Bernd Leno shrugged a sigh of relief as Emi Martinez dropped his first blunder of the season as his Aston Villa side crashed to a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Patrick bloody Bamford.
Leeds had more shots yesterday than we’ve had all season. Sad times.
What is interesting about our lack of shots is the absolute consistency of our lack of shots. It’s hardly budged in 9 months.
People keep saying this is the same as it was under Emery, but I disagree. Our lack of attacking swagger is a clear choice by the manager. He wants to play football in a buttoned-up way. We’re trying to be more Atleti than Barcelona. It’s hard to stomach, but ultimately, I suspect an exCity coach would play the City way if he thought he had the players to do it.
Still, just because the way we’re playing now feels a bit sad, doesn’t mean that it will last. What we didn’t have in our last Premier League outing was a match ready Thomas Partey who ‘can control the midfield on his own.’
Does Thomas Partey mean we’ll see more ambition in the final third? Will we see our front three start to click? Will the manager settle on a starting 11 and loosen the handbrake? It’s clear he’s aware that his main goalscorer needs to see more of the ball in opportunistic positions.
‘He needs to get in more goalscoring opportunities, he needs to get the ball more around the box, in order to do what he is able to do. Thursday was a different game to some of the other games we have played against some of the big teams we have played this season’
I also like that he’s pumping his confidence.
‘It is the same for him or Aguero, who didn’t have a shot on target as well on the weekend [for City against Arsenal]. It is not an isolation of just our player. But Thursday it was promising, I said to him before the game, go out & win us the game, and he did it’
Arteta is painfully aware there’s a lot of work to be done, I find it weird that so many people think that we’re at the finishing line already… reading people say, ‘Arteta plays football like this because that’s what he was like as a player’ does seem to be the one observation that links dim people on the internet.
Though I wouldn’t be shocked if the plan with this squad of players was good defending and efficient attacking. It’s hard to argue that we should be playing the Bielsa way after we watched Unai Emery opt for 4-3s over 1-0s and absolutely tank his career.
We have seen, for 10 years, what playing open football does to our league position. If we’re trying the opposite while we develop the squad over the next few windows, maybe let’s see how it pans out? Remember, the only reason Arsene Wenger could immediately play expressive football was firstly, he had a world-class defensive united that had won titles at his disposal, secondly, he had money to throw around.
Leicester City is an interesting game for Arsenal. They are widely seen as a better side than us, but for me, they sit in the same collection of sides as Chelsea, Everton (based on form), Spurs, and United. We’re all a much of a muchness, and we can all do damage on our day. I think we should be beating them. It’ll be tough, they play great football, but they won’t sit deep, which suits us. They’re also not City or Liverpool in attack. It’ll be an interesting tactical battle.
I’m a bit concerned that we already have Willian fitness issues, but more worryingly, Dani Ceballos is also a doubt for the weekend.
Arteta was keen to impress that actually, the Rapid win wasn’t the loss many fans are painting it as. He acknowledged that Bernd fucked up, because he was told to take risks, and that’ll happen this season. The reaction was what made the manager happy.
One of the examples is the reaction the team had with Bernd after his decision [for the Rapid goal]. I ask them to do that, to take those risks, to play the way we want to play and sometimes it is going to happen, but the reaction of the team with him when we scored the first and the second goals was really good. That comes from them and the culture we are trying to create here.
I have been heavy on Leno, and maybe on reflection, that was deeply wrong and I should flog myself as restitution. As a fan, it feels like everyone is living more in the moment more than ever… versus looking at the bigger picture. Literally, one bad half of football and fans are questioning everything. It’s a bit exhausting.
The reality is, Arsenal is not a project that can be solved with one non-Raul window. It’s going to take some time. Arteta spoke to that in a delicate way.
It is about finding the cohesion in the team and the fluidity with and without the ball what we want. Finding some specificity was in my opinion lacking in the squad, to get the pieces in the right places where everyone is comfortable doing their job that we give them to do. I think we are much more balanced. The same with Gabi (Gabriel), the performance he had last night as well and what he brings to the team. We will see a team that is closer to what we are trying to do.
As fans, we keep asking why players are doing jobs they shouldn’t be doing. It’s because we’re still in a round pegs/square holes phase of squad building. I don’t think our issue is tragic, but it’s clear that there are things we lack. We don’t have a Jack Grealish. We don’t have an elite centre forward that can beast people the way Arteta needs. Willian and Pepe are both struggling on the right. All that might change. Pepe might click, Willian will no doubt start performing, and Gabriel Martinelli is ever so close to reclaiming a starting spot… and to my mind, he could play through the middle. Imagine that monster back to his best weighing 5kg extra?
