I am not really a fan of Mikel’s animated behaviour at the touchline. Arsene Wenger ruined us all with his perfect fit suits and the red tie, and used to be the calm and composed figure on the touchline. Arteta on the other hand, is totally opposite to that. Micromanagement often ends with the shouting on the touchline and trying to control every aspect of the game from the manager box.
At times, it’s frustrating to watch that but it wasn’t last night. You know why? Because Klopp isn’t a messiah and he has done the same to us at Anfield. You get what you deserve.
Does this look familiar?
I am sure Jamie Carraghar loved it when we lost at Anfield and Klopp did it for 15 minutes. Though, he is having a mental breakdown on Twitter now because Arteta did the same and because Martin Odegaard, a 25 year old decided to click a picture of a staff who has supported the club before he was born. After a WIN. At HOME. As a COURTESY.
So, yeah. Both Jamie and Klopp can fuck off because what goes around comes around.
Right, just wanted to get that off my chest first. If you want to have a laugh, don’t forget to check you know who on Twitter.
3-1 against Liverpool is always a thing to celebrate. Even after a loss, they still top the table so it’s not like we are beating a 11th position Chelsea (lol).
The first half was our usual self. We started well, scored one and then missed a few. A messy own goal made it 1-1 and some of us thought it’s going to be the same old story where we are going to regret the missed chances and the goal we gave. However, Martinelli forced an error out of VVD and Alisson and Trossard came from the bench to score another one.
Win keeps us in the title race. City has played 2 less games and of course they will make life tough for everyone else. There’s going to be 15 very important weeks for our lads, and there will be slip ups. Aston Villa / Tottenham are going to create problem, Man United is picking up their form, West Ham / Brighton can win against any opposition on their day.
The winner is going to be decided by ‘who manages the least fuck ups’.
Tomorrow’s team talk in 4 words.
Identical performance as Sunday!
You just know it’ll be ever so slightly more verbose than that.
all this MA chatter regarding Mbappe is so ridiculous for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is what we would have to pay him considering the ludicrous weekly wage we’re currently gfiting the likes of Havertz…based on that as a comp, Mbappe would be worth close to 2million/week…maybe MA’s borrowing a page from Wenger’s book, but instead of spouting off about who we could have gotten after the fact, MA’s doing it preemptively figuring that it’s so far-fetched that no one will hold his hand to the fire when it doesn’t materialize
Darren Bent spoke of how he would give up both Jesus and Saka or Ode if it allowed us to secure Mbappe’s signing, which makes no sense whatsoever, as why would KM even contemplate such a move if it meant that the lineup around him would be greatly depleted…now I’m actually disappointed in myself for even engaging in such obvious nonsense
TRVL
From what I heard Arteta was asked the question rather than pushing the idea – what you never know with Arteta is was he taking the piss out of the journalist by engaging or did his ego slip until with “I must have him”.
Marc-I knew full-well that the conversation didn’t originate from MA, but the vast majority of top-shelf managers, of which he’s not, would never engage in such speculative banter, as they would be cognizant of the fact that anything they said would take on a life of it’s own…he could have simply stated that anyone in their right mind would love to have such a talented player on their respective roster, but that his focus right now was squarely on the players in his locker room…it’s clear he did this for clicks, as he knew anything related to Mbappe, especially following the players comments regarding his future, would draw considerable eyes and ears…I might think differently if MA had lured other non-English world class readymade players to the Emirates, but so far he’s spent a shitload of money on those with very few suitors, who likewise weren’t remotely in the same class as Mbappe…in fact, he’s paid well above the number for literally every single recruit minus maybe Tross, due to the circumstances regarding his “forced” move out of BHA
Arteta and Mbappe probably deserve each other. By contrast, we deserve neither of them…
Were it ever to happen at any point (very unlikely I know), we could rename him Mesut Mbappe in advance of the millions paid to him and the missed away games up north. There was a picture of him (Mbappe) in yesterday’s Guardian that piqued my interest. With both hands raised above his head with elbows bent, it looked like a classic attempt at what Cardiff fans call ‘doing the ayatollah’ in honour of erstwhile owner Sam Hammam (and which is still a favourite of Bluebirds fans to this very day) . Mbappe at Cardiff City…. Now that would be something.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/16/arsenal-kylian-mbappe-mikel-arteta
Mbappe doing the ayatollah… Or is the the ayatollah doing the Mbappe?
I saw the Mbappe click bait and decided it didn’t warrant further investigation. What did pique my interest are the numerous internet stories featuring our buying Toney.
If this story has legs, why didn’t we buy him 2 weeks ago. We’re in a rich vein of goal scoring form at the moment, but we’ve been here before, haven’t we?
