The Em’ Curse!

Marc—it’s so that Rice can go hunting, which seems to wrongly infer that he’s a more natural goalscorer than Marts

decent play by Havertz to set up the break, but in the end it just highlighted Kai’s negative vertical and Rice’s inability to strike a ball when his feet aren’t firmly planted

Are we trying to physically bully Villa?

How did he miss that?

maybe Watkins was simply paying homage to our Striking core…he could well be MA’s first choice option for a late window buy

Amabarish—our gameplan looks similar to the one against City late last season…Rice is as much an 8 as Havertz is a 9 and Merino is a 6, yet that could very much be our future…even Wenger wouldn’t shoehorn that much, which just goes to show the level of MA’s God complex

I get all the talk about Rice playing in more advanced spaces for the national side, as that would allow Jude to play more as a second striker, along side or just behind Kane…in our case, we should be looking for someone who actually has goals in their boots, to supplement the fact that we don’t have a clinical finisher up top…if you keep settling for lesser options in key positions, it will generally come back to haunt you

I feel for Marts…we’re so disbalanced up top that sometimes the only other player on his side of the pitch is Rice, who never makes dummy runs, as he still has defensively responsibilities

defensive

TRVL

Agree on Martinelli and from what I’ve seen today Timber is not going to work as a LB from an attacking point of view. He cannot offer any form of overlap making Martinelli easy to play against.

I’d say both teams look a little off the pace needing to shake off close season but you can see already that Villa are going to be a threat to any team they play.

We’re seriously lucky not to be a goal down.

It’s a chess game where neither side is having any dominance. Emery nullifying us but not being able to take advantage of and short spells of control.

Certainly a draw for the first half, let’s hope we can up our game for the 2nd half depending on what Unai instructs his players to do.

Partey looking good at 6.

We look bereft of ideas like last week and last season. It’s right side centric with little balance to our left leaving Marts frustrated as my posts all week have said.

One real shot from Saka his trademark cut in where Emi was up to the task.

Same shit different day we’d say in the UK. Huffing and puffing, but Villa knows our moves and frustrate us, so we need something different.

Right now, I’d say either side can go one to win it with a piece of magic. The smart money would be on Watkins, but we have trusty Havertz to pull one out of nowhere for us or Eddie just in case……

Still sticking to a draw but hope for the win….

Unfortunately it’s 12:40am and the game is so sterile it’s hard to keep awake especially as i’m still recovering from the virus. I’ll watch the 2nd half in the morning.

That’s two weeks running Raya’s pulled off a world class save.

We could easily be 2 nil down.

Watkins again
That header could have away from GK
Emery might take him off

Tony—it’s the middle of the day here and I’m still thinking about having a snooze

this still has the feel of a Villa friendly affair…if we’re so good why don’t we ever seem to impose our will on sides that matter

looks like Unai’s going to make the first move

Villa has stopped committing bodies forward and waiting for a counter.. That’s a dangerous thing because we don’t know what to do with the ball if we can’t draw opposition to us and put more bodies in the final third ourselves.. We are out-numbered in their half.

Ambarish—it’s not the amount of bodies, as we have plenty in their final third, it’s who those bodies are…good on Tross to captialize on a lucky bounce

Finally El B got a one up on Emery.
Saka gave assists in both.
Saka , like Palmer can change a game by himself.
Of course Tossard strike was pure good fortune

looks like my two goal prediction could pan out…might even be more…just didn’t like how Villa looked last week and they aren’t very crisp this evening either…it’s not as if they haven’t had their chances

Saliba is a tracking giant

keyystone cops time for Bailey and Duran

keystone

An away win, clean sheet, 6 points in 6 till now. I would take thatany day.

Tossard would not celebrate. Was he at Vila any time ?

Hoopah–that was just him posturing for all the fans who think he should be in the starting 11

always good to get 3 points…we need to keep racking them up as there’s a lot of unsettled and bang average teams we should feast on in the PL right now

Morning all. TRVL made me laugh wanting a snooze.

It says something when I watch 2.5 games and enjoyed the BHA v Manure game the most because the Mancs lost. City adding Ilkay back to the squad in double quick time just adds to their strength in numbers of elite players.

The first half bored me almost to tears. I watched the 2nd half from Match of the Day this morning where it looks like we got lucky Villa didn’t take their chances, and where Raya is actually showing some keeping class looking at least as good as Emi.

We broke our curse, Ambarish. You and TRVL were right to call the win, but we looked poor and unbalanced again. Our left side is porous even with Timber and Rice defending and attacking. Their walkabouts leave us exposed and marts with no-one to create triangle movements as we do with Saka.

