Mikel Arteta dropped a long and slightly self-reflective press conference ahead of the Palace game.
Key points wrapped:
- He knows he’s made mistakes this season
- There’s a very, very specific plan that is going into action this summer
- Anyone with a contract will likely be here next season
That third point doesn’t really make much sense to me. It’s clear that plenty of players with contracts are going to be ousted, and I’m struggling to see what the hidden meaning is with that sort wording.
The coach was emphatic about all the positives around David Luiz, without detailing the problems.
He was pretty clear Willian hadn’t hit the heights, but he took the blame himself.
He said Arsenal have had Ben Knapper managing the relationship with Saliba and a decision will be made at the end of the season. I suspect he didn’t commit to him replacing Luiz, because Luiz was our best defender and we’ll likely need to buy. Saliba might have to pick up the place of someone else.
The picture I hope we’re getting is that Arsenal FC made some bad decisions last summer based on a time crunch in a pandemic… this season, those same mistakes won’t be made.
Mistakes we made last summer?
The club didn’t communicate who was staying and going early enough or with enough force. William Saliba was always going to need a loan, that we had him in training early and still didn’t find a move for him was a really poor moment for the club. Same for some senior players. Mesut Ozil didn’t know he’d be omitted from the squad. I think a number of problematic senior players weren’t aware quite how left out in the cold they’d be. We need to address that early this summer so there are no illusions that cause deeper cuts when the chips are down.
Arteta and Edu need to make decisions based on reality, not emotion. Last summer, we kept a lot of the players that won us the FA Cup, thinking they’d turned a corner, when the reality is those players and their character had downed Wenger and Emery. Keeping Luiz was a disaster move and clearly not made based on pitch form. AMN should have been sold if we had no intention of playing him. Emi Martinez was clearly the better keeper for our system, but we stuck with the man that felt right.
We need to build out our first team with the future in mind. Oddly, I think Bertrand is a future-facing signing. It means KT is prioritised and we’ll have space for a homegrown player when they break in a couple of years. As for the gaps in the first team? Let’s not lean into 29-year-olds this summer. Instead, build out a team that can grow in value. Camavinga has a high chance of being an £80m player in 3 years time, he’s a gamble, but a sharp one based on what he’s doing at the moment. Martin Odegaard has been a touch flaccid at times, but if we can get him firing, he’s an £80m in 3 years time. Arsenal can’t go to KSE every summer with a begging bowl, at some point, Edu has to fire up the transfer machine and move on players for big sums. That only has a chance if we sign players that have high ceilings in their early twenties.
… and leading off that point. Signing older players to get you to the Champions League is a bum strategy. FIrstly, because we’ve been trying that since Wenger’s last season and it doesn’t work. Secondly, because if it succeeds, you have to replace everyone immediately because they are fading and you’ll not be competitive at the highest level with cast-offs. The best approach, based on what we know this season, is to grow a young group of kids into Champions League players, then when we hit the competition, we are ready to explode because those young players are now 25 with their best years ahead.
Arteta, love him or hate him, is doing what the future of coaching is going to require. That means asking players to learn new things. I don’t think it’s a surprise the kids are reacting better to that than the senior players. That’s a solid insight for team building. There’s no coach that is going to come in that is any good and not ask our senior players to change. So move out the players that don’t have time for growing and replace with profiles that want to advance their game and careers. Arteta is a young coach, he should work with younger players that are going to be receptive to his ideas and the longer-term nature of our project.
The last 3 years have taught us that there is no shortcutting the Champions League. You have to do things the hard way unless you have a spare billion to invest. The closest model to our truth is Leicester City. Good scouting, an elite ecosystem of in and out, with a clear footballing philosophy. There’s no reason we can’t make the Champions League under Arteta. There’s no reason we can’t go a long way to fixing the mess of our squad this summer. It’s just a matter of whether we’re learning our lessons or not.
We have an extremely consequential summer ahead, the lessons are clear, let’s see the Arteta chat is more than just whiteboarding. Arsenal fans need to see action and fast.
See you in the comments. x
Phil Foden is unreal.
Please don’t disrespect him by comparing Saka and ESR to him, they’re a mile off that level.
Charlie
Put up that Athletic article again telling us the promised land under Arteta.
It must be true.
The Athletic tells us it’s true.
Bang in the middle of the table again after Leeds win.
Ishola
You’re like Trigger with his brush, except yours is a shovel. Keep digging you mug
You silly Charlie.
