The Last Dance

Ambarish
Letting Emery school us is a come back and bite you in the bum moment.
Our management of player negotiations in and out is crap. None of the AFC guys involved have any commercial nous – they wouldnt last 5 minutes in a hungry commercial set up. Walters will not be the only young outfield departure – the youngsters all talk to each other and can see they are never likely to obtain first team status and actually get on the pitch.
Just about to leave Norfolk – I have a special delivery for the City hotel – 100day old lasagne. Lift off the lid and you can see it move. Coincidence – the other rivals were also playing West Ham when food poisoning struck.

Ambarish
I like your positivity. City at home drop points to Moyesyball? I think that qualifies as blind faith with if true doesn’t mean we ran away with anything. We got in through the back door.

This and last season were seasons we should have won the title. You were right to be mad in December. KDB was out as was Rodri where City dropped points and a real title challenger takes advantage of those times as L’pool did to win their title.

If the seemingly impossible happens Sunday, I’ll be happy it’ll just feel a bit hollow.

KP
This Town is a ska movie set in Coventry where the Selector was from. Remember On my Radio?

https://youtu.be/YoJmnCXuG3w?si=PmT4KeMOZGBy0rpr

https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/11tspk1cxh&hl=en-TH&q=This+Town&kgs=20e6da41e8a16632&shndl=17&source=sh/x/kp/osrp/m5/3

Norg
Good luck on your mission and outing.

We didn’t hold our own after the winter break – our play was much better afterwards but the match that cost us the title was Villa at home on the 14th April.

What needs to be remembered is Liverpool were still in the mix at this point and playing right before us lost to Palace.

City had spanked Luton the day before but we had the chance to put them under pressure – we dominated the first half but couldn’t score (where the fuck was Havertz then?) and then Emery outthought and outfought Arteta in the second half.

With 6 fixtures left Arteta bottled it again in precisely the same round of matches he did the season before.

We’re going to have exactly the same conversation next season – the only possible difference is when next season or the season after one of ManU, Chelsea or Liverpool get their shit together and finish in front of us.

The people calling Arteta El B on here are wrong its EL C.

Someone give me a genuine reason why Arteta isn’t a complete and utter cunt after the following course of events.

Signs Ramsdale for a fee that makes everyone go “how much?”

Gives him a new contract on more money after 1 season (to protect his value) whilst dropping him – this season he’s made 11 appearances – 1CL, 1 FA Cup, 1 Community Shield (doesn’t count but lets be generous), 2 League Cup and 6 PL 4 of which were the first 4 matches of the season.

Then sells him at a loss.

The best argument that can be made is “at least he didn’t pay him to leave” which is one of Arteta’s trademarks.

In any other business the person doing this would be sacked and given 15 minutes to vacate the premises.

Marc
Again well reasoned.

Marc-I too spoke of that Ramsdale nonsense in my response to your earlier post on the previous thread…I had no idea that Ambarish was going to post articles on back-to-back days or I just would have waited and posted it here…maybe have a looksee, as we were in agreement on most of the issues you addressed…Cheers

Ambarish–I agree in part with your sentiments regarding “top” managers coming to the PL, but I have a feeling that Slot just might buck that trend…I’ve been followng him for quite some time, largely because he’s developed a slew of quality players, and I think he will do well with what Klopp has left on the shelves, especially with the plethora of youthful options, which includes a handful of academy pieces and those he’s purchased during the last two summer windows

Tony—no worries…problem is that there are already those who’re putting words in my mouth for nefarious purposes, unlike yourself, so I thought it best to simply clarify my stance…Cheers

Ambarish—like I said in the previous thread, there’s a lot of putting the cart before the horse in Manchester right now, so maybe just maybe that will come back to haunt them…I think the most likely way we win this is if City draw and we secure all 3 against an Everton side who btw won’t likely capitulate with Dyche at the helm

Tony

I’m not actually reasoning anything just laying out the course of events.

