a grand total of nothing whereas at least Madueke ran past a few defenders before running it out for a goal kick.
Said this to a mate of mine, fellow Arsenal supporter. I don't think any of our signings have been that good.
Been saying it allll season (look back to previous posts), we're not winning this league. City to win it and everyone else scrambling for the remaining top 4 places.
Hmm, Zubimendi was signed in the summer and has looked like he has always been part of the team from the off. Hardly put a foot wrong until yesterday and has helped Rice move forward. The Gyorkeres struggles have been well documented but the bigger mystery has been Eze. I really thought/hoped he might be a bit of a Cantona, with an ability to do the unexpected within an already established framework, but he has failed to change any game (although the hat trick against Tottering Hotspurs put a lot of credit in the bank). MOTD analysis was spot on in pointing out the lack of movement - Zubimendi was where he was because he felt obliged to create movement rather than thinking through the next phase of play. All good teams have movement off the ball and one of the problems of the fixation of highly choreographed play in very small cells (look at an aerial photo of top level team training facilities, the pitches are marked out into pretty small blocks) is that players get locked into their place on the pitch and lose the wider fluidity.
Yeah, you look at that team, and you think that is a team that should be scoring 6 or 7 goals in matches 4 or 5 times a season, like city were 5 or so years ago.
If they win the PL this year, I wonder if Arteta would then give them more freedom, if he wants to just get it over the line to build confidence the 1st time, because if he fails and another manager takes over it is hard to believe they wouldn't become a more attacking team with that squad.
I think city are not quite there yet, but the jigsaw is nearly complete and when they do click, I don't think arsenal will have another chance to win the PL with these tactics, but they do have the squad to really go out and put the competition to the sword.
Humour me please. Been thinking about the chaos they cause at corners, crowding the six yard box, which does naturally, not illegally most the time, impede the opposition goalie from getting hands on the corner. Like the second goal yesterday - Lammens couldn’t get near it. So would a daring tactic not be to leave three or four players up the park? It would mean Arsenal would surely have to take men out the box freeing up space for the keeper and centre halves to get first contact on the ball more easily?
With arsenal's ariel power, I think that would make them scoring more likely than a break away goal.
Yesh, it could look silly! I just wondered if it would free a path for the goalie to punch it clear but I guess they’d find a way to block him still.
I really dislike the mobbing of the goalie that has come in the past few years, I was trying to think if there was any way to write a rule that could prevent it, but the only one I could think of (all attacking players should be outside the 6 yard box when the corner is taken) probably wouldn't be a good rule in practice.
Leaving a couple of players up front when defending a corner has been done in the PL this season - can’t remember the two teams but it was commented on at the time - and it did make the attacking team hold back an extra defender or two. I think it was Mourinho who introduced when started it when he arrived at Chelsea.
Meanwhile, in Switzerland….
You really couldn’t make it up
When Sepp Blatter is on the right side you realise how far the other side have gone.
That pic of him tho made me think of the Prince Phillip just before he died. Gives the same zombie vibes.
Given that Tim Roth played Sep Blatter in "United passions", I am eagerly awaiting what Jason Statham bring to the role of Infantino.
With arsenal's ariel power, I think that would make them scoring more likely than a break away goal.
With less crowding and more space, and a keeper that is coming for everything then I'm not sure they would get so many chances, the number of times a keeper is impeded by own players, in turn being impeded by opponents.
I'd like to see some trialling on the training ground. When I played there wasn't the same blocking tactic, also not the same fast swerving flight of the ball but I always wanted a front post man, a man ahead of the front post to cut out a flick on, and generally a back post man, and then our biggest defender / best header on the 6 yard line to attack any ball outside the 6 yard box. And anything inside, I'd be coming for clearing out anything in the way.
Same with long throws - we didn't have such long throwers but equally the pitches weren't as wide in general so a decent long throw could get to the edges of the 6 yard box. So I'd station myself there and wait for it. IDK why keepers now wait on their line and get blocked from getting there.
I wonder if Rory Delap realised, when he started the whole long throw business, that it would become a premier league staple nearly 20 years later.
Personally I love all the chaos they cause
It’s a bit too much like a rugby line out for me. We’re better than that!
