PRL

So nearly their ‘Albert’ moment

Eze is class

If Onana had just caught the shot Hughes lobbed to him…

LOL

Please have this defence with Isak, Gordon and Wilson playing

Fucking bang

Palace should be out of sight

Keeper should be stronger but won’t be overturning thankfully

Sold

Being linked with a shock move to the Mancs on a few sites…

And if you bring in keepers, which are also pretty vital when we are talking about set pieces, we would also likely be level, and with Pope in there we would be clear. Partey has been out most the season too, and Arsenal have done okay without him. I don’t have energy to go round and round in circles, different opinions make the game and forums, just have to acknowledge they are just that - opinions. almost missed the KO in the boxing arguing about the height of Arsenal’s team, need to reassess my priorities.

See it’s stuff like that, the patronising snarky responses. Your presentation of those teams as giants and monsters doesn’t hold up to facts. I’ve no idea where any stats exist on starting 11s but it’s likely the average size of the squad is comparable to the average size of the team. If you can find stats that show that’s not the case then all good, but simply dismissing with sarcasm shows someone losing the debate. it’s also quite amusing you mocking me on what I’ve seen this season when you seemingly completely made up what formation and positions Liverpool have played the majority of the season.

Arsenal - 10th tallest in league Man City - 13th Newcastle - 4th https://www.givemesport.com/the-average-height-of-every-premier-league-squad/ We probably need more guile and girth before pure height.

right, so now we can win with 2 big CBs and a big central midfielder… so we don’t need big full backs to win the league? That’s slightly more nuanced than where you started and that’s the point I think people are trying to make. There’s more than one way to be successful and saying it has to be a certain way doesn’t reflect the history of football and evolution of the game. I’m still waiting to understand all the examples of the ‘lots’ of times Liverpool played this season with Konate either as full back or part of a back 3

Ha, there you go. Little dismissive quip when you’ve been called out on things you’ve stated as fact when they’re actually not. I’ll leave it there. And to clarify, not that you needed it as you knew what I meant anyhow, you say ‘tall teams win leagues’ when it’s pointed out the heights of players are similar you say ‘it doesn’t matter what their height is it’s how good they are in the air’ and thus I was making the point re Hall being good in the air for someone of his height, and Burn being not as good as you’d hope from someone of his height. And then you retort with a dismissive response. You’re talking yourself in circles and contradictions.

I’ve not watched a huge amount of Liverpool this season, but can see that Konate has only played CB for them and looking at formation stats they’ve invariably played 4 at the back, so I’m not sure how you’re concluding they’ve played ‘a lot’ of the season with 3 CBs unless I’m missing something. And you’ve said exactly what I’ve said - it is about how good you are in the air, and Lewis Hall seems to be pretty good in the air from what we’ve seen so far. Yet you’re arguing for Burn at left back, who is renowned at being below average in the air for his height. Make your mind up. ‘Tall teams win leagues’ is such a blanket statement. Liverpool won the league a few years ago with TAA and Robertson playing pivotal roles in that success. Same as the CL. You’re just pulling out points to agree with your argument and it’s far more nuanced than you’re trying to portray it. the stupid thing is that I don’t disagree that there is obviously value in shoring up from set pieces, and I’d be worried about a midfield containing Tonali and Bruno with two smaller full backs, depending on the rest of the team’s ability to defend set pieces. it’s just nowhere near as binary as you’re implying it is and arguing that way doesn’t make you seem as smart as I think you think it does.

Slightly baffled that the whole argument is based on height. According to an admittedly cursory search of google, White is only 3cm (1 inch) taller than Livramento and Zinchenko is smaller than Hall. No mention of Liverpool who have very small full backs and seem to do okay. its entirely dependent on style of play. I’d say the more metronomic football played by City and Arsenal fits well with what you’re saying, while the more dynamic and full throttle attacking suits rapid full backs more. I would also note Hall looks pretty strong in the air. It’s not just height that helps set pieces or Dan Burn would score double figures every season. Its strength, power, jump and technique. To argue that we just need a team of monsters seems pretty one dimensional.

Would have been announced as 42,000 on wearside

So the lad on here yesterday referring to the Mancs as ‘United’ and banging on about CAS and how we should accept the Mancs offer as it stands… has desperate Dan set himself up an account on N-O?

It’ll be performance related. They all took contracts when Mancs were in the CL. When they drop out they will lose the %age of pay related to that. It’s like having a bad year at work and the team not getting commissions or bonuses

Agree with this, but I’ve not seen that Barnes is being used much differently than us than with Leicester. It can also be a lot to do with the players around him and the quality of them. Which ironically takes us back to ASM and the dross he had around him when with us. Not just the poor finishing, but the movement and the ability of those around him likely made it harder to register xA, not just actual assists

Sadly we all knew with Almiron there would be a reversion to mean from October 2022 and it’s likely the same with this data on Barnes. It’s the nature of football that players go through streaks and I think claiming all prior data on Barnes is null and void after the stop start and limited season he’s had here is set up to disappoint.

I’m still holding out the small forlorn hope that we can catch Villa and/or Spurs. Both out of form with tough fixtures. Also, prefer Arsenal to the scousers, however much of a prick Arteta is

Can now!!! Yes!!!!

Can’t celebrate yet