That’s why the fanboy’s hate me – its not about opinion (this player’s better than that player etc) its about what happened and no one can argue with the course of events.

TRVL

I did see your comment on the previous piece.

We’re pretty much on the same wave length on most things re Arteta.

Brighton are looking for a new manager – another Arsenal old boy perhaps.

TRVL
Merson is causing rumblings saying Anthony Gordon is the striker El B needs for £100m.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/anthony-gordon/profil/spieler/503733

Only seen him play once and he looked a long way off meeting that price tag. Half that maybe with add ons etc. I’d prefer Watkins if we could price him away from Unai by giving him ESR and Jesus and maybe £20m.

Would be interested in seeing your top 5 managers to replace El B and who you would see fitting our system best as a striker if price no problem bar Mbape.?

When you consider how Palace, B’mouth and BHA have fared this season where with some investing in the summer, all 3 teams will take points off top 6 teams. As has been pointed out here L’pool, City, Man are and Chavs will improve next season to at least challenge for the CL births.

Howe’s head will be on the chopping block if he doesn’t deliver next season, and our Unai will also be expected to improve on 4th in only his coming 2nd full season. Let that sink in fan boys. 4th in first full season and always beat El B.

Who knows what new system he’ll want to play to be less predictable at the beginning of the season? Problem is the new system will only last about 20 minutes with the tactical astute manager’s in today’s game. In game changes need to be precise to change games; something El B is not but others are.

I’m interested in your thoughts, TRVL, as I’m sure others will be bar the seal collector. I don’t watch enough football outside the PL being my lazy admission.

Tomorrow is a difficult day for me as we should be lifting the trophy by at least 3 points. What makes things worse is, like Marc, I see us saying the same things this time next season for the above reasons.

There was a short period this season when I thought El B had finally learnt; we’d gone to Dubai and come back rock and rolling and then rolled to a stop as if some kind of inertia had kicked in. We’ve been getting the points with no consistency. Some games we greatly added to our GD and others we limped through with backs to the walls when we lost our belief and huffed and puffed and dropped points that cost us dear. Villa being one.

PL winners do not do that, nor do they lose more than 3 or 4 max games a season. City have lost 3.

Back to my original thought we might be looking for a new manager by October because El B is still an unknown quantity at the start of each PL campaign.

So, thoughts on managers might be fun to keep the pain off before the game we are all hoping for miracles for.

The only miracle I want is a new manager with experience and an eye for talent.

Any thoughts?

Norg
Where’s De Zerbi going?

Marc
It’s a way of life for you and a cool one, too. I’ve never been fortunate to be in your position so I can’t really understand the feel of the energy 60K of people bring to the games. I don’t have that level of emotion every other week to draw from.

I’m sure I’d be the same as you if in your position. I enjoy your post match thoughts.

Tony
The rumours were De Zerbi to Bayern but Tuchel may change his mind about leaving. He is definately departing from BHA. His replacement will be another newcomer to the premiership as a manager. El B’s number 2 is highly regarded and a contact who is involved with Norwich says he has visited Carrow Road more than once. Cesc is also putting it around he would like to manage in the UK. He is the main coach at Como but without his badges when he started – hence somebody else had the managers job in name only. Como have just been promoted to Serie A. TH14 & Cesc are both shareholders of Como.

Tony

The social aspect is a massive part of the football for me, a few beers pre match with friends who I don’t actually sit with so once in the ground there’s always the chat and banter with the people I’ve got to know who sit round me.

Its the main reason I didn’t give up my season ticket a couple of years ago – the other being that I know we’ll eventually be rid of the fraud he’s lasted longer than I thought he would but like all things eventually finishing 2nd after again bottling it won’t be enough for the fans and they’ll turn on him.

The worry is the likes of Saka, Saliba etc might realise it before and look to get out for a chance to win things.

NORG

Tuchel came out and said he couldn’t agree a deal with Bayern and that it’s over.

I think De Zerbi is eyeing that Manchester job more than the Bayern.