I. Am. Purring.
Anyway, the main thing we need to remember. We have new players that open new possibilities, but new possibilities will take time to bed in. So be patient and let’s not lose our minds until we see what the shape of the side is going to look like.
… then, if we don’t like it, we can fire up the BannerAir brigade and get our message out there. Until then, let’s enjoy the games today and go to war tomorrow!
Gaethje getting mauled lol..you cant go toe to toe with the champ..he’s relentless
LG
You say Iwobi and I could point to Salah going for the same price.
Don’t use Everton as the template, they were retards prior to this summer with their money.
Gaethje is two losses away from joining a militia group in Idaho.
Monster. MMA GOAT.
Got the round wrong but the method correct, choked him out.
The ref was stupid..Gaethje clearly tapped twice and the dumbfuck did not acknowledge…that type of an error can get someone killed
Somewhere, a million people just paid $60+ to watch that event.
Cutter
Now you know mate haha, that beautiful site worth its weight in gold.
I didn’t think Jota was a great signing for Liverpool either for that coin, but he’s looked better, been utilised more by Klopp than I envisioned. Only 23 as well.
I could see why some would not rate Jota because he does lack a bit of poise and finesse but the main point really is that he looks a good signing for Liverpool because he is a strong runner on the ball and has plenty of energy.
He’s a Klopp kind of player.
Wow, retiring.
“The ref was stupid..Gaethje clearly tapped…”
Khabib kept his choke extra long against McGregor as well.
“that type of an error can get someone killed”
Not unless it went on for more than a minute.
WE – Owe you one.
Always sad seeing great sportsmen go out at the peak of their powers.
Khabib had nothing left to prove though and literally cleared out nearly the entire division barring Tony Ferguson. Real shame that we’ll never get to see that now.
Between Khabib and Jon Jones for UFC GOAT. Khabib gets my vote because he’s never even looked close to losing a fight whereas Jones has had a few razor close fights go to decision.
WG
salah didn’t have a great profile in England with his failed stint at Chelsea. Lots of people thought klopp shouldn’t sign him.
Either way joto is proving your wrong deffo justifying the 35 mill price tag so far
Nice one WE good fight man.
LG
He had 2.5 excellent seasons in Italy, who exactly was against Liverpool signing him? I remember plenty on the blog including myself hugely rating that signing and predicting him to be a success over here, clearly he went on to exceed anyone’s expectations mind.
Jota is a good player but talk to Wolves fans, he wasn’t even one of their top players last season. Jimenez, Adama and Doherty all more impactful.
Samesong
Good shit my G.
God damn, Rogan just finally dropped the Kanye podcast.
Wenger eagle
Talk to klopp… he signed him and is starting him in first 11… maybe jota didn’t have his best season last season but maybe klopp saw past that and saw his potential…
Either way point still stands he is deffo living up to his price tag and proving the doubters wrong
“Jota is a good player but talk to Wolves fans, he wasn’t even one of their top players last season. Jimenez, Adama and Doherty all more impactful.“
This only proves that Wolves fans are as clueless as some of Arsenal fans,
Jota’s contribution (16 goals 6 assists in 3000 min) were far better than Adama Traore and Doherty’s.
Jimenez is definitely the star player of that club but his price tag would’ve been way higher than Jota’s and Liverpool don’t have the particular need for him right now.
‘This only proves that Wolves fans are as clueless as some of Arsenal fans, Jota’s contribution (16 goals 6 assists in 3000 min) were far better than Adama Traore and Doherty’s.’ Convenient that you would prop up his stats with his Europa League games, the competition that Olivier Giroud well into his 30’s dicked around. His PL stats last season were 34 apps [27 starts, 2298 mins] where he produced 7 goals, 1 assist. Adama Traore in 37 apps [27 starts, 2600 mins]- 4 goals and 9 assists. Jota averaged 0.9 key passes a game and 1.9 dribbles, Adama averaged… Read more »
Klopp just sold a relative unknown 20 year old coming back from a long term injury to Sheffield for $29m and got a proven PL scorer for $20m more.
I think he just might now what he’s doing.
LG
Very early days to be declaring him a success isn’t it? What’s he played 3 matches?
