Just about a month back, we celebrated when Everton managed to draw against Manchester City at their home ground. We celebrated when Brentford beat them 2-1 and then we were more than happy with the result of the last Manchester Derby. All these three games made sure we kept our ‘top of the league’ position till now.
Yesterday, it was the other way round. We lost, against Everton; we could have extended our point difference to 8 points but we didn’t. It wasn’t one of our best days, we played poor and deserved to lose. If you are fighting for the biggest prize in world football, you cannot play so sloppy and hope to end the game with even a point.
Everton showed they wanted the win more than us. Call it a new manager bounce, Sean Dyche’s motivational speech before game, or the absence of Everton’s owners after putting it up for sale giving that extra motivation to players to market themselves for a sell off in near future, but the real reason was we were poor. Every Gooner and their Grandma has been highlighting how lightweight we are in the midfield, and both Xhaka and Partey showed what happens when they aren’t in their best of the form. We lost the midfield battles. Arteta tried to bring in Jorginho and it didn’t help AT ALL.
There is not much to talk about the game except that we were poor, none of our players displayed a 7/10 performance and these things happen. We played 19 games in full form, won 16, drew 2 and lost the only one because of incompetent referee and VAR. Great football, superb performance from our playing XI and some good managerial piece from Mikel.
This loss doesn’t matter if we get back to what we were doing, beat Brentford next weekend and show up for a fight against City. I don’t wanna jinx it but City are losing to Spu*s as of now, and I hate to say it but it would be a great result for us.
Lets keep our chin up, lets go into the next game with confidence and get back to winning ways. We are behind our team in the best and worst of days. Onwards and Upwards! #COYG
Hate to admit but cough, cough *** was routing for the Sp*ds and the London Is Red power was felt strongly.
Finally Jakub had to be quickly tried in the midfield so we dint get bullied.
Bigger picture, 5 point gap, game in hand. As long as we learn from it, no harm done.
I won’t go as far as to admit backing Spuds but found their victory less irritating than usual.
Kane’s just a less successful version of Steve Bull.
very fortuitous outcome considering the tactical naivety displayed by our manager versus Everton…Pep was likewise poor when it came to the selection process today, unless DeBruyne has a niggling injury I’m unaware of, as Silva in the middle of the pitch is nowhere near a like-for-like replacement…he probably should have had Silva and DeBruyne taking up central positions, which would have given his wide side players more space and time to maneuver…maybe Pep should look at some MA tape from 18 months ago, when our gameplan was simply to bomb crosses into the box ad nauseum from wide spaces…the fact that Haaland didn’t have a single touch in the Spurs box is on the manager, much like when Auba was left without any service in the final third…happy that our point advantage remains the same, but I would much rather be 8 up with a game in hand, especially knowing that United is on a heater and their next 2 matches are against a rather anemic Leeds
Trvl, we’d all rather have a larger points gap between us and City, but 5 with a game in hand isn’t bad at all.
Our gameplay, even a year ago, was uninspiring, it’s better now. Tets played what would be most people’s starting 11, it didn’t work. I think there was scope for some variation with the subs but the label of tactical naivety is probably overstating it.
I think we still have grounds for optimism.
Aitcho—I think you mistake my criticism for disdain…let’s be frank, everyone and their brother knew what was likely on offer with a struggling Everton side and Dyche now at the helm…as such, I wasn’t surprised whatsoever that we failed to pot a goal in the first half, which is why I stated that this would likely be the case in my pre-match predictions…that said, I felt that this match would be decided by our manager’s ability or inability to make the necessary half-time adjustments, especially once it was determined that Dyche woudl adopt a 4-5-1 over his preferred 4-4-2
instead of bringing in Trossard for Xhaka, thus comlicated matters for Everton’s defence on the left flank, he chose instead to take Marts out, which meant we lost some speed and width out wide and that either Xhaka had to get out in wider channels at times or Zinchenko would need to be even more aggressive after already playing almost 70 minutes…likewise he removed Partey for Jorginho, which introduced the world to one of the slowest midfield tandems in club history…hardly the answer to a midfield that had already been overrun by Everton, when on the counter, on numerous occasions
if he was going to shoehorn Jorginho into this affair regardless of whether it made tactical sense, due to obvious assurances, I would rather he had left Partey in and shifted into a 4-2-3-1…this way we could have invited more pressure, as our overwhelming possession numbers proved to be of little consequence, and then used the double-pivot of Partey and Jorginho to try and catch them on the counter
of course, Partey might have been told from the get-go that he was only playing 60+ minutes, due to his previous rib injury, but nothing was said in this regards in the post-match pressers…it’s my belief that MA had a pre-match tactical/selection script and that nothing was going to derail his plans, even if the match demanded that he have a bit of a rethink…this is why I have no qualms whatsoever in my usage of the word “naivety”…if you can’t experiment with a 5 point lead, against the most anemic opposition in the League, when exactly are you willing to do so?? developing a viable Plan B is vitally important when Plan A is falling flat and/or when nerves take hold in the final month or so…Cheers
mistook & would
I can’t remember ever feeling any kind of gratitude to Spuds and Kane in particular, but I confess I joined the Gooners willing a City loss at the toilet bowl.