TRVL

Arnie may do well (I don’t hope so), but he looks to me a similar profile to Ten Haag. EtH was developing players at Ajax, took them to Champions League semi final against the odds and could have easily made to finals, has Lucas Moura not decided to score a hat-trick in the second half and Tottenham winning on away goals.

Tony

Hope so, West Ham does the undoable on the last day.

Ambarish do what you have to -us old dinosaurs will have to learn to deal with pop ups.

De Zebri is a confident cookie who has vision and can create something out of nothing – that makes him in food terms a Masterchef. The set up at Brighton is excellent from the top to the bottom. Move the individuals to N5 and we would have won the premiership by now.

The wedding must be over now – you are posting like crazy.

Ambarish

There was an interesting article the other week which looked at the mindset of the Dutch and why their psychology doesn’t make them a good fit for the PL.

It will be interesting to see if they were right.

Marc – roll me back 30 years and I was in the same boat. I enjoyed the pre-match drinks in the Compton (real ale) and then the game (upper east stand next to centre). I can remember one match day drinking with Alan Green and Sammy Nelson in the Compton and then seeing the round head of Greenie commentating on the match on Radio 5 from where I sat. The people around our seats became friends – years later on the tube to Highbury I bumped into somebody who sat near to me. He used to be the future son in law and now had his own family.

Ambarish – As I type my AVG is sending me warnings – have you already installed whatever?

Tuchel will NOT stay at Bayern after his treatment there. Too much noise from the higher ups on how to do the job on the field. If staying he would have lost all self respect and his peers and players will look at him with disdain.

Tets doesn’t know Jack when it comes to talent spotting and it shows in the deadwood that is either hanging around the club too long or is out on loan. New manager, new project is almost certain to be part of the deal. We perhaps are fortunate with an opening in Spain, Brokalona anyone.

Norg

ManU are going to need a manager who can coach (I mean that in a real sense) and get players to be more than the sum of their parts.

Even with ManU money they’re going to have to shift a lot of players taking a hit on some values and then bring in a lot of players without breaking FFP etc.

Ratcliff will get the business side of the club whipped into shape pretty quickly, getting the players and a manager who can produce with them will be more difficult.

Norg

Its what non fans can never understand why football fans are so fanatical – my old man hated football and used to laugh how he could have produced 2 Arsenal fans.

You’re part of a tribe – you walk into any bar in the world where there’s an Arsenal match on and you have friends.

Killroy

I’m amazed Bayern where stupid enough to actually ask Tuchel to stay on after the way they treated him.

If ever a question was going to be answered with “go fuck yourself” this was it.

If Arsenal lose the title race, these are the games that cost them:
From two matches against Fulham, they took one point.
From two matches against Villa, they took zero points.
Draws against Sp*ds & Chelsea two points from 6.
2-0 loss to West Ham at home.

If ONLY 1 of the 7 games changed from a draw to a win or a loss to a win, just one game and the title would have been ours. No cigar who is to blame for that.

There runs a theme of unforced mistakes and passivity that cost Arsenal in these games. They have made the joint-third-most errors leading to goals 7, with 5 in the first 19 games the second-most.

Marc
“You’re part of a tribe – you walk into any bar in the world where there’s an Arsenal match on and you have friends.”

LIR is our bar where for me it feels like family when we mess around and take winning seriously. In a good way I envy that social side of your life. At my age now, that would be very welcoming to enjoy with regularity. However, living it vicariously through your post match comments and stories is also very cool although probably not enough to chip in with your ticket costs. 🙂

Kilroy
Well put. El B will always have inconsistency on his CV with his defective management ability. Game intelligence is not El B’s forte, in the same way it is for Pep and Klopp, as well as some of the new PL managers.

Norg
I vaguely remember the Bayern connection. MU is an interesting thought as I think De Zerbi would end the manager’s curse SAF left after piling up shit loads of bad karma for all his twisting of the rules.

When you watched BHA you had to admire what he did with raw diamonds Tony fed him with his algorithm. As fast as he polished them, Mr Bloom sold them for mega bucks.