I think that has more to do with ballet dancing than football
I wonder if Rory Delap realised, when he started the whole long throw business, that it would become a premier league staple nearly 20 years later.
Personally I love all the chaos they cause
Shame his other lasting legacy moved to Chelsea
I wonder if Rory Delap realised, when he started the whole long throw business, that it would become a premier league staple nearly 20 years later.
Personally I love all the chaos they cause
Shame his other lasting legacy moved to Chelsea
Could have saved the money and just dressed a mannequin to sit on the bench.
Nobody lasts long at Chelsea sausage machine, amongst their squad of 1,378 players. I'm sure he'll be off to somewhere where he'll actually get a game at the end of the season
Nobody lasts long at Chelsea sausage machine, amongst their squad of 1,378 players. I'm sure he'll be off to somewhere where he'll actually get a game at the end of the season
Apparently 14 appearances this season, but most as a sub I think
Spent long periods injured. Been suspended as well I think.
Spent long periods injured. Been suspended as well I think.
Sounds like he's carried on where he left off
Agreed. For all the hype about him last year he needs to mature and not be so impulsive. I get it's a fine line but he did seem to get himself into unnessary trouble
Cracking result at Anfield. Always good to see the Saudies go down.
Nice to see you back. Have you been on a ban, or do you just go missing when your team's being a bit shit? What's that, one win in 6 now?
Shay Given's just said the same on MotD after Darlow scored an own goal under pressure from his own defenders
Leaving a couple of players up front when defending a corner has been done in the PL this season - can’t remember the two teams but it was commented on at the time - and it did make the attacking team hold back an extra defender or two. I think it was Mourinho who introduced when started it when he arrived at Chelsea.
I hear ya Shay!
Wirtz settling in now. And Isak has a battle on getting a game ahead of Ekitike when he’s fit - imagine having the fee paid for him to buy a centre half and a replacement for Diaz. Or maybe the plan is to play them both with Wirtz centrally in midfield?
Normal service resumed by the Arsenal. Many title winning teams have featured a post Christmas talisman - either a new signing or youngster promoted from the reserves - who becomes the story of the push for the title, and if we do it this year then the restoration of Havertz to the team could be that man as he already seems to be improving the link between midfield and attack.
Well that was absolutely bonkers! I was pretty sure that after beating Citeh and Arsenal, losing to Fulham would be just the most United thing possible. They very nearly conspired to do it at the end there
Up to 10th after a cracking result against the might of Northampton Town.
Remember when people said the big clubs didn't take the League Cup seriously? Yet here we are with the top 2 teams in the country (currently according to the league) in the final.
ah good, a new post in the forum dedicated to our universally acclaimed culture/cult.
Certainly seemed to take it seriously last night, City and the soon to be departed Pep took it very serously.
If you look at the winners since Swansea won it in 2013, they (mainly City) take it very seriously.
Newcastle gone backwards since winning it? £220m spent on Woltemade, Ramsay, Elanga and Wissa - jury out on them all?
Massive result for Leeds in Friday night's win over Forest in the battle to escape from the relegation zone. Was lucky enough to get a ticket for the match, but the 3-1 win made the 10 hour round trip from Bristol in appaling weather and heavy traffic worthwhile.
Let's hope Burnley can get a draw or win over West Ham to maintain a significant gap of 8 or 9 points to Leeds, and a win for Man Utd over Spurs and Brighton over Palace would bring two other clubs into that murky zone just above the relegation zone.
#MOT #ALAW
Couple more wins for Leeds and they’re safe I think. Might already be. Quite an achievement actually. Dyche ball not really working for Forest - wonder if Nuno will put them down?!
Great watching Leeds at the moment as you've no idea what the result will be.
Calvert-Lewin certainly seems to be enjoying himself.
We’re the dreaded early kick off (does anybody actually like them?) and god only knows which Spurs or Which United will turn up.
One thing it won’t be is a nil nil draw. Other than that, who knows? 🤷♂️
Romero’s charm offensive continues. He’s covered himself in glory in the last week already and I’m sure getting himself sent off after 20 minutes and a 4 match suspension will further endeer him to everyone. And he’s the club captain.
It's madness that he's club captain and the right decision., But was his challenge any worse than Dorgu's in the derby a couple of weeks ago.