Our collective faith was pitied by the football gods enough to squeeze a win for an absent Conte who has undergone gallbladder surgery and a wig realignment if some reports are true. Whatever the reason we can’t let Conte be absent again because Spuds play better. A Conte using both hands in Emu impersonations on the touchline at the ref or anyone who will listen is too confusing for his troglodyte players . Rod Hull would be jealous of Conte’s ambidextrousness although I have to admit it’s rather extraordinary.
Bottom line is get Conte back on the touchline. What banter it would be to have someone put an Emu puppet in the Spud’s dugout.
My happiness for Pep this morning knows no bounds. Little polished cue-ball head must be sore from so much rubbing on the touchline and in life generally. Be funny if the rubbing and stress combo started his hair growing again. Pep could suit a variety of syrups as illustrated here:
https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/5-high-quality-wigs-pep-guardiola-could-use-to-unsuccessfully-hide-his-baldness-127803
How 24 hours of hind sight can change one’s feelings from being concerned at the way we capitulated against Everton and addressing those concerns here’re to talking absolute bollocks with delirious happiness at City’s expense.
Arteta has more lives than Pumpkin. Getting close to Guinness Book of Records the times Arteta has survived his complete shite selections, playing pets and ridiculous game preparations. Make no mistake the Everton loss was 100% on Arteta & Edu.
White is going missing at the wrong time; is the title charge pressure too much for the football disliking snowflake with the artistic skin and runway style socks than trying to imitate a decent RB for 90+ minutes again.
How long hasWhite been with us?
Arteta still doesn’t understand that white is an aerially & starting speed challenged CB or at a push a DM, but we have Jacob now, so White is looking to be our £50m+++ utility back up player Arteta will feel proud of because he’s matching Pep’s elite priced galaticaos on his bench. Except Pep doesn’t have snowflakes on his bench who are too easily wound up to losing concentration.
Sell White back to Brighton and get Caicedo and Mitoma in the process while not blinking once during the negotiations. If Garlick can’t do that get Tom Hardy to deputies for Garlick. Would be an interesting Bloom v Hardy poker game and potential movie.
Almuniaisnomore? Hope you’re well would the above get any juices going for satirical poker game with players being the pot?
Ok, so that’s my ramblings for today. Can’t think that I’ve offended anyone other than LG and White’s relatives, but the truth always hurts.
This is a one-time thing Spuds’ fans, but thank you for last night now fuck off!!!! Fcuk that was a painful thank you.
Have a good week 🙂
So, it’s as you were then with Spuds and Manure adding points, but not too much of a concern right now.
18 cup finals to go starting with Brentford at home Saturday and Emery v Pep Sunday.
Preach Tony…just think back to the time of his purchase and think of all the presently top-rated RBs we could have purchased for far less than the 55+M we paid for the 3rd best defender on BHA…all of those other possibilities have likewise dramatically increased their respective market values in the meantime…all this confirms is that there was no “definitive” plan involving Saliba or why would you pay well above the number for someone, who they claimed would be our long-passing upgrade to the well-past-his-prime David Luiz, if you were planning on having Saliba replace him the following year…I must admit, even though it might not ultimately matter, I just never got over the fact that he’s not a fan of the very sport he actually plays…I just have to think it matters when it comes to his ability to fully comprehend and embrace the more nuanced components of this oft-times high-paced sport…just not a foxhole guy in my estimation
Although still expensive as IEMs go, these are by far leading the way with 16 drivers in each ear. Jerry Harvey’s story is an interesting one to read about. If you travel then a custom built Sarona sits in your ears in sync with your own ear shape delivering sound like you’ve never experienced from IEM or OEM for that matter. Add a similar level or better DAC and you’re done.
I’ve had Layas for a decade but will now upgrade. On long plane journeys or any long periods of inactivity Sharona IEMs will take you to where ever you want to go.
https://jhaudio.com/iem/JHA-CIEM-SHA
https://headfonics.com/jh-audio-sharona-review/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11717857/Manchester-City-CHARGED-Premier-League-numerous-breaches-financial-rules.html
Looks like Xmas is coming early for us. Points loss or expulsion? Expulsion from what the CL? If so, I’d prefer the points loss and let them play in the CL as it would hand us the tile. I mean not even Arteta could fcuk up a say a PL 10-point deduction and adding our current position, could he?