We only use our left side when we have no other choice because centrally with Havertz we were grossly ineffective.

Havertz stats.

Fouled once so not really in the game or defenders would be kicking lumps out of him.

22 passes completing 20 @ 90%

Lost possession 5 times

1 tackle made successfully while committing 4 fouls.

Our striker had ZERO attempts on goal where if I were him on the above display, I’d be embarrassed to collect my salary.

We are a right sided one trick pony and boring to watch because nothing changes where yesterdays game could easily have gone the other way with 2:0 to Villa: they just didn’t take their chances.

This is not a title winning side playing like one. We are basically Groundhog Day once again where El B have no new ideas tactically, just more of the same from last season.

While is looking more like the CB he is up top and Rice is never an 8 or should be in the final 3rd. That should be left to Havertz who by the way El B plays Rice he clearly doesn’t trust Havertz to way in with goals and and or assists each game.

So, what does Havertz really do in a game now he’s our 9?

Not a lot by the above stats.

VO and Eze anyone? They are the missing pieces I’ve continually banged on about.

5 days to go before the window shuts and we’ll land Merino no one wants but still got squeezed on price because it looks like we don’t bother with leverage it’s too passe for El B and our player recruitment team if we can call them that.

On balance of the opening 2 games we do not look anything like a title winning side where so far all the top 8 sides are looking stronger than in previous seasons.

Don’t get me wrong I’m happy for the win and 3 points but it’s a long season and already we are playing boring football that lost us the title for the last 2 seasons.

Only one man to blame, so take a bow, El B, and let’s hope this is your last season with us, because this supporter of 60 years only sees deja vu once again with a manager bereft of ideas getting lucky wins even against Wolves we could have lost , same as yesterday where Unai was rueing glaring missed chances.

Other top 8 sides and sometimes those below will certainly be taking their chances against us now we have shown our soft left side that is easy to penetrate. We were lucky Zinchenko wasn’t playing who looked like he was chewing on a wasp when the cameras picked him out.

A game to forget which is sad because we broke our Emery curse from the law of averages not by playing winning football.

The score flattered us once again, where Brighton will come to play without fear at the Emirates next weekend, and maybe get some points, because they looked decent against Manure. Not great but they play can take points from anyone, as Manure found out yesterday to their title challenging costs.

Be interesting to get your views lads………..

white*

their play

Tony—in many respects I agree with your sentiments/frustrations…the saving grace for MA is that I don’t think we will struggle to repeat the 2nd place “feats” of the past two seasons, as I’m of the mind that the vast majority of those who should be considered the most competitive sides are still in a state of flux and therefore out of title contention:

(1) United seems to be a year or three away…until they figure out their backline and DM position, they won’t be consistent enough to challenge for things

(2) the Spurs still have some obvious weaknesses and even though I appreciate the style in which Ange wants to play, I just don’t believe they have the horses required to impose his preferred style on the opposition week-in and week-out…that said, they could become the ultimate wild card in the title race, as they can take points from any top-side who’s ill-prepared/unwilling to go for tit-for-tat whenever they bring their A game

(3) Chelsea’s insane roster turnover doesn’t bode well for them…the only thing they have going for them is that they do have a history of finding a way to matter when logic would suggest otherwise, albeit it’s been a minute since they pulled that rabbit out of their collective asses

(4) Villa looks a bit too defensively-minded for my liking, so they will need the Rogers and Durans of the world to exceed expectations…tbf I think they overachieved last year, but I don’t think they see it that way, which led to what I believe was a somewhat mismanaged window

(5) Pool is the most intriguing prospect of the bunch…I believe that Slot has what it takes to be the front man of a winning operation, but only time will tell if he translates at this level…from what I’ve seen and read he possesses a Klopp-esque infectious personality, which should fit their particular organizational script…how he handles the transition between this year’s more senior-laden sqaud to a much more youth-oriented one in the years to follow will be of paramount importance…if he can get the old heads to fully buy in this year, even knowing that their futures are totally undecided, they could be a dangerous proposition for anyone

obviously I don’t need to really say anything about City, as we know full-well, minus a much faster than expected ending to their present off-field concerns, they will most likely be the last man standing…that said, I do think they’re weaker than last season, as DeBruyne’s a year older and Rodri has played a shitload of matches in the last calendar year…now if they can get the likes of Grealish, Doku and Savhino to produce at their expectant levels, then they add another key piece, besides IIKay, who will surely make them better in the business end of the season, then all best are off

all in all, I’m not that worried about whether or not someone else can catch us, I’m inifinitely more concerned about whether MA and I want the same things…you would think we would both want us to achieve greatness on the grandest of scales, but I’m of the belief that either his aspirations are a little more pedestrian or he simply doesn’t posses the onions and acumen required to reach those highest of heights…it’s not like I think Merino and Havertz are hacks, even though some might get that impression, I just don’t think they’re the kind of players who can take us to the promise land, especially with MA at the GD wheel…fuck knows I hope I’m wrong

TRVL
Your assessment above ring true. I agree Pool are the potential legitimate contenders under Slott.