Back to last night (sorry Binners), it was a great result. I have to admit I was a little nervous beforehand as we really needed the win with some tough games coming up, but with both Burnley and Wolves still to play at Fortress Elland Road, I really can't see us being relegated now.
But was his challenge any worse than Dorgu's in the derby a couple of weeks ago
When that challenge went in, I thought he was off for certain. I think if it’d been any other game than a derby he would have been.
He’s not a serial offender though, unlike Romero, who always looks like a red card waiting to happen
Anyway… another 3 points. We’ll be getting vertigo!
Shows how close the league is this year. A couple of wins in a row and suddenly you're looking at champions League qualification.
And at the other end of the table, lose a couple more and you’re going to be in a relegation scrap.
Spurs now on same points as Leeds, and West Ham moving away from the bottom two. It's going to be an interesting final third of the season.
Very well played Brentford. Delightful result, that.
I was wondering if you’d pitch up 🤔🤣
Hope City win tomorrow otherwise this is at risk of becoming a procession
I was wondering if you’d pitch up 🤔🤣
👍
Torn about tomorrow. It would be lovely to dispatch two oil state owned human rights abusing sports washed clubs two weeks in a row. At the same time, the title is done if Citeh lose. Liverpool’s season is a write-off at this stage. There’s even the possible ignominy of finishing underneath middling clubs like Manchester United at this stage. So, whatevs, bro.
I was wondering if you’d pitch up 🤔🤣
👍
Torn about tomorrow. It would be lovely to dispatch two oil state owned human rights abusing sports washed clubs two weeks in a row. At the same time, the title is done if Citeh lose. Liverpool’s season is a write-off at this stage. There’s even the possible ignominy of finishing underneath middling clubs like Manchester United at this stage. So, whatevs, bro.
A draw would be good for us ‘middling’ teams ( who are presently 5 points above you) though Bravissimo. 😃
Beat West Ham on Tuesday and this lad can finally get his hair cut. It’s been 4 long years!
A draw would be good for us ‘middling’ teams ( who are presently 5 points above you) though Bravissimo. 😃
“You?” 😂
it’s all that matters to the Manchester Red Devils these days, binners. Sad times. I note the lack of moaning about the ownership 🙄
Stunning strike by Szoboszlai, can't bring myself to like him because of his reported views. Still a chance here for City who've been dominated this half
More than a chance! Get in!
(Not just because of title race, also last leg of my weekend accumulator)
Feel for the ref there but decision is right factually. And Szoboszlai walks, what a shame.
WTF the refs on??! Goal was scored and they bring it back and send Szoboszlai off?!
That’s absolutely ridiculous!
Absolutely mad last twenty minutes or so. Oh well, title race is still on for a bit, I guess. Fair play to Citeh. 1 goal, even with 5 minutes left isn’t enough.
WTF the refs on??! Goal was scored and they bring it back and send Szoboszlai off?!
Like I said factually correct. Szoboszlai fouls Haaland but ref plays advantage. New phase of play, then Haaland fouls Szoboszlai. So goal has to be disallowed.
Be thankful it's not old rules, at least nowadays ref can allow play to go on and see if advantage actually happens; in this case not so pulled back to the first foul and hence red card and freekick for a DOGSO offence. Under old rules once advantage was played that was it, and the outcome to that example above would have been free kick to Liverpool!
(all above is factual, clearly against natural justice though in this case)
Bonkers ending, mad refereeing decisions and title still alive.
Szoboszlai now on a 3 match suspension too and Liverpool are only above Brentford on goal difference because that goal didn’t stand.
Win should galvanise City you’d think? Dias back is key, with Guehi showing his class. And who needs a ball playing goalie when Donnaruma pulls off saves like that.
I was wondering if you’d pitch up 🤔🤣
👍
Torn about tomorrow. It would be lovely to dispatch two oil state owned human rights abusing sports washed clubs two weeks in a row. At the same time, the title is done if Citeh lose. Liverpool’s season is a write-off at this stage. There’s even the possible ignominy of finishing underneath middling clubs like Manchester United at this stage. So, whatevs, bro.
Liverpool are sponsored by Standard Chartered
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd11j09q2llo
Glass houses?