The College Dropout

But the rules and infrastructure are rigged for Arsenal to become long lasting competitive. For one, you take arsenals league finished since the Man City takeover. It’s surely an average of 4-5th. That’s their average revenue position over that time too. Because Arsenal have the history, coefficient, the stadium, the location, the academy they are uniquely positioned to go from 450m in revenue to 600m. Thats allowed them to renew Saka and co. then go and splash money on Havertz, Rice, Merino, Cali etc. that’s allowed them to sustain a challenge for 3 years. Can we renew Isak, keep the rest of our stars then go again the transfer market? Latest noise is that we can. So we’ll see.

Isak has a blinking tic too. It makes me uneasy. He’s not far off serial killer vibes Isak. Too kind behind the eyes for that though. Guardiola is obviously insane. Obvious serial killer traits. The type to lie unprovoked. Get caught then smile during his mugshot. Guardiola’s the greatest league manager ever. Ancelotti best in the CL. We forget that his team threw away 1 final too. He should keep Fede at RB. Get others fit, they can win it again. Need to see more from the CMs though. As a kid I would spit during matches just because the pros did.

To regularly qualify for the CL with the 7th highest budget - is unlikely especially with this new CL format. Neither us or Villa have come close to sustaining a CL push year after qualifying. We don’t have the money to build the squads. I think Villa’s good run and recent sales may position them to give it a good go in back to back seasons. And that ain’t the stated ambition. If the stated ambition changes I’ll stfu.

I dare you.

Yes lol. It’s by no means related to Alex. Nobody wants Nunez instead.

Great post. Gate-lever. We can close a gap here. But we are unlikely to reach revenues of Man U and the top London clubs. Mostly down to geographic economics and history of a fanbase. These are sticky factors that won't change significantly in the next 5 years. We've got some room to go in commercial growth "naturally" but nothing to considerably close the gap on the big 6. Closing the gap on the big 6 means leveraging Saudi in a real way. Unless the rules change, I don't see how we keep our best players and build the squad around them over the next 3-5 years. And maybe we don't, maybe we sell Berbatov and a Bale emerges. Then we sell Bale and a Harry Kane emerges.

We've performed at a Spurs level the last 2 seasons and likely this season - on the pitch I mean. Spurs level isn't the end goal for me. They've never regularly challenged for titles and won nowt for almost 20 years. Spurs have unreplicable advantages revenues wise. Apart from being the smallest of the big 6 clubs in terms of success, I don't see why we would target them. Chelsea generate the least from gates due to the small capacity and difficulty moving. A big enough stadium with corps might be able to get revenues similar or greater. In time we could have a great academy too. Their worldwide fanbase might be big but it's more fragile than Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U.

I've not checked but I assume he's underperformed his Xg the entire time he's been at Liverpool. Which suggests he's a real confidence player or something is wrong at Liverpool. The bigger thing about XG for me - is less general under/over performance. BUt what is the actual baseline? Messi's league Xg was like 28 per season. His overperformance would get him to like 32 goals. Most players expected goals are far lower which is the main difference, not so much the over/under performance. Nunez underlying Xg is routinely strong. Which is a main reason I think he has something. He's certainly missing a level of composure and confidence but he's got a lot going in his game. I think the same about Nico Jackson. Nunez doesn't spam shots either. He's building his Xg underperformance by missing great chances upon great chances .

Liked the look of Bakayoko.

Juve and Man City don’t make the last 16. Bayern lucky to be there.

Slot was praying it was offside

Lovely touch and cross bakayoko. Juve look pap. Serie A ain’t getting that 5th CL spot.

Tbf Man City rocked up with no hope belief or zip either. Even Pep. He knew the jig was up.

Did the PSV manager leave to take a piss?

Locking into PSV JUVE. Bakayoko baller test is on.

Phil Foden is undoubtedly a top baller. But…. Is he a bit 2-dimensional? I prefer Jude. Jude is a baller but Jude is just him personified.

City have played with the belief of Newcastle United at the etihad. They would take this like.

Kovacic and Ceballos are similar players right? Ceballos a bit more aggressive in the tackle has saved his Real career. He’s a budget Kroos in there but it kinda works. Mbappe has been brilliant tonight.

Old as hell innit? A favourite baller of mine. I want to see him and Modric one more time at the next World Cup. Surely that’s why they keep going? Loved him from the moment he chopped Morata down all those years ago. He’s just got better and better.

One of my new favourite ballers.

Can't wait to sell VVD on FPL. Fucking donkey.

Man City defending as shit as us. John Stones is so fragile. Needs a strecher after completing 1 pass. Looks a serious one.

1 league title in 35 years. This is only my opinion but if everything was equal, I would expect Arsenal to have higher revenues. Liverpool is still a fine footballing city but London has by far and away the best youth players in England - arguably the best city in Europe. A London national team would match the rest of England combined. It's an unfair advantage that's difficult to replicate. Manchester and Birmingham are probably the next most fruitful. In what world could we "play by the rules" and become league winners within 10 years like she said?

Probably. Get the feeling thier Xg probably wasn't that high though.

Only Liverpool are close to maximising their own potential (not counting City or Chelsea). The others have sucked or don't win things. That impacts their revenues. A winning Man U would generate 20% more than they already do. We don't have the "organic" potential as the big 6 in 2025. Neither do Villa. We don't have the history of success that's built a comparative fanbase. We don't have a great location comparatively for both revenue and youth development. We might have 1 of these over 1 or 2 but not both.