Have are slaughtering Wolve with Madeuke showing why Sterling’s services are no longer required. He will give us headaches with Palmer and Jackson. City level lightning counter attacks.

It’s here where I’m concerned most. The title should be between us, City and Pool, but with so many improved sides in the PL I see us dropping unnecessary points again against lesser sides.

Will Pool and City also give up as many scalps as us?

I don’t think they will, but like you hope I’m wrong.

Depends who we buy in the next few days.

So far the Chavs are playing good quick one and two touch football but look suspect at the back.

Cucurella has a face you really want to punch and nasty temperament to deserve it.

I agree our away kit is shit. Wonder if it’s selling?

They need to set up a committee made up of of a cross selection of fans who review and judge ref decisions (I’d give them the power to administer the death penalty but that’s just me) – fans of the clubs directly or indirectly involved don’t get to comment on those decisions eg I would be able to comment on a decision in an Arsenal, Spud or City game for example.

Everytime a majority of the committee view that a ref or VR have made a stupid shocking decision the ref involved loses a digit.

Tony

I asked yesterday – where the fuck is the Yellow away kit?

Tony—this was by far the most spectator-friendly match this weekend and last…I’m just trying to figure out if this result is more about the Wolves or Chelsea…typically teams are more positive on their home ground, which might help to explain why we looked half the team of Chelsea against the same opponent…I applaud the bravery of the new man, especially with a 2-2 scoreline at half, whereas I question why O’Neil didn’t button down the hatches a bit, after knowing full-well things could have been worse…frankly, we look to have half the goals in us, compared to Chelsea, which could make them a problematic side, if they can figure out their best 14 or 15, then flush out a good chunk of the rest

much like my comments involving Villa, I believe we overachieved last season, at least in a goalscoring capacity, and MA et al have likewise misread the room, from a transfer window perpsective…so far this season we’ve potted 4, two of which came as a result of primary assists from the opposition, one was a glorious, albeit atypical, strike from Saka, and the 4th was a rather anomalous shot by Partey, who generally air mails those edge of the box chances, which is likely why Emi looked as if he was caught off-guard…this is hardly a plausible tactical plan moving forward, which is why I felt it was so pertinent that we got this window right

as for Chelsea, they made the exact adjustment that I spoke of last week…they moved the underwhelming Enzo a bit deeper, played Palmer more centrally, then put speed options all around him…the key for them today was Palmer’s willingness to be unselfish whenever the opposition appeared more concerned about him shooting from distance…on this day his teammates rewarded him for his maturity by potting seemingly everything he put on their collective plates

so just imagine what we could do if we had a similar type player and a top-notch Striker, along side Saka and Marts…it would give us the kind of directness we displayed at times in Xhaka’s last season, but shied away from due to our ill-suited Havertz acquisition…shame on MA for succumbing to his most fearful self, instead of remaining brave and replacing our former bird-loving captain with a far more offensive option

news of the day:

(1) it appears as if we have another wild card winger on our seemingly comically long wishlist, the 24 year old Brugge forward, Andreas Skov Olsen…of course those within the “media” who don’t even try to hide their affections for our manager have likened him to a hybrid of both Salah and Robben…quite a fucking high bar for someone with a 18M MV…one would think if that were the case everyone with a heartbeat and even one eye for talent would be knocking at his door, but that’s clearly not the case…don’t know enough about him to make a full assessment, but I watched a handful of Brugge performances last season and only once did he ever register on my interest meter…here’s hoping that I had the misfortune of watching the only 4 off-nights he had last term

(2) looks as if Eddie’s potential move to Forest is off…unlike with Marseille, where we couldn’t agree on a fee, this time the issue is Forest’s inability to come to terms with the player, which makes sense in light of his ridiculous wages…not sure if there’s enough time to find another suitor or get Forest back to the table, but let’s hope that Jesus’s obvious fragilities don’t see Eddie being welcomed back into the fold…this just further bolsters my belief that we need to totally rethink the manner in which we conduct our business…on that note, we likely will never do business again with Sociedad, as it looks as if we’ve slow-rolled the whole Merino deal to intentionally fuck with RS’s ability to bring replacements in