I wasn’t propping anything up.
I looked at all their goals across all competitions
The sale of Solanke for 20m to Bournemouth was genius and I was on record here as saying at the time that he’s nowhere near a PL calibre player.
My right hand man for work is core MMA and Rogan pods, this is cracking me up.
May have to get him to get on THE LG!
Tom
Adama was MUCH better than Jota in the PL, something you chose to ignore then.
Wenger eagle, if you can manage to get your panties untwisted maybe you could guess what price tag wolves have put on Adama and then get back to me about value for money.
Tom
If you can only wipe the spittle off of your computer screen long enough to get a good look at Jota’s PL stats and then come back and tell me that that’s a 35m player.
7 goals and a lone assist in close to a full season of PL football.
Get him on Sal.
Tell him the name Dariano is already taken though.
WE
Wolves set a 90m price tag on Adama Traore in case you haven’t heard.
Who’s the better value now?
Haha I’ll let him know Eagle.
Thoughts are with Dariano at this time, poor bastard cannot get out of his own way.
Back to it, for me Jota’s not worth all this heartache. Just been slotted into the most potent attack in Europe, he’s going to find space and the ball playing alongside Salah with Mane on the opposite and Firminio pulling the strings. Based on what we’ve seen, not looked out of place which can’t be knocked. MOTM tonight.
Interesting that Oxlade moves further down the pecking order a player Klopp spent more on, ruthless manager. Love it.
Tom It’s irrelevant what price tag Wolves have on him you numpty. I made a claim that Jota wasn’t a 35m player and that he wasn’t one of Wolves’ best players last season. To which you replied: ‘This only proves that Wolves fans are as clueless as some of Arsenal fans, Jota’s contribution (16 goals 6 assists in 3000 min) were far better than Adama Traore and Doherty’s.’ I then showed that you heavily skewed the stats with his EL goal count which was 9 of his 16 goals, 3 of which weren’t even in the competition proper I may… Read more »
Add VAT and the cost of all the baby oil for his huge arms and clearly Jota wins out.
Klopp knows.
Ahhhh, arguing about football. Much better.
So much better!
Not a power ranking, or pot in sight
I just smoked Pot 3, i’m onto to 2.
If it makes your day , sure, I’ll admit I was wrong about Jota contributing more than Adama Traore when the PL alone was the cryteria.
I do find it amusing though that price tags put on players for possible transfers don’t matter when discussing their contributions.
What a novel concept, I wonder if it catches on…… and he calls me a numpty lol.
‘I do find it amusing though that price tags put on players for possible transfers don’t matter when discussing their contributions. What a novel concept, I wonder if it catches on…… and he calls me a numpty lol.’ You’re a numpty because you still don’t get it. Adama’s price tag is irrelevant in this, I said that he wasn’t even one of Wolves most impactful players last season and you said that he was much better than the players I listed last season. The stats showed that you were wrong and now you’re pretending that you had no idea that… Read more »
La Liga table shaping up nicely, how long can my boys from San Sebastien keep rolling.
Hoping forever.
Sal Finding La Liga a bit of a bore lately, goals are so hard to come by compared to the other leagues. Even Messi isn’t prolific anymore. Watching the Clasico today was sad thinking of the games in years gone by, the 4-3 Clasico win in 2014 at the Bernabeu was peak level, prime BBC and Di Maria against prime Messi, Xavi-Iniesta, Neymar,etc. Serie A has all of the sauce now. Sassuolo and Atalanta are both literally immune to boring games and you have the rejuvenated Milans, Pirlo up to no good over in Turin with Ronaldo, Lazio and Roma… Read more »
Yea but how is Emery getting on in La Liga?
Oh, nvm.. only 5 teams have conceded more goals than Villarreal so far. Saucy.
Eagle,
I think La Liga may spring a surprise this season, desperately needs one. Regardless i’ll be paying attention.
No question Serie A having a renaissance even Lazio is turning out peak performances in Europe, league riddled with talent of all age.
Who you thinking for Serie A title?
“The team have to operate with one brain. They have to function and work together. “There will be teams where there is more freedom, but less structure. “Ozil’s a wonderful talent and very creative, absolutely. He can make the last pass, but it’s about the team. It’s about marrying the individual qualities of the player into the team and if you feel that player can’t press the game or doesn’t want to press the game, it has an effect on your attacking structure and your defensive structure. “If one person doesn’t do their job, then you can suffer. “He’s a… Read more »
Ouch, even Rodgers gives no fucks. Pretty clear he’s of that POV when you consider his teams. They’re found wanting often, but he’s better than I gave him credit for way back when.