This season De Zerbi has struggled having lost his key players in Mac Alister, Basouma, Trossard, Maupay, Cucurella and Caisado and then losing Mitoma to injury when he needed him most. For BHA’s size they were too big players to lose virtually at the same time.

Think if we lost Saliba, Saka, Rice and Ode? Would El B have us 10th or 11th? I think De Zerbi has come in for a lot of uncalled for criticism and has more than added value to his current CV. I’m not saying De Zerbi will be an elite manager, but I’d like to see him get a shot to manage a big club with a decent TW budget.

Ambarish
Whatever you need to do to cover costs at least and make profit you should do. If you’re still losing money could you tell us by how much? Maybe collectively we could buy enough coffee to cover the shortfall. I’m only speaking for myself right now and you could do this privately.

LIR is part of our lives with our club where you put in your time free, so let me know at least by email.

I certainly would really miss LIR if it wasn’t around. It’s very much part of my days, which I greatly appreciate.

My thinking is how much would we spend on drinks if LIR was a bar?

Tony-besides the Klopp, which appears incredibly unlikely for a variety of obvious reasons, and his pending replacement, Arne Slot, there are a few options out there that I think could take us to the next level while still building for the future, most notably Gasperini from Atalanta

I’ve spoken at length about my admiration for his uncanny ability to get the best out of his players, respective of their age or previous circumstances, and for his total dedication to playing an attractive brand of football, which is based on 3 underlying principles, high-intensity pressing, fluidity in attack and dynamic midfield play…when he first emerged on the scene in Atalanta I did worry that his tactics might have lacked the balance required to compete in Europe, but over the years he’s made a series of modifications that have redressed those concerns…just look at the way they crushed Pool at Anfield this year…simply put, he has consistently exceeded expectations, considering his club’s rather modest operating budget, so it would be interesting to see what he could produce if he weren’t limited by those financial constraints

his use of width and pace, would fit nicely with our group, especially if we brought in a left-side wingback, with some actual defensive capabilities, then played Timber in his natural position on the right…with a few acquisitions we would be perfectly-suited for his higher-risk, possession-based, offensively-minded 3-4-3, which would allow for far more movement from our forwards, who have struggled at times due to our overtly static tactics

furthermore, when the match requires it he won’t hesitate to shift into a variety of differing tactical looks out of the same base formation, so no more talk about our glaring lack of a Plan B…in the past season alone he has deployed 7 different formations, 4 of which can be shifted into on the fly without the need for substitutions…of course having this luxury would be largely dependent upon roster construction, but I believe if we added another dynamic midfielder, one of the more affordable up top options, like Zirkzee, and another LB, with wingback capabilities, we would be the best side he’s ever managed by a considerable margin…with those few personnel changes we could employ the full complement of his managerial dark arts, like his low build-up strategem, which would fit quite nicely with Raya, the dropping of midfielders, like the former CB Rice, so that our wider CBs could join the attack on occasion by making underlapping runs, and his ability to shift from man mark to distance marking, as a means to create attacking opportunities from defensive positions

the other very viable options are Ruben Amorium, the Sporting manager who toyed with MA in our Europa matchup last season, and DeZerbi, who likewise managed cricles around us in the business end of 2023, before his midfield was gutted…I will go into greater detail at a later date on one or both of the managers in question, depending on if DeZerbi gets a major appointment in the coming days…time to crash…Cheers

TRVL
Thanks for the informative depth on Gasperini.

I vaguely knew the name and would agree with you that he seems as tailor made, as you could get. In the way you outlined Gasperini’s tactical nous, it also highlights El B’s considerable managerial frailties by comparison.

I’m a fan of De Zerbi as mentioned above. Andoni Iraola Sagarna has caught the eye with Bournemouth’s 2nd half of the season, and ditto really with Oliver Glasner at Palace.

When you add Gasperini to the top of the wanted list my list would be this:

Gasperini:
From your post he seems ideal. You will have watched him more than I have watched all of my four choices.