(3) supposedly we’ve finally putting our foot down when it comes to loans, as teams have been informed that we will only send Kiwior elsewhere if someone is willing to buy him outright…seems a bit farcical considering our more recent MO in this regards, so he too might find himself riding the pines along side Eddie

(4) god help us if the only piece of business we conduct between now and the closing of the window is MA’s re-upping…surely we can put that off until a later date…only a self-absorbed twat would want those kind of headlines during such a potentially important period…don’t be surprised if this fuckwad ends up as the highest paid manager in world football, which would be a laughable notion

There was an 11th hour Wenger-esque transfer sighting in the rumour mill today that emerged in the form of a 33 year old Croatian Striker, who currently plies his trade in La Liga for Osasuna…the player in question is Ante Budimir…I, like yourselves, don’t know this individual from a hole in the fucking ground…now he did manage to pot 18 goals in all competitions last year, but if I had to hazard a guess that’s not nearly as important to our not-so-dynamic duo as his 5M MV…I get the impression that MA would love to find a cheap cover piece who would gladly sit behind our current underwhelming options

I can just imagine the myriad of BS headlines now, as MA’s spin doctoring clowns would be selling the notion that not only have other PL clubs seriously pondered a move for this schlub of a Striker, we likewise turned over every rock to unearth this supposed hidden gem…I for one won’t be buying a single word these monkeys chained to typewriters have to offer, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Arteta Knows Best crew hailed this as a genius-level maneuver that all but guaranteed us the title…,on a side note, why the fuck are we trying to find someone who has the same physical profile as the man who currently handles our 1st choice Striker duties instead of looking for someone who offers something vastly different, like pace and clinical finishing

KP
You ok?

TRVL
Great posts leaving little to add other than the press this morning is suggesting El B is seriously looking for more wide players. Seems we are either deflecting from our VO interests or as you have alluded to, El B is flying by the seat of his pants, and readying the trolley for one last dash to add more weight to the, ‘I nearly signed’ list, and some bargain basement trading like a car auction with sheepskin jackets and sporting sovereign rings and tidy neck chains. Not sure whether Garlick or Lewes suits this narrative best, but TITS comes to mind from our probably best loved comedy series of all time.

Garlick as Rodney of course……….. Edu as lovely jublee, Delboy, and Lewes as uncle Albert being the senior.

Of course just making merriment & mirth because our dream team will not let us down in the next four days that are left. Will they?

They’ve been window shopping for 3 months now, so, we should know who we are going to buy with secret negotiations long underway and nearing completion, right?

Wrong! El B as previously stated is looking for wide players, so, back to Lookman? The striker search was likely subterfuge where we confused ourselves in believing elite strikers wanted to play for El magnifico. They were all lining up screaming pick me, but none came.

Any thoughts of VO and Eze coming are slim to none, and should be forgotten as what should have been. We can expect the arrival of Merino, but who plays from Partey, Rice and Merino? You could add Calafiori to the 6 slot. I would imagine Jorginho will only be the 2 tin cups 6 where Vieira realised it was best to get a loan away from the bench.

And so, to the 2 games from last night that made solid statements: Chavs and Pool.

Slott has got Salah enjoying his football again, and that is not what the rest of us wanted where it will be to our detriment. We’d hoped for a Saudi transfer, but Salah has joined the rest of the Pool squad in wearing we love Slott t-shirts with rubber bands due out soon for fans to spread the Slott love.

Klopp who? Seems to be the chatter with Poolians? Scousers are happy with good reason, as it seems the best Dutch exports since Rudd Hullett and the great Yohan Cruyff has arrived and has Liverpool playing blistering counter attacks playing intelligent football at the same time.

Ten Hag looks to be a level lower managerially than his compatriot Slott.

The Chavs and Pool will be very difficult opponents home and away. Fortress Emirates is going to be severely tested this season where I see us dropping points if we stick to our imbalanced playing style.

No point buying more wide men if they are not supported properly by the LB and 8.

Marc, myself, KP and TRVL all said the top 6/8 would be much improved where we have stood still.

It’s Wenger and Čech all over again as other have stated in earlier posts. It’s clear now from the early games, the neutral is going to have possibly the best PL season ever to savor, that will firmly put the PL back on top of the footballing world.

We have Havertz, so don’t need a striker. Seemingly, Marts isn’t up to performing the necessary miracles in El B’s eyes, so needs replacing instead of buying a quality 8 to bring out the best from Marts and balance our left side.

Anyone see it differently……….?