It has turned out to be such a strange season, that even after we playing at our best, beating teams for fun, winning at shite hart lane, keeping clean sheets more than any other teams, scoring more than anyone else – we are going to end up second! Man City just can’t lose can they?
Fulham can do us a favor, they can restrict Pep to a draw or win against them. I have zero confidence in Tottenham beating City and West Ham can’t go through them on the last day at Etihad. If something can happen, it’s today. Lets hope the gods favors us and Fulham and we get to see for once the sad face of Pep Guardiola. We have one of ours play for Fulham, Bernd Leno, who has promised that he will give his 100% to stop our competition.
There has been some happenings while I was missing. Jorginho signed the contract for another year, Mikel was full of praise for him and it basically confirms it’s time for Thomas Partey to go. I don’t believe Mikel wants to keep two 35 year olds to fight for one place when Declan Rice is a starter. If I was you Mikel, I would sell Thomas for whatever money we can get, and go into the market for a DM understudy to Rice/Jorginho.
Bayern did us dirty in the quarters. Saka was denied a clear penalty. Harry Kane got away with an elbow on Gabriel which should have been red. They weren’t so furious then about refereeing, but when it happened to them against Madrid when the offside whistle was blown a bit too early, all hell broke loose. Mr Tuchel, Karma is a bitch.
Next year’s kit has been leaked, and I am disappointed to say the least. Last season was best of Adidas, both Red and White, and the black ones were great. This season, the third kit was a standout and home one was fine too. I think I might skip the next season’s if the leaks are true.
A belated Happy Birthday to Dennis Bergkamp, you happened when I was playing cricket as 10 year old but looking back, I would have loved to see you play live. A gentlemen, a magician, red through and through.
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Fabrizio reported that we are monitoring the young 18 year old Ajax centre back Jorrel Hato. He has a deal till 2028 and he will be an investment for the future. We most certainly need a third regular CB to rotate with Saliba and Gabriel without hampering our game play. White/Tomi are CB but we haven’t seen them play there, and we don’t know if they will turn out to be equally good. If it costs us 10 odd million, I would say go for it.
Sacking news have started about Pochettino. He talked about an interview, the content doesn’t really matter but if the manager comes out and talks about it, either he is fearful he will be sacked, or he knows he will. Chelsea has just moved from a billionaire russian who managed to win things to a billionaire american who can’t make things happen. Loving it.
Right, and Ten Hag just can’t stop talking about us can he?
Hoopah,
Much credit to the owners who have been patient and wise. Not so much for spending, as they were trying to turn around a failing business that was in Europa league, with a champions league wage bill.
That was just owners as business men, being practical.
They knew that continued failure could lead us to midtable, many years of irrelevance or worse.
They made a choice in Arteta that has clearly been a winner. Every team in the world is tracking Arteta.
Even his assistants will become wanted by other clubs, and we’ll lose some of them because clubs will want some of the Arteta philosophy.
Ridiculous gooners that wanted him out will always have to wear that shame as his career progresses.
The City charges will not go away as pundits are bringing it up with regularity, plus didn’t the government consider to have a person monitoring PL activity as well as being determined to make sure that no ESL repeat will be there in the future. The papers report that an October date has been set for hearings with perhaps a 2025 decision.
Cheeky sod Spud fans on my various football related WhatsApp groups offering up tix at under FV to any interested gooners. They really do mean this not wanting to win bullshit, I thought I was just lol-age on their part at first.
Signed up for an 8 a side at The Hub this eve to to ensure I wasn’t sucked in, commitments come first. I’ve no doubt staff there will be keeping tabs as we play and any good news will filter across to the pitch.
For the first and last time, Come On You Spurs!
Aitcho
Sky have interviewed a few fans outside the ground and they were more interested in getting 4th than worrying what we do. They don’t want us to win it but they don’t want to cut their noses off to spite their faces.
Difference between fans who attend and fans giving it large on the internet.
I should point out that if City get 2 goal in front I’m changing the channel.
I turned over once Liverpool went 2-1 up last night so I’ll be ready to clutch at any straws I can find.
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING MARIS PIPERS!
Jack D,
In fairness, early days of Tets were grim. The football got worse while he learnt on the job or at least refined his strategy along the way. People wanting him out then is understandable.