De Zerbi:
Has been well PL road tested proving he deserves his shot with an top 4 PL club. I think he would fix united as well, so more reason to get him. Although no nonsense tough his players love him where he gets rid of dissent quickly, as in Trossard.

Maybe White wasn’t a good fit either. I was surprised at his sale, but also money spoke the right language.

Oliver Glasner:
Would be my 3rd choice. His ability to also get Eze and Olise to perform to new levels is seriously impressive. I grant you they were in the Zaha show and lived in his shadow.

Now, though, those 2 alone toy with defenders and are really exciting to watch. Together with the other talented young group all now shining, they cut through teams at will, as they have their last few games.

If we had Oliver and he brought Eze and Olise as well as Tyrick Mitchell 24, at LB (2 goals & 3 assists). That addresses the areas you and I feel need finally dealing with. Would probably cost about £250m, but would represent a good investment both financially and and in our squad. No square pegs in round holes and Havertz would really have to sing for his supper, as it were.

That would just leave the keeper issue to solve. “News to me” Ramsdale seems to be staying put playing hardball. I’m in the Ramsdale camp, where do I sign?

Andoni Iraola Sagarna:
There is no denying B’mouth’s New Year resurgence and not with thug football, which is oft the norm for clubs with very little TW funds available. Unpolished and unknown gems are their level financially because B’mouth as a club is only worth £358m – let that sink in for a moment.

The club is worth half El B’s TW spend. Look at player values below to get a feel for what I’m saying.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/afc-bournemouth/kader/verein/989/saison_id/2023

Iraola has also kept his club playing stylish build up play football from the back, but perhaps more conservatively risk adverse to keep the ship/club steady on PL coffers. I really enjoy watching the way Iraola sets up to play from the back with such movement it confounds most PL teams now. Then the huge work rate he gets back from his players even when they are running on empty. His players leave everything on the pitch every game.

Looking at the current table it reads:

10 – Brighton
11 – Bournemouth
12 – Crystal Palace

That is no coincidence in my mind, for what it’s worth. It’s 3 manager performing with hugely limited resources who are taking points off top 6 clubs with regularity.

Just think if they had had £600m+ to spend with their obvious man managerial qualities, proven tactical nous and real understanding of players and the potential?

Why? You may be thinking are we talking about a new manager when the fat lady hasn’t sang her last PL 2023/2024 season.

Can the curse of mushy peas and gravy derail City’s 4th title and PL dominance? Probably not.

My view of today’s results are below:

Us V the Toffees – a 3:1 win

BHA v Manure – De Zerbi will really up his creds if he dispatches the Mancs at home. 3:1 win with Garnaco peppering the stadium ceilings with 14 attempts. A decent win would do De Zerbi’s prospects of taking over from ETH a lot of good.

Chavs v B’mouth – I see a draw or B’mouth win because Bournemouth play as a team better.

Palace v Villa – is probably the game to watch. Palace at home are tough to get points from so 3:2 as Villa can be porous.

Bin Dipper home to toothless Wolves – could be a rout to send Klopp off with. I fear for Wolves.

Sheffield home to Spuds – Any Spuds loss will do for me.

City v The Hammers – It’s inconceivable for me to think of City dropping points.

They’ve been here before 5 times in a row. The are old hats at dealing with pressure. They haven’t lost when Rodri plays because he’s the best in the world for me. Under Rodri’s leadership he’ll systematically break WH down and then when required shift up a gear or two where one of 10 players can score with the level of interchangeable plays they do during a game.

When you look at WH’s players where are 2 or 3 goals going to come from because City will score at home and the noise levels will be off the charts driving them and the ref on.

It’s going to be a very brave ref to deny City. VAR will defer to the ref to have the final say. They aren’t stupid and want to get home safely. Ditto the ref who I hope employs a butt plug to be safe.

5:1 is my prediction and time to move on where we have accept we have a loser as a manager. 8 8 5 2 2 with 3 collapses in a row. That’s the reality of El B’s rookie 5 years.

