Theregulars

Arsenal are incessantly odious IMO. Come on Brentford

I think a lot of it is football being a game of such fine margins. When your confidence is high and momentum with you, things seem to “go your way” - I reckon there’s a psychology to it: taking risks, feeling energised, truly believing and trusting in something so there’s no doubt about what you’re going to do. It then seems like you’re winning the margins. That momentum and confidence is so easily interrupted by circumstances; it’s so delicate - then you don’t win as much at the margins because you’re not taking risks or believing and don’t have that going energy. The end outcome is massive because it’s such an intensely competitive game. So I don’t even think it’s “over” or “under” achieving; just more circumstances have favoured and then not favoured us and we’ve had and not had momentum. I can therefore only remain of the opinion that there’s so much supervening and extenuating circumstance to this season - not to write it off; I think below 7th and no silverware would be disappointing and below my own ambitions. The nature of those extenuating circumstances also means their impact is still being felt now. Maybe it is a flaw in how he trains and plays, maybe other teams have had time to counter and plan, maybe we just really benefitted from few injuries and more coaching time, maybe it’s a bit of everything… I just don’t see much of a plausible argument that he should take more than a small amount of blame. I think the comparisons with Manchester United are also weird: they have a much larger squad and much more financial resource / pulling power / (IMO) corrupting power.

I’m not sure how you can watch us play and conclude that the team don’t look interested.

But how many reasons are within the club or manager’s control?! Hall transfer looks weird but even then maybe it’s genuinely one for the future.

In your view - they might argue that making joelinton full time CM was a good idea because he seems to so specifically fit how we play. If Barnes stays fit and joelinton plays well there this year (both eminently possible), you’d say it’s a good buy. Way too early to tell re: Barnes, surely? He’s played like 5 matches?

It’s so difficult to tell though, surely? If they knew about Tonali in advance then I agree; but otherwise there’s a very reasonable case for signing Tonali, Barnes and Tino. Less of a case for Hall IMO and much less of a case for not signing a striker, but I still think on balance our strategy was logical.

I don’t disagree with the sentiment but 3/4 of those players have missed significant time this season with injury.

Would it, though?

Anderson’s was proper Billy Big Bollocks for young man having not played for ages and without much track record. Proper textbook technique.

Fuckin’ Neesy

Even really unlucky with their goal, which was preceded by an incredible save.

Stubborn, Stubborn Edward.

Wonder who gets ruled out for the season after this weekend. Like slow-march Battle Royale.

Fifth helping of highlights: just as tasty as the first.

Ah burn to score the winner I reckon

Think it was the one posted a few pages back?

Oh that guy! I was sat next him in the Dolphin watching. Never realised he had a “platform”.

Liverpool fans will have that primed and ready the moment a VAR decision goes against them.

Masterclass from Howe. Absolutely schooled Aston Villa on how to play aggressive football, and gave them the benefit of a bench full of actual contributing players. One Villa fan in the pub piped up mightily when Watkins scored the second that was ruled out, really enjoyed his quiet vigil thereafter

So boring.

Good point; although he's still played LW a few times this year I think...?

Last year, rolling with Bruno, Joelinton, Longstaff, Willock and Anderson for the back end of the season seemed (and was) risky. This year we're going to try again without Joelinton but + Miley, without much information on what's happening with Anderson. Throw in the fact we've literally never won a match without Bruno since he signed... it just doesn't stand up to any real degree of scrutiny. Massive, massive risk from the perspective of returning to Europe in some form.

I know it's de rigeur to dislike him now, but what a colossal contribution he's made to English football in his time here. Fair play.

I see and respect your views, but you're talking about Onana coached by Lampard and Dyche. A post-Howe Onana might be a bONANzA. I'll show myself out.

You guinea pigging then?