Still Brenda though innit
End of days here, blogs quoting Rodgers.
I’m headed for pot 1 sharpish.
No Sal, end of days is Moyes. When he gets quoted you can stick a fork in Le Grove.
“You’re a numpty because you still don’t get it. Adama’s price tag is irrelevant in this, I said that he wasn’t even one of Wolves most impactful players last season and you said that he was much better than the players I listed last season.“ Adama’s price tag is definitely relevant since someone had posted your quote from September re Jota’s transfer price being too high. The fact you don’t recognize this is your problem not mine, Also, out of the three players you listed I only contested two:Doherty , and Adama and I used numbers from Transfermarkt. Later I… Read more »
Sal Wouldn’t hold out too much hope, Barca and Real are both anemic going forward and have an unwelcome mix of players past their peak [Benzema, Modric, Kroos] and players still very green and not yet cut out for the elite level [Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Jovic], same goes for Barca with Messi no longer a scoring machine and youngsters like Fati, Dembele, Trincao, Pedri as a supporting cast along with the outcast and square peg Griezmann. Very subpar CM and backline too. Then Atletico are more liable to fire out 0-0’s than put on displays of attacking aesthetics, sides like… Read more »
As for who wins Serie A, I’d love to see Atalanta do it. Play football the right way and are by far the most entertaining side in the league, wage bill of the entire squad is comparable to Ronaldo’s alone.
Hard to look past Juventus making it 10 in a row though adding Kulusevski and Morata to what they already had. Results today are why Atalanta will fall just short again.
Definitely sticking a few quid on AC Milan winning it though, if I had to pick anyone other than Juve it’s them.
‘Adama’s price tag is definitely relevant since someone had posted your quote from September re Jota’s transfer price being too high. The fact you don’t recognize this is your problem not mine,’ Adama’s price tag had nothing to do with it, question was whether Jota was worth the 35m [later turned out to be 45m] or not. I said that he wasn’t because he put up average numbers in a Wolves side where he wasn’t even one of their key players to which you took issue with and went on the Jota offensive bringing up his inflated stats pointing towards… Read more »
Eagle Put more than a few quid on Milan winning it this season man, Pioli seems to have found the magic formula and long may it freaking continue. Atlanta just lost again today and Lazio just picked up their first win in what 3 league games. Ranieri and Sapmdoria having a bit of a purpule patch here too at the moment. Still Juves league to lose but it’ll be a lot more tighter than previous seasons i reckon. Meanwhile always put money on goals anytime Sassuolo are playing, that team has no time for defending one bit. Gattuso and Napoli… Read more »
WE
An Arsenal fan lecturing Liverpool on transfer values……so true though …..what are they smoking over there lol?
Hey, here’s a question for you ….between the two of us who do you think has a bias in this argument?
Bati Samp got in a few nice players in Candreva, Keita Balde and Adrien Silva to boost the squad. Could be this season’s Parma. Sassuolo are my favourite team to watch post lockdown, nearly every game as you say is a goal fest. Can’t defend to save their lives but they’re electric going forward with Berardi, Caputo, Boga, Locatelli and Djuricic. Raspadori looks a talent as well. Put it right up to the likes of Juventus, Inter Milan and give as good as they get. Yeah Milan are the one team I reckon are Juve’s main threat because of their… Read more »
Tom I’m so biased that I have consistently praised Klopp and the job he has done over at Pool over the years as well as regularly point out that they have spent money incredibly well on the vast majority of their talent in Salah, Mane, VVD, Allison, Fabinho, Robertson, Thiago, etc. I was the biggest Firmino advocator on here when he was at Hoffenheim and told everyone that they pulled off a bargain getting him for 30 million. So, nice try. Fell flat on your face pulling the ole bias card out when you’ve been proven wrong beyond doubt and… Read more »
Tom
Not really up for debate, Eagle literally was on the verge of pulling Firmino’s pants down and going deep to get him in the Red N White from Germany.
WE
Proven wrong ?
Well, don’t go jizzing your pants just yet
Let’s revisit in May and if then Jota isn’t all that I’ll gladly bow down to your superior knowledge of transfer market machinations, ok pal?
CC
Something tells me if Moyes is quoted it wont be tactical more hand on ball stuff.