It took a lot of nerve to keep him after we dropped out of Europe but perhaps that season of effective downtime ended up being useful. Take a step back to move forwards, etc.
People still wanting him out now is plain bone headed.
Spurs don’t exactly look keen to compete at the moment
People still wanting him out now is plain bone headed
Hi Aitcho
With a philosophy like that, how the actual fuck did you get censored on Le Grove (RIP).
Asking for a bone-headed friend.
Minute watch 26 and counting… Very nervously.
Mate
Being pro Arteta in that way suggests you’re taking this Spurs supporting malarkey a little too seriously… It’s only til 10 pm tonight right?
with Spurs working hard who will tire first? Will Pep unleash Grealish in the second half?
KP—in related news, I just kicked myself out of my own house and I’ll not heistate to call the authorities if I find myself on the premises again
this has been a good watch…it’s clear that the Spurs have come to get a result, just not sure if they can provide 90+ minutes of that sort of effort…an outstanding performance from their Keeper could help immeasurably, as he’s already turned away what should have been a goal by Foden
I’d gladly swap my panini sticker of Arteta by the way for one of the following
Klopp
Amorim
Gasperini
Patrick Vieira
And, err, Neil Warnock.
I sense from the crowd reaction that even Spud fans are changing their tune about getting a result.
Fuck’s sake
Spurs are even more pissy abouty at the back(y) than we are.
Kroenke
Tony Pulis
Fat Sam
Arry Redknapp
The list is endless!
as I’ve said all along, if you have the courage and tactical know-how, City can be had if you counter with pace and numbers…several times already the Spuds should have produced something on the break but they were always stymied by their poor first pass…it’s highly unlikely that you will ever dispose of City with a poor man’s version, which is why MA was all gaga over our late season draw, so if we want to topple Pep we need to adopt the kind of tactics that he’s been known to struggle against
I don’t know about any of you but I’ve got this growing fascination with numbers as the season has gone on. Counting down the seconds in my mind as we defend leads, working out percentages as to how long is left in the game, guessing added time etc.
I really hate but cannot stop watching games these days and doing mental arithmetic. It really puts the khybosh on enjoying games, esp the second halves. I think this one could be the same. I think our N London ‘friends’ š¤®š¤®š¤®aren’t doing too badly.
Spurs need a win (not a draw) to stay in CL contention right? That worries me because they could go gung-ho and get fucked on the break.
If Panini did Pokemon shit, I’d even take that little bastard Picachu. š„š„š„
When I find the cunt who decided that fannying about at the back making 6 passes in your own box with 5 opposition players closing you down is a really great tactic I’m going to hurt them.
Looked off to me.
Ortega saved that with the backside of his fucking ball sack
you can tell that Pep doesn’t have the same confidence in this side as one’s in the past…that said, the Spurs don’t look like a side needing 2 goals to keep their CL dreams alive
Holy Fuck, what a missed chance for Son!!!
I think Ederson might have coldcocked Pep if Ortega had been scored on, regardless of the mitigating circumstances
that should just about put an end to this one…maybe we can hope that the Hammers put on a clinic for their outgoing manager this weekend
I’m not surprised that City came out on top, but it certainly wasn’t a given until the penalty late-on
the fat lady has sung yet, as anything can happen, but history suggests that whomever is sitting atop the standings going into the final weekend always wins the title…that said, there’s a first time for everything
hasn’t sung…too many midday hash bots
TRVL
Mate its over City will put 5 past West Ham.
Marc-it was the hash talking
Morning all
Was the outcome really in any doubt bar wishful thinking? Spuds played better against City than they did against us where losing by 2 goals was the right result.
Watching the game this morning I got the chance to watch Foden, and was amazed to see how high his work rate output was particularly pressing and intelligent space marking off the ball. The lad is perpetual motion and rarely injured, and I wondered who is the better player: our Saka or Foden? Rodri is better than our Saliba, but Willie S does have Rodri’s potential.
Any thoughts?
Spurs tried hard, but ultimately the task was too difficult. City will lift their 4th trophy in a row even though they were without KDB for much of their earlier season who they really missed. Even if Edison and KDB are missing for their last home game against the Hammers, no way they drop points at the Etihad. As Marc suggest City will want to turn it on for their fans.
