Lush Vlad

I should be happy. My Dad passed away last year and was an Arsenal fan. My Uncle died this year who was even more of a fan. They were my second team for years. I actually liked whinging Wenger. Been to the Emirates plenty of times, in the away end and the home end to watch them. But Arteta makes it impossible to root for them. Fuck those cunts

Arsenal should enter the Gallagher Prem next season. They’d probably win that and all. A historic league double. I suppose the ends justifies the means here. So fair fucks to the awful cunts. But no Arsenal fan can honestly say they enjoy watching that every week. They’ll reload in the summer and spend £300m on a load more defensive players and come up with some new ways to cheat at set pieces and waste even more time. You’d like to think the league will clamp down on their set piece antics and shithousery to try and protect the brand. As the PL has become an absolute farce. Although I highly doubt they will.

That Havertz tackle FFS. How?!

Just like when we played there.

I might give up on football if they don’t. I thought it was bad when everyone tried to copy Pepball. But most teams in the league this season trying to play the same way as Arsenal. Has been soul destroying.

Skinny Uncle Fester in a wig.

It went in and it was on his weaker foot. So I’m being overly critical. But it wasn’t a great finish IMO. Was right at the keeper and I think it goes through/under his legs as he is diving. Bit of luck involved there. I think he’ll always be erratic as fuck with his finishing. But his movement and when to go all out like a dog going after a ball and when to make the right run etc. Has come on loads. I also like that he plays off both feet and has that unpredictability about him. Imagine trying to defend against all those limbs hurtling towards you at 20MPH

Seems a decent lad and from the few Indy Kallia ITK bits I get. He is well liked in the group. Arguably did better than I thought he would overall. But just had no presence in his goal whatsoever and wasn’t as good with his feet as I was expecting. Light years ahead of Pope in that regard, of course.

Probably sounds like I’m trying to be smart after the event. But I’ve never understood the fascination with Bowen. Especially when you consider his age and what he’d cost. His decision making also let him down at times. But I thought Summerville looked the far bigger threat. The more exciting player to watch this season, too.

Wasn’t it rumoured he actually wanted to go there though? Then he played like shit until he got a new deal. Supposedly putting him close to what Bruno is on. He’s been very up and down since. The club navigated PSR badly, of that there is no doubt. But I’m not going to absolve Gordon of blame with that situation. He’s a professional athlete who gets paid handsomely for his job. If what you’re saying is correct and ai tend to agree it is. How can he still be pouting two years later?!

He has got worse on the ball, I think. Either that or teams are making him worse in possession and/or we are starting to notice it more. But he is an absolute demon off the ball. Stuff that won’t show up as a stat. But there was a break on early in the second half where he basically chased down and slowed 4 different West Ham players all on his own. His workrate is insanely good. I think he went off injured shortly after. I think he’d be more useful to us on the left of a midfield two. Can cover for Hall when he is bombing on and drifting infield with some of his runs could cause bother. He has got a great shot on him and should really score more. Arguably the best striker of the ball in the team in terms of power. If he is away or wanting to leave. Then he’s stayed professional to the end. Doesn’t seem like Gordon at all and definitely not like Isak.

Noticeably more fluid in the forward areas today. Ramsey seemed to have some kind of free role. Wolte was deeper at times, then also ahead of Osula at others. Barnes pops up all over.

Thought Woltemade showed some lovely touches, but also a bit frustrating. Really happy he scored. Ramsey seemed to be operating in a bit of a free role off the left. He was more involved and got onto the ball in some great areas. A bit sloppy at times when he was deeper, mind. Botman was miles better than he has been for quite some time. Pope made some top saves. Osula keeps getting better. Elanga keeps getting worse. Mostly positives today. But Jesus Fucking Christ. We still have no idea how to see a game out. Looked like attempted match fixing for a 10 minute spell when it was 3-1

Ramsey drifting infield and showing for that forward pass massively helps. They’ve been shit and were even worse before changing formation. But the passing has still been much slicker.

Of course he might not handle it. But he deserves a chance at a bigger club, as I said. Only one way to find out. My point was more that I find it odd that people seem really keen to downplay his achievements at Bournemouth. The same way some of our fans have started to do so with Howe at Bournemouth and to a leaser degree. What he has done here.

This. People forgetting that when he gets his move to a bigger/richer club. He will have more to spend on players and a bigger squad. He’s been fantastic for them and he deserves a chance to manage a club in Europe.

Far smaller budget and squad depth at Bournemouth, in fairness. They’ve sold plenty of big names and still carried on over-performing, too. I find them great to watch. Whilst also frustrating as fuck when we play them. I think he’d be great here. But it sounds like we’re rolling with Howe and he deserves time and patience. Even though I have my reservations about him turning it around.

Great not-so-humble brag. Can keep up with a pro footballer AND have a chat with him. Meanwhile I’m out of breath typing this on whilst on the cross trainer

I don’t have a sub for The Athletic. But it looks like he has done a really open and honest interview about his mental health struggles early in his career. Never met the man. Although I was lucky enough to have a chat with his Dad. Who was dead sound, as you’d expect. Dan strikes me as one of the most genuine guys in football. Seems a ‘normal’ bloke and an absolute gent.

I don’t particularly like him as a player. But I think some of that is harsh and full of assumptions. He has had plenty of big games and moments for us against top sides. He single handedly dragged us through games and a lot of the season back when we had all the injuries. 23/24? Admittedly, I’ve not seen the same levels on a consistent basis from him since. But I also think teams have him a bit more sussed, as they have with our tactics in general. Not anything new or controversial. But I do think there has been a change since that summer where we were going to sell him to Liverpool and he probably wanted to go there, in fairness. Said it most the season. But for our supposed second highest earner. He really does have too many games where he offers fuck all and is a huffy, moody bastad. I am overly harsh on him, mind. Unless he is playing like the Gordon of old. I find him frustrating to watch and I think when he slows it down and tries to be a more technical player. He isn’t anywhere near good enough to do it and it takes away from what makes him great in the first place. I think it will be hard to replace him in some ways. But also not arsed if he goes. Assuming we get £65m as a minimum.

Wow. Just seen it. Reason to hate modern football number 724.

Yeah. Ipswich was a quality away end for once. Even the Chancel Mbemba song got an airing. We still sing at 200 BPM, mind.

Yes. Because he is my favourite non-NUFC player. No. Because he isn’t mobile enough now and would be on daft wages.

Tearing after him with that YABBA DABBA DOOOOOOO tune on full blast

I voted not arsed. The season was over for us weeks ago. Not that we were ever in real danger of going down. But I just hope we might see something a bit different now we’re mathematically safe. And not the usual shite we’ve been serving up most the season in the league.