The nearly by not quite manager. See you at the game and I’ll leave you with this song El B was rumored to have sung this to Willian:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-p8bOoFlPo

I think the is overdoing the PMA by a country mile.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13433881/Arsenal-seen-REHEARSING-Premier-League-trophy-presentation-club-staff-shake-hands-pretend-award-medals-eventuality-Arsenal-snatch-title-Man-City-Sunday.html

I should have prepared something witty, pithy and erudite for today but I’m not feeling anything inspirational. Blind faith is not on the agenda either after 20 years of slightly differing but always ultimately disappointing outcomes. It’ll be more dull pain or an entire week of euphoria. Like I said the other day, we’re all experts and aficionados and have been here before. We know the score.

Some historical context. In 89, I went to virtually every hone game and had seen enough in the wonderful team we had that season to know we could pull it off at Anfield. Plus we had the best manager in Europe at the time who you just knew would have the right strategy and so it proved. It took Micky Thomas right til the end to get that goal, but after Smith got the first one, it always seemed possible. No end to a season will ever rival that.

It’s different now. At times this season, our players have fought like tigers and done everything we asked for. Getting the better of the other big teams that traditionally challenge us and put us to the sword. Away wins at the Spuds and that Rice decider at Luton. I’m not going to talk about the weakest link – all he needs to do us beat marbella-bound Everton and the inquests can start afterwards for me.

The asterisk effect will mean nothing if justice is retrospectively served for us and certain others. No trophy parade, no pride, no special chants and no chance to see our players just being exuberant lads outside Islington Town Hall and sharing the glory. Innocent til proven guilty and all that, but if City are found out, then every other team in English football needs to hate them, consistently and fervently, on spud and manure levels, to the power of 10, ’til all their fans run off crying ashamed of themselves.

Today is a bit like a penalty shoot out for the season where we’re only allowed 4 pens and City 5. We, and Liverpool in particular, might look back on this era and have nothing other than to describe it as a rigged game.

Tony – your predictions for the City game ring true. I can think of 4 or 5 middling teams that I’d rather see face City on what is effectively our behalf. But Moyes, as a hard nosed West Coast and proud Scot, (just like dear old GG) might just have a plan to rip up the fucking script. I’m blowing bubbles the afternoon, just not forever.

KP
“I’m blowing bubbles the afternoon, just not forever.”

Nicely said, I’ll join you and say amen at the end.

Moyes is Rice-less now. When you consider how he has helped us to improve, imagine how much The Hammers have lost. After Rodri, Rice is probably the next best PL DM.

KP
The manager talk was to talk my mind off the pain of ‘what ifs’.

It seemed more real in GG’s days.

Ambarish
Hi mate. Sorry, I meant to say this a few days ago.

I agree with others. Do whatever it takes to keep LiR working with ads. Your idea of being flexible about timings makes perfect sense. I’d also echo what Tony says. Let us know whether a more meaningful contribution from those of us that can afford it would help. I’ve ‘bought you a coffee’ in the past but I wouldn’t mind if you needed more than that. You run this site brilliantly and produce great written material. But you’re also very inclusive of us old farts (even when we ramble on about anything except Arsenal sometimes) , so much so that I feel a part of LiR.

I essence, don’t be British (ie evasive) about money – tell me/us what would help.

I wanted to end by saying thank you for all that you do to combine your madly hectic lifestyle with keeping this blog afloat. You are very kind mate. The Maharaja of Indian Gooners!

Looks like the same trusted line up with Tomi at LB Rice at 8 and Havertz at 9.

Marc
Hope your day at the game and after is good. If the unimaginable happens I would imagine the ale will be flowing to devastating morning after levels.

Tony

If the unthinkable happens, expect Marc to be partying like it’s 1999 tonight. The Tollington will be drunk dry and north London will look like a wasteland (ie Tottenham) tomorrow.

Is pumpkin around by any chance or us he spitting up fur balls in BKK?