Now we know why City have dipped so bad with the potential of being guilty of 100+ offenses has been dogging the club.
It’s about time City faced their crimes where I can see Pep leaving if he has no money to spend. Pep sans cheque book can’t work. Would also be great if City had to have a player first sale to increase liquidity.
Ted B must be at his FFP limit for the Chavs and Fenway don’t want to commit being up for sale. Leaves Manure and us as the Spuds are for sale with Conte dithering singing should I go or should I stay?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMaE6toi4mk
For you K’Phobe 🙂
Should we add Haarland, Grealish and Bernardo Silva to our summer shopping list as Mikel seems to get access?
I love the Clash Tony, thanks. I think that song – and the Clash’s third Sandinista album – were prime factors in my wanting to learn Spanish and get a sense of what Joe, Mick, Paul and Topper meant when they were talking about Latin America and Spain in their songs. It all had a massive effect on my life and still does. They were terrific and that song of their’s, Garage Band, was almost like the band’s autobiography.
I enjoyed your treatise on wigs/rugs /syrups – merkins always raise a giggle too. Check this be-touppe’ed arsehole out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fabricant
As Eric Morecambe used to say, ‘you can’t see the join’. Except in this geezer’s case. A Tory MP who really really wants to be taken seriously and with sincerity but who covers up his baldness. What a twat.
That enduring tale of Man City corruption. Points or expulsion? I’ll believe it when I see it. The people running the PL love filthy lucre and I doubt they be plucking the oil soaked goose that is laying their golden egg.
Heard an interesting stat at the weekend. 70-75% of ALL money spent in the world on football rights goes on PL football. What will the PL do if Citeh’s dodgy owners up stick and buy Clubs in other leagues?
https://youtu.be/LSrgRKVdDDc
Sorry. Track is called Garageland.
Just watched that clip. Wow – the fucking energy and anger. I always felt an affinity of sorts with Joe Strummer because his dad did the same job as me (ie diplomatic service). It possibly helped to explain why he was so militant and anti establishment. Life in Embassies overseas was really stale and restrictive unless you could get ‘off campus’ when, with a bit of imagination and risk-taking you could experience a lot more. I think JS’s dad was in Turkey.
Hi Ambarish
I think your write up post-Everton is a little too charitable. After the game, I said this defeat bore all the hallmarks of a typical, dare I say, classic Arteta led setback. And my opinion hasn’t mellowed. City did an ‘Arsenal’ insofar as they fucked up the chance to make progress against rivals (for that we must thank legendary lisping AFC star of old Sir Harold Kane) but that’s no excuse for the clueless, hapless, spineless and gormless tactics from Arteta. Come what may this season, I’d still be happy if we won the title and Tets listened to the little boy inside and buggered off to Catalunya. Getting found out by a leading football brain like Dyche is a real no-no. Goodison looks and feels a little like the old Highbury (but nowhere near as pretty). Most agree that we weren’t going to win after 5 minutes. Unmown pitch or not, our sheer force of will and swagger meant we should have started like a train and been well ahead after 30 minutes. I’ve no proof for this but I sense Arteta has a sentimental sweet tooth for the Toffees. Horrible little man loves horrible little club. He was even slightly more docile and polite on the touchline.
Not a derailment by any stretch but anything else than 3 points at home to Brentford could cause panic among the fanboys.
This whole thing about City and points deduction or relegation for me is more about the PL trying to show the government it can self govern the league and there is no need for an independent Football Regulator to be appointed. White papers were leaked but they were to be released today, now with this action by the PL release has been delayed. Fuck this diddling by the different parties and fight for the pie slices. Get ready for a lengthy court battle.
On another note since several clubs have difficulties in the midfield expect a massive bid for Declan in the summer TW. This would be a good time to get your ducks lined up for 2nd and 3rd choice, but then we all know how this can end judging from the past two Jan TWs.
Further regarding that City allegations what people need to understand is the scale of what the whole of English football is up against. This is not a club. And it’s not a business or billionaires. This is a whole country. A country that sees sports washing as a central tool for their foreign policy, their defense and their business relations. This has absolutely nothing to do with football other than that it is a tool to achieve their goals.
They will pull any levers at their disposal. Activate any political contacts they have. And once that happens, I see barely any chance for English football to win this thing. They are outmatched. They lost this fight the second they allowed sports washing into the league. Now far too many people depend on the money, the power structure and all other things Abu Dhabi brings to the table.