The College Dropout

Think often they go hand in hand. It's what we did with Gordon, Isak, Tonali, Hall, Tino etc. All of these we paid a premium on potential. If we signed Guehi in 2024 for £55m + £200k p/w - at the time it would've represented an overpay and I would've been sceptical. But if he continued his development the way he has, it would've been a worthwhile deal. We would've been fighting to keep ahold of him. How good Guehi is? He starts for the second-best team in the PL and would start for every team in the division bar Arsenal. I think there are only 5 clubs max he doesn't start for in Europe - and I can only be certain of 1. I think the composure and leadership he brings to a team is invaluable and difficult to measure - that's the gap between him and Thiaw (or Botman) atm.

His feet are too slow to be a 10 imo

Always need some degree of player power imo. Worked his whole life for this career and 1 year just taken away from him.

Aye. Unless you’re going to build on the CL entry like we did the first time - it’s actually not worth it from a fans perspective. This second run we would’ve been better off Europa.

Aye. But I think Villa would’ve started to super gap us in playing squad with the extra money. This is this teams last hurrah imo. It needs a refresh. Rogers aside I think most of their best players are 30ish. Apart from Roger’s the youngest starter today was 28.

There’s no turning back now. The CL is bloated so the second and third tournaments are filled with midtable teams with the odd exception. PL has by far the strongest teams 5th-17th. Previousky Sevilla could finish 4th, then finish 3rd in CL then win that. These are now just getting knocked out the CL playoff rounds or r16. If I knew we were going to sell Isak and not strengthen the squad properly I would’ve preferred we finished 6th. As we would probably have won this tournament. While it’s so stacked in the PL favour. We need to get I on the European cup wins.

Don’t think I’ve watched a full Europa league game in years.

Europa music is awful.

Doubt they care.

But that was a class campaign. They weren't the best team at all but those games against Barca and the final were so dramatic.

They didn't play well but the football wasn't terrible.

Football is won and lost on the pitch. Unless there's match fixing or something, maybe criminality - i'm not really into this type of action.

Which Champions League did Real play some of the worst football going and win?

think the punishment is ott. Wouldn't happen to Chelsea.

People forget he played the bulk of his football in Scotland and under Moyes.

Not the weakest team to win the PL by a long shot.

Maresca is a capable manager. But he's not Pep. Pep had 6 seasons out of 7 getting 86+ points. Maresca can do well but he won't do that.

I agree the league is more competitive. But it also means you don’t have to be much better than the competition to finish higher in the league. Like in La Liga there’s this idea that only Barca and Real can be so clear of the league to win a 90 point season or high 80’s. But if it’s 80-86 that opens the door to Atleti. 100m is easier to win without Bolt. More competitive aye but also easier.

Also felt last season we were keeping Isak and + 2 top level signings from 80ish points all going well. Didn't happen. Major regressed. Tihs season 62 points will be CL. 60 will be Europa. We would've got Europa in that 7th season. Such a missed opportunity this season man. Any kind of decent form post Europe would have us right in the mix. Edit: Technically we would've got CL with 60 points. Mad.

Think last seasons Liverpool team was worse. Reliant on 2 legends for that title win. This Arsenal team have had 80ish points 4 years in a row. Strong defence. Will be there or thereabouts again. I agree next season (and this) low 80 points might be enough to win the league which opens it all up. Think Arsenal are the only ones that can do 85+ points.

City winning the premier league is great because.. nobody cares about Man City. But there is something fundamentally sad and empty about that club. Watching the FA Cup final and it’s not a sell out have we ever seen that? Plus the cheating. As unbearable as Arsenal fans can be it’s a real football club with genuine fans.

Happy for Arsenal. Proper scenes. Proper fanbase. Dont like the football but oh well.

Started slowly last season. Lost to West Ham at home to be 13th after like 13 games. That might get him the sack next season. Think we lost the next game to Liverpool but looked much better. Isak scored iirc. Then we went on a big run.

It's a bit of worry going into a season where I feel the manager could go after 10 games or a slow start.

Would love to see us a sign hybrid playmaker type. A Paqueta/Szobo/Kulu type. A playmaker that can play in the 10 but also fits in neatly elsewhere in a 4-3-3 as an 8 or wide player.