“Not really up for debate, Eagle literally was on the verge of pulling Firmino’s pants down and going deep to get him in the Red N White from Germany.“
Sal
So Firmino was a great get at $45m in 2015 with 10 goals 12 assists across all competitions in his last season, but 5 years later Jota at $49m with 16 goals and 6 assists across all comps is a waste of money.
Jesus, that really seals it for his superior evaluation abilities.
All number from Transfermarkt.
‘So Firmino was a great get at $45m in 2015 with 10 goals 12 assists across all competitions in his last season, but 5 years later Jota at $49m with 16 goals and 6 assists across all comps is a waste of money.’ You really have no shame still holding up those ridiculous numbers padded by EL. Never even proved the source for the assist one either. Jota vs Firmino league comparison in season before Liverpool signed them: Goals: Jota- 7 goals Firmino- 7 goals Assists: Jota- 1 assist Firmino- 10 assists Dribbles per game: Jota- 1.9 Firmino- 4.2 Key… Read more »
WE
The most important numbers missing in your post are the year over year transfer inflation
( 2015 v 2020), and the premium clubs pay for players changing colors within the PL league. But I’m sure a sophisticated transfer analyst as yourself already knew that.
Pedro quoting B Rodgers on Ozil. ” It’s about marrying the individual qualities of the player into the team and if you feel that player can’t press the game or doesn’t want to press the game, it has an effect on your attacking structure and your defensive structure.“If one person doesn’t do their job, then you can suffer.“He’s a talent, but, as always with talent, you have to be a working talent.” This is an excellent point by the Leicester manager, it would have some substance if Ozil was the only player who i would say , doesn’t have the… Read more »
https://arseblog.news/2020/10/nicolas-pepe-data-viz/
This is a good read.
Salty Pierre .
Basically Arseblog is saying Arteta style is having a negative impact on Pepe and on most of our attacking players
Nketiah is more effective a fox in the box than pressing, Martinelli can press but the manager seemed reluctant to let him play
Theres a sense of contradictions or lack of clarity with the managers decisions
Auba and Willian are good pressers
Laca and xhaka are unathletic.
Pepe is a bit dull footballing wise,will grasp the press sooner or later.
This season arsenal’s press has been worse probably due to covid impacted pre season.
City had that issue most prominently in the defeat to Leicester.
Liverpool against villa.
Pressing is important to win the ball back so it’s key to possession football.
RIP Dariano
Cap T. Indeed a good article backed by metrics and plausible analysis. In a way, unless a club is willing to make wholesale changes and spends hundreds of millions in players, the coach/ manager must figure out ways to best utilise existing resources. This isn’t rocket science and manifests more ao in team sports. That also explains why we see apparently ‘favouritism’ going on. KSE wouldn’t unlikely play the generous game a second or third time, and Arteta must use whatever sauce he might have to get results, like it or not, by devising perhaps several tactics (as he should… Read more »
I see the game is on Box Office. Does this mean we have to pay £15 despite already subscribing to Sky Sports? If so it is an outrage. and with this and BT Sport already being paid for, i refuse to do so. It should be boycotted by everyone.
Northallerton, while I think the £15 is a rip off and won’t be paying. Its not a game that pre covid would’ve been on the telly anyway so we aren’t missing out on games these are just the extra games they are trying to screw people on top.
Auto correct Northbank not Northallerton lol
Greed has no boundaries.
Sky and BT have a monopoly and they love it.
Now bam is not here. Wonder who will remind us there’s a new post?
LFC “Auba and Willian are good pressers Pepe is a bit dull footballing wise,will grasp the press sooner or later.” Aubameyang i like a lot , but plays in self preservation mode , hence why he is rarely injured, his pressing is a fraud . Aubameyang avoids any real physical confrontation, he is the master at ariiving to press just a little bit late so that he never has to put his foot in. He is fooling you LFC. Is willian a good a presser as you think…he was played as the striker v city to do exacrly that and… Read more »
Northbanker
F dat That’s getting watched on the livenet tv app.
Muppetman “Its not a game that pre covid would’ve been on the telly anyway so we aren’t missing out” – how do you know that?
Willian looks like hes missing his old team. Doesn’t look settled at all. Time will tell.
Anyone that thinks pressing is a new format must be blind.
Even playing football at school back in the seventies, we were told to pressure and harry the opponents.
Modern day football requires you to do it as a unit and not just the few individuals who are physically up to it.
