Mikel Merino (now playing for Arsenal)

[Guest HTT II]

4 minutes ago, andyman said:

I'm pretty tired of removing the paywall all the time with services like 12ft. It makes the site look shit as well. It's practical on the go on your phone and stuff, though.

 

I just wrote a simple stylesheet using the Firefox extension Stylus. Now I can browse The Athletic clutter-free.

 

(I used to be a subscriber, but at the moment it's not worth putting money into as I don't read as much as I used to.)

 

Here's the code if anyone wants the same experience. I was debating whether this is OK to post or not, but since people keep posting these paywall removing links anyways, I'll just post it:

 

  Hide contents

@-moz-document domain("theathletic.com") {
    body.noscroll {
        overflow: auto;
        height: auto;
        position: static;
    }

    #darken-overlay,
    #slideup-paywall,
    #article-container-grid > div:empty,
    #cookieBanner {
        display: none !important;
    }
}

 

Note that this is for Firefox. I bet there are similar extensions for Chrome and other browsers. Also, if their markup changes, this will break and the code will need to be updated.

 

 

 

Cheers, you’re quite the andyman!

[duo]

He was some player for us - still only 26 ! Imagine him and Bruno 

 

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Have we really had Fun88 since 17/18? That went quickly

[Happinesstan]

Quote

Alex has already started well. His mindset is very good. He can adapt to whatever you tell him

 

[duo]

I wonder if they scouted Mikel whilst watching Alex - he'd fit in perfectly into our current system.

[danny]

So he was amazing and everyone else was shit or he couldnt finish a pass cant decide

[Cronky]

He had that ability to pass the ball without breaking stride. Speed of delivery can be just as significant as accuracy.

 

Really good player and a missed opportunity.

[Nolberto Disco]

Best midfielder since since Cabaye, best midfielder up to Bruno. Honestly think he was homesick after going to Dortmund; Rafa offered him half-and-half with him him at Newcastle, but this kid needed to be in Spain. 

 

I've worked with enough Basque people, to know that money isn't everything - happiness and life is.

 

Same rule could be put to Asier Illarramendi; Sociedad-Madrid-Soceidad. 

 

Countless Basque players, either never quit playing for Athletic or Sociedad, or return back. Their loyalty to their region is something I've never seen.

 

[Minhosa]

21 minutes ago, Nolberto Disco said:

Best midfielder since since Cabaye, best midfielder up to Bruno. Honestly think he was homesick after going to Dortmund; Rafa offered him half-and-half with him him at Newcastle, but this kid needed to be in Spain. 

 

I've worked with enough Basque people, to know that money isn't everything - happiness and life is.

 

Same rule could be put to Asier Illarramendi; Sociedad-Madrid-Soceidad. 

 

Countless Basque players, either never quit playing for Athletic or Sociedad, or return back. Their loyalty to their region is something I've never seen.

 

I went to the Nou Camp years ago as I was desperate for my kids to see Messi play live in his pomp and the match happened to be against Sociedad.

 

Illarramendi was fucking insane. Absolutely incredible. As was Messi, obviously but the man from Sociedad blew me away.

[Nolberto Disco]

1 minute ago, Minhosa said:

I went to the Nou Camp years ago as I was desperate for my kids to see Messi play live in his pomp and the match happened to be against Sociedad.

 

Illarramendi was fucking insane. Absolutely incredible. As was Messi, obviously but the man from Sociedad blew me away.

 

I used to be one of the sad kids that made videos of players when I was a kid. I had countless Cabaye channels taken down. 

 

Illarramendi could have been the next Alonso/Busquets - but he had no mobility and no fitness. 

 

I always expected to see Merino at Barcelona. It was obvious he wouldn't stay here long. Now we all get older, we understand the world more. 

 

 

 

[Nolberto Disco]

Mikel Merino's thread still being alive is only a compliment to how good we saw him as a player. 

 

Who are the players that have been of such quality, but never stayed long enough?

 

My vote is - Woodgate

2nd - Thauvin

3rd - Mitro 

[The College Dropout]

Ran from the hustle. No love for this lad.

[The College Dropout]

Thauvin was turboshit for us. At least Mikel showed us the talent. Thauvin was absolutely awful, couldn't pretend to want to be here.

 

 

Edited September 22, 2022 by The College Dropout

[Yorkie]

In terms of loanees; Saha, Distin and Rossi are all players who, at their respective peaks, would've walked into the Newcastle sides of the time. Rossi had a great spell with Villarreal and played lots for Italy; definitely an opportunity missed there you'd think. Roeder wasn't the best, like...

[Nolberto Disco]

16 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Thauvin was turboshit for us. At least Mikel showed us the talent. Thauvin was absolutely awful, couldn't pretend to want to be here.

