Lush Vlad

Arteta loves 4 CB’s in his lineup. That and all the setpieces and physicality. They’re just a more polished Stoke. Pulis is Arteta’s hero. Haramball FC

Playing Newcastle at home. Not away to Newcastle.

With our away record. It’s hard to ever be confident. But there mini upturn in form isn’t ideal. West Ham are woeful, mind. Nuno will be getting the sack soon. As if they battered us

Similar discussions had every week in the match atmosphere thread. Mental how you can get it so wrong in a new stadium, mind.

Whilst I find them boring. Arteta has built a very decent system there and has shaped it over time. I’m not sure it’s to do with 90% people skills and 10% football and all his Brent like quotes. Like the one about the light bulb

Not really Barnes’ fault that Howe defaults to Gordon all the while. Even when Barnes is in better form and doesn’t deserve to be dropped/shunted to the right.

Quality work @timeEd32 Not sure I’ve seen many belittling the League Cup or taking his record for granted? Only a handful that seemed to be suggesting losing to Fulham with a weakened team was fine. As we won’t get past the semis, anyway. For all my gripes about Howe over the years. In cup games and big one off home league games against the top sides. He is usually outstanding and we can give anyone a run for their money.

Nearly lost more there already in the league than Arsenal have at the Emirates, I think?! This was from October/November time:

It’s mental. I think whenever he goes through another long spell of being back on the bench or shifted to right wing. He is deemed as a waste of money. Just conveniently ignoring the fact we need a squad and the number of top and important goals he has scored for us.

Yeah. I like him as a manager and never liked Chelsea for various reasons.

Would Iraola go there? I know it’s a chance to manage a big club and big dough. But he doesn’t strike me as a yes man or the type that would want to work under such ridiculous conditions.

I’m not in love with his comments about the lack of a plan B and about how many different ways we have of playing. As I don’t think we’re really seeing that at all this season. Plus our Plan A that served us so well is now fairly flawed and teams have gotten a lot better at combating it. So there needs to be some change. However, I think a lot of managers say similar and are wedded to their plan A and just working harder. Rafa when he was here. Klopp. Pep has adapted over time. But he still sticks to his principles and wants his team to play a certain way.

Lost at home in the League Cup, I think. They may have meant that?

Yeah. But we’re supposed to be good and they’re supposed to be shite. So not sure I’d want to use what they’re doing as a metric. Not saying you are here. But I’ve seen it mentioned a few times on here and would get a bit RTG if it carried on. Comparing ourselves to what our rivals are doing.

Reminded me of our pitch from the early 2000’s. Like when Shearer scored that volley v Everton. That or Plough Lane

Maybe. But I think that’s incredibly reductive. They’ve had solid performers that suit their system perfectly all over the pitch. Mukiele, Alderete, Ballard, Roefs, Sadliki and Xhaka have all been good whenever I’ve seen them. Plus the left back who is away at AFCON.

This isn’t the unpopular opinions thread.

Their spine looks really solid. The 2-3 meat heads at the back, quality keeper who is very proactive and then Xhaka having an outstanding season. Brobbey a handful up front and Isidor now on the bench was scoring a few important goals earlier in the season, I think.

Finally get rid of Don Goodman. Then they go to the studio and that smug cunt mackem presenter is there waffling on. Can’t get away from the cunts

Their fans going mental over every foul going against them. Yet their lot have been getting away with playing Rugby for most the game

Credit to sunderland. Been brave and pressed high. But also defended deep when they’ve had to. City’s finishing has been a bit wank, mind. Mackems missed a few good chances and all TBF.

Same as Burn. Refs just ignore it because they’re such big bastads.

What a terrible set of games today. Happy New Year.

Rodri is starting to make a difference this half. Such a classy player. Makes it look so effortless.

Why is their pitch so bad? Reminds me of the early 2000’s SJP pitch.