It’s also a mindset. If you believe in something it will work.
Accommodating certain players is a thing of the past.
Willian looks spent or is it just my imagination.
‘I suspect an exCity coach would play the City way if he thought he had the players to do it.’ 😂
That’s pure BS Pedro, no matter how many times you try to peddle it.
Bielsa or Ancelotti donn’t have better players than Arteta but Everton and Leeds are playing better football
prvhc
Why do you think this is?
Firstly Arteta doesn’t do man to man press, atleast in the first line of pressure. He presses passing lanes. For ex, the passing lane between cb and fb, there will be Auba blocking that passing lane. Forget Willian at false 9. If he plays that position again it will take him a month or two to get used to all aspects of playing as false 9, pressing included. There are certain pressing triggers like when the ball goes wide or if a player miscontrols the ball then the arsenal players try to challenge the man and win the ball. Auba… Read more »
Samesong – which app do you use? is it free live football?
Graham Pressing was in a different format back in the day.. Teams rarely played out from the back so the need to press just wasn’t there. In the old days for Arsenal under George Graham, it was all about the 2nd ball and that’s where the press came in. During the first half of Wenger’s reign , our press used to be more in the midfield area and as soon as the likes of Vieira or Parlour etc regained possession , it was like a switch went on and the movement from the likes of Bergkamp , Henry/anelka and Pires/overmars… Read more »
Personally, I feel it’s down to the mindset of the players.
Tierney✔️
Lacazette✔️
Martinelli✔️
Elneny?✔️
Torreira (gone)✔️
+ Partey✔️
All have the inbuilt desire to press and harry. Torreira for example will thrive at AM. I wonder why?
All the above are natural fighters.
Isn’t that the real answer.
Lazy players will never press.
That’s a fact.
Pierre
I agree.
Signs with Partey in the team on Thursday that we can do this.
Prvhc
You will be proven wrong in time.
Arteta’s football is very similar to Pep’s but because of worse players and lack of certain profiles, it is executed badly.
But that said what is good/entertaining football?
I,for one,don’t find Pep or Klopp’s football entertaining. It’s quite boring.
Despite Pep’s team consistently being one of the highest scorers in Europe,I find them quite boring.
Only football I find entertaining is Wenger’s,gasperini’s, Sampaoli’s,Bielsa’s,Paco Jemez’s
There are better managers,ofc but these I find the most entertaining.
‘I,for one,don’t find Pep or Klopp’s football entertaining. It’s quite boring.’
Yeah, sure 😂
I did find City’s football very entertaining during that season when DeBruyne was even better than now and they also had the fit Sane (whom I just love watching) and David Silva. That trio just made it wonderful to watch for me.
North
Samesong – which app do you use? is it free live football?
Yes.
Pressing is 80% fitness and 20% organization.
Fitness standards are just much higher today which is why pressing is in vogue today.
Modern footballers (football post 2011/2012 is where football changed,so those who were 16 or less at 2012 is who I am referring to) generally are quite professional.
They will do whatever the manager asks them to do as long as they are convinced.
People’s eyes give out the best indicator of an intelligence or lack of. Pepe has a constant ‘what the fuck is going on?’ look whereas Ozil has a ‘I’m bored shitless doing this job’ look. Auba has a ‘I love this job’ look. Tierney ‘ don’t fuck with me, I’m a Glaswegian and don’t give a shit how good you think you are’
Diversity is key in top level sport. Being able to adapt to different teams with slightly different tactics is, imo, key.
As Pierre righty highlighted, Arsenal should adapt their style to accommodate the likes of Aubameyang, Pepe, Lacazette, Saka and even Nketiah.
Against both Liverpool and MC we were too negative and too predictable.
We have to be braver when it matters.
I don’t think you can associate peps brand of football with boredom especially in their title winning seasons …each to his own tho
Northbanker
Very good.
‘Pressing is 80% fitness and 20% organization’
‘football post 2011/2012 is where football changed’
The hot takes keep coming 🔥
One thing that pusses me off is when players pass back and forward six or seven times without going anywhere.
At the end of the game, you’ll see in the stats a team has passed the ball 700+ times. Maybe 300 of those are just for show.
Very annoying.
Barcelona were made to look fantastic because if Messi and his wonder goals and dribbling skills, otherwise they were tedious to watch on occasions.
Not disputing Xavi and Iniesta were brilliant players because they were.