Burnley tonight should be a shooting fish in a barrel goal fest, except it could be the kind of banana skin that befalls us after being on irresistible form.
I see us scraping a nervy barrel for the 3 points we’ll need to keep up with the pack.
The 6 nations trip to Murray Field is always difficult for me having been born in Edinburgh and lived in London. Glass half full means I can’t really lose.
I’ll drop my sassanack leanings and follow my braveheart warrior young Scot’s new gathering of the Dodi Wier elite in the making levels.
Wins for Ireland and Scotland for me.
KP do you have the same allegiance issues when Wales play England?
Burnley keep Pool on the back foot for much of the first 18 minutes
Keeping *
Pool keeping the pressure on us and City. Nothing less than 3 points is acceptable.
Kiwior thankfully getting the nod but ESR on the bench for the elusive Havertz who has much speculation about be sold. Shop window shit.
Thank you Ode now let’s get another 6
Great half volley
stellar strike from Ode ro put us up early but some sloppiness set in shortly thereafter…Burnley gifted us several chances, due to our pressing, but we didn’t make good on any of them…how Tross just missed that grade A chance is beyond me
if we don’t going into half up 2 or 3 it would be bloddy shameful
2-0
Penalty by Saka.Goalkeeper guessed right ,but had pace so went in
(bloody not bloddy)
Saka was very fortunate…a better Keeper would have parried that away
Burnley are a bottom-feeder club, in the truest sense of the word…if anyone finishes below them, they should be sent two divisions down…frankly I’m quite disappointed by what Kompany has done with this promoted side…obviously I knew they would struggle, but I didn’t expect them to look so unfinished and pedestrian on the pitch
unpolished
Prosaic but enough so far against Clarets team that can barely string three passes together. Is Kompany banned or ill or something? Good to see Bellers (Craig Bellamy – a massive Cardiff hero) calling the shots on their touchline instead.
Maintain control, possession and keep stretching them and creating chances.
Spuds losing, 😊.
it’s quite obvious that my lack of sleep, following my blueberry hash strips discovery last evening, has negatively impacted my ability to post things properly the first time…here goes nothing
just realised the rugby is the 24th. lol. Still the points should be safe now and just the Barcodes to scalp and we’re 9 for 9 as we expected.
Hi Tony
I think that Scotland v England game next week will be very close. If the weather isn’t too awful, I think the whites will just scrape through. Scotland were fucking robbed against les Francais. A embarrassment for the officials. Wales rugby team is meh for me.
Vieira
Blueberry hash strips sound fantastic. Cake? Candy? Or just some good old draw?
What a strike from Saka
just a blueberry scented blend cut into perforated strips for rolling purposes…I just didn’t realize how dense they were until I was 3 strips deep…live and learn
we could quite easily be up by 6 or 7…MA couldn’t have wished for a better run of matches following our embarassingly quiet window
Kiwior channelling his inner Papasok our Greek wrestler sorry defender.
ESR on for Havertz please
Tony-I’ve been reading far more about the Kirkzee kid from Bologna, as he’s a much less expensive option than the likes of Toney or Osimhen…I’ve now watched him a handful of times and although I’ve been rather impressed with his on the ball work, not sure he’s the answer from a scoring standpoint…not to mention, whenever someone rises to the occasion in the Serie A, they very rarely find their way abroad, as usually Juve or one of the Milans will find a way to secure their services…far more concerning is all the chatter about the possibility of either Marts or Saka being sold off
What is El B. looking worried about ?
Even as Saka scores a peach.. worried about Jover being in front today ,directing moves ?
finally Tross pots one of the half dozen chances he’s been gifted
Cedric again el bastardo being el cunty again.
can’t imagine why MA needed to wait until a 4th was scored (or the 70th minute) before making a handful of changes
4-0
No chance of substitution ,the accidental feint by Havertz before Tossard scores off the pass… Havertz is beholden. So same of last time ,guess and Martinelli out
somehow Havertz survives the culling once again…how shocking
Make this very poor
If Havertz scores that underscores just how bad Burnley are.
Havertz is so ignorable and anonimos for opposing teams everyone forgot to check he was offside for his goal
ESR coming in sharp. Does appear he had a bad ankle injury last week
we have had some real laughers again this year when it seems like our opponents haven’t come to play…I just can’t remember seeing other teams getting these kind of “gimmes” so often…it’s one thing when you dominate an opponent, but most of these are littered with self-inflicted wounds, that lead to wide open chances, and no attempt to seriously push for goals…certainly not complaning from a standings point of view, but I’m not sure if it ultimately helps us when the oppsition actually show up to play