Kilroy
I’d forgotten what you reminded us about re the FFP charges against City. Let’s hope it pans out that way.
LIR
Time for El B to forget the winning vision he sees in his galaxy brain for this season. Blind PMA rarely gets results. Cancel the bust tour unless 2nd is a trophy…….. Reality check says that to some fans, they will see it that way. This poster doesn’t.
Did we play better than last season? At times, yes, as with our run in. El B lacks consistency or the ability to change games in the way Pep does. It’s not the players, it’s EL B’s trust paranoia issues.
El B is a flawed manager. Capable of putting a squad together that should have won the last 2 PL seasons, but not creating a squad who can seamlessly fit together in different combinations; El B keeps to about 14 players. The rest have little chance of game time – only in emergencies, such as when El B has no clue what to do, which is in most games with his general lack of in-game management nous.
As with the clock analogy, El B does get it right occasionally, but clearly not enough to win the PL.
Our nearly-but-not-quite manager will only see success from this season: drawing on the positives and forgetting the negatives where he’ll end up making the same negative mistakes next season, as is his way. Facts are facts if you want to look at the finishing stats and points dropped through repeated mistakes.
Are these thoughts in your minds, too, LIR?
Can El B be consistent throughout a season?
Can El B improve game intelligence with game changing in-game management when needed?
Can El be get past his trust issues and rotate the full squad in the way winning managers do, such as Klopp and Pep in the PL?
Can El B get the summer’s incoming TW buys right?
Can we sell our dead wood on silly money?
Can Havertz score 20+ goals with 8 assists next season?
Just some of the questions we’ll need positive answers for if we are to win the PL next season. I’m sure you’ll all have others?
Come on you irons – give your departing manager a magnificent send off.
Spurs are where they ought to be – Thursday night football for them.
Hi Tony
This might cure your fondness for that racist shit bag Eric von Clapton. Turns out he’s a bin dipper!
https://guitar.com/news/music-news/eric-clapton-booed-for-jurgen-klopp-tribute-at-liverpool-concert/
Hi NORG
Yes, we might as well be optimistic. Moyes with his northern English football connections plus his enjoyment of dogged attritional football might fancy trying to eke out a result in his Hammers swansong.
I wonder too if there might be a Gooner chef in some swanky Manc hotel ready to doctor the City lasagne or sheep’s eyes fricassee (sp?).
Might as well defer the Inevitable for a few more days.
I’ve always hated Son. A snidey two faced fucker who’s conned refs for years. That chance late on was easier to miss than score. I hate him even more now.
Tony
I’m mentally still mired in this campaign (at leat ’til Sunday) but I’ll give your questions some thoughts.
Even if they don’t actually press any buttons, the Kroenkes must surely be asking themselves how much more money they need to give Arteta and whether there’s another manager who could deliver without too many more tweaks to the squad.
Given that he has had Arteta firmly in his pocket since leaving Arsenal, Emery ought to have a good shout to be named manager of the year.
KP sadly my cooking skills are not up to sneaking in the back door of their training ground with a lasagne that has been maturing for 100days in an ambient temperature. The maggots will provide added protein.
Some players avoid protein and carbs for 24hours before a game. In the early nineties I managed three sites and one was in Trafford Park – round the corner from Old Toilet. I spent 2 or 3 days a week there as it was undergoing major re-devolopment. I stayed at the Novotel, Worsley – as did the player United had recently signed from Leeds. Eric didnt mind the Novotel decor which is the same the world over and they had converted adjoining rooms for him. The manager was French and so was the chef – and he enjoyed the special treatment. The night before a game his evening meal was a huge mixing bowl full of green salad – dressed. No tomatoes or onions. I can remember him returning from a mid week game away to Norwich. The team arrived back at Manchester airport and an awaiting taxi whisked him to the hotel – he arrived at 11.30ish – the chef was on standby to cook a steak with all the trimmings – washed down with two pints of the lager he went on to advertise – it is his favourite.
Norg,
Yes, I’m now come on you irons, no caps, no exclamations marks. Accepting reality.
Those Ashburton Army goons letting off fireworks at the ManC hotel would have been better advised sneaking into the kitchen.
I hope Chelsea and Newcs both win good this eve and pip Spuds for even Conference spots. Teach them a bloody lesson.