 

 

 

 

I was one of those shouting "You're not to fit to where the shirt". His responce was to feign injury, roll 5 yards to get off the field, then be subbed off. 

 

*In same game - was FA Cup away Watford - all I saw was Siem de Jong not run, clearly injured - but pointed, shouted; yet always passes to someone in a Newcastle shirt. 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 22, 2022 by Nolberto Disco

[HawK]

1 hour ago, Nolberto Disco said:

Best midfielder since since Cabaye, best midfielder up to Bruno. Honestly think he was homesick after going to Dortmund; Rafa offered him half-and-half with him him at Newcastle, but this kid needed to be in Spain. 

 

I've worked with enough Basque people, to know that money isn't everything - happiness and life is.

 

Same rule could be put to Asier Illarramendi; Sociedad-Madrid-Soceidad. 

 

Countless Basque players, either never quit playing for Athletic or Sociedad, or return back. Their loyalty to their region is something I've never seen.

 

 

I regularly have to check the locks on my wife's restraints, she's always trying to get back over there.

[McCormick]

45 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Ran from the hustle. No love for this lad.

Really liked him but yeah, decided to move away the minute he couldn’t break back into the team again after his injury (Shelvey and Diame were on an amazing  run of form at the time). Under Rafa as well; not a fan of that.

[Conjo]

10 minutes ago, McCormick said:

Really liked him but yeah, decided to move away the minute he couldn’t break back into the team again after his injury (Shelvey and Diame were on an amazing  run of form at the time). Under Rafa as well; not a fan of that.

 

I presume you and @The College Dropoutare big admirers of Alan Smith, Geremi, Butt, Colback and other shit players who stayed to fight for their place then? 

 

[kingxlnc]

1 hour ago, Nolberto Disco said:

Mikel Merino's thread still being alive is only a compliment to how good we saw him as a player. 

 

Who are the players that have been of such quality, but never stayed long enough?

 

My vote is - Woodgate

2nd - Thauvin

3rd - Mitro 

Hamann honourable mention

Ben Arfa potentially as we didn't see him enough

Demba Ba

 

All of those 2015/16 signings under McClaren - Mitro, Wijnaldum, Thauvin, Mbemba and Toney, was the most exciting transfer window as all were genuine potential superstars in the making.

Just gave them to the wrong manager. 

 

[wormy]

5 minutes ago, kingxlnc said:

Mbemba

 

Didn't realise he'd gone to Marseille on a free this summer. Starting, 2nd in the league and unbeaten. Pleased to see it; really did have hope for him.

[Paully]

2 minutes ago, wormy said:

 

Didn't realise he'd gone to Marseille on a free this summer. Starting, 2nd in the league and unbeaten. Pleased to see it; really did have hope for him.

 

I'm sure he didn't learn English which peed off Rafa as he wasn't understanding his instructions?

 

[Nolberto Disco]

10 minutes ago, kingxlnc said:

Hamann honourable mention

Ben Arfa potentially as we didn't see him enough

Demba Ba

 

All of those 2015/16 signings under McClaren - Mitro, Wijnaldum, Thauvin, Mbemba and Toney, was the most exciting transfer window as all were genuine potential superstars in the making.

Just gave them to the wrong manager. 

 

 

Demba Ba's peak was at Newcastle. Him/his agent wanted more money at Chelsea, and look how his career went. Good on him for earning money, but he was never better than at Newcastle.

 

I mentioned Mitro, and Thauvin.

 

Mbemba was good. Happy to see he's playing at high level, but he was never that special. 

[Nolberto Disco]

What pissed me off the most was watching Sissoko up and down the country half arse it, the have to watch him play in the Euro Final. 

[McCormick]

55 minutes ago, Conjo said:

 

I presume you and @The College Dropoutare big admirers of Alan Smith, Geremi, Butt, Colback and other shit players who stayed to fight for their place then? 

 

No? Obviously a difference between shit players no one wants and a good player not wanting to put in the work earn to his spot again.

 

 

Edited September 22, 2022 by McCormick

[The College Dropout]

21 minutes ago, Conjo said:

 

I presume you and @The College Dropoutare big admirers of Alan Smith, Geremi, Butt, Colback and other shit players who stayed to fight for their place then? 

 

Weird way to look at things.

 

The players I am a big admirer of hav talent and application - the Cabaye's. Talent without application is disgraceful - Cabella, Thauvin. Application without talent can be respected but that's it.

 

I'm not going to dislike a player personally because their legs have gone like a Geremi. Geremi still had some ability and you could tell he was some player in his day but his day and been and gone. The likes of Jack Colback played coward-ball, hid from the ball, took little risks, ineffective off the ball. He was one of those that wanted to look hard working but shirked real responsibility. No love for that either.

 

Thauvin, Wijnaldum - talented but didn't give a shit about the fans enough to put in an honest shift with their talents.