I have quite clearly told you that Mahrez can have problems when he decides incorrectly to dribble from deeper areas because he can be bullied.
It’s quite clear what the meaning is. From deeper.
Now if we are talking shovels you better start up your JCB digger again in regards to Arteta.
“Phil foden is unreal”
I get that he is very talented. But he is playing for a manager who knows what he is doing. Saka would be miles ahead in his development if he was playing for Guardiola rather than Arteta. Foden didn’t carry a whole team by himself for a season. But yeah at the moment he is well ahead of Saka. But I don’t believe it is down to talent. More like his environment.
Spanishdave Football and football narrative can change very quickly Football fans are generally an over emotional bunch, and they also have habits of becoming entrenched in their positions I’m not confident we’ll get it right this summer, but if we can alter the size, balance, and quality of our squad, then we can have a better season, and close the margins in front of us Since Smith-Rowe + Odegaard came in, there’s been some good performances and results, our lack of technicians in the final third has hurt us the most I think KSE will invest, I’m just not convinced… Read more »
Habesha
Cant come close to agreeing with that, Foden is the best English talent by a country mile. Think it’s incredibly dewy-eyed to put Saka alongside him for ability.
Charlie I guess we will find out in a few years. Foden has ability. But there is one thing I admire about Saka that I don’t see in a lot of young players including foden. That is the ability to make good decisions on the ball consistently. He is too intelligent. That is why I see him at that level. I agree on technical abilities that foden is ahead though. But Saka is gifted at decision making abilities. He is mature too. If he had the same environment he would be delivering Sancho numbers. I really believe that. And it… Read more »
“””””but if we can alter the size, balance, and quality of our squad, then we can have a better season, and close the margins in front of us”””””””
But, but , but …..and what do you think the other clubs will doing?
Twiddling their thumbs?
(Off course not Rich, bright chap that you are.)
They will be looking at those fine margins too but with better and battle hardened executives making the decisions.
Arsenal in 10th and out of answers.
No hope with Arteta. All management is a failure.
How many times do we have to hear the story about AFC forever and this mystical WhatsApp group. The only embarrassing thing about Arsenal fans these days is accepting absolute mediocrity like we should be thankful to even be in the premier league.
Bati Seen that, France will be hard to stop with him up top along with Mbappe. Feel a bit bad for Giroud funny enough, has a very respectable record for France and runs his bollocks off up top for them but Benzema is just different gravy altogether. Agree with Left Bollock that Portugal are their main threat. On paper they are just as strong as France. Top class full backs coming out their arse, Ruben Dias and Pepe at the heart of the defence, midfield of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Danilo, Sergi Oliveira/Renato Sanches and too many forwards to count… Read more »
CC
There’s 16 months between Foden + Saka, that’s a long time at that age, think where Saka was 12 months ago, and look what he’s doing now
Foden is a joy to watch, but let’s see where Saka is at the start of the 2022/23 season, when he’s approaching 21
We need to take pressure off Saka + Smith-Rowe next season, we shouldn’t be this reliant on them, hopefully we sign Odegaard and another final third technician this summer
Brighton are screwing Man City ! Though City are down to 10 men
Charlie
Jadon Sancho?
Unless you’re not counting him as a young talent which would make sense seeing as how he has put up 3 world class seasons already.
Same age as Foden too.
Bodgers employing the old Arteta special here.
“If he had the same environment he would be delivering Sancho numbers. I really believe that.“ See I think that’s a seriously romantic a view, and belittling of Sancho if anything. 26 starts, 12 goals, 14 assists 25 starts, 17 goals, 16 assists 24 starts, 8 goals, 11 assists These are ridiculous returns for an 18-21 year old. Saka has 5 goals and 3 assists in his second full season, so it’s incredibly speculative to equate or upscale his output in a different environment to those levels. Weagle is more versed on him than me, but I think that kind… Read more »
CG We can’t control what other people do, so we shouldn’t stress about it, and just focus on ourselves It’s highly unlikely we’ll put in a title challenge next season or the one after, but if we improve our own lot, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be aiming for 75-80 points with no European distraction, and that would be progress I’m not confident they’ll get it right, because they’ve proven themselves to be utterly incompetent when it comes to identifying and securing talent, and assembling coherent squads, but that should still be our objective And it’s certainly not outside the… Read more »
Whilst you can’t fault the VAR decisions going against Chelsea they must be sick to death of it after tonight and the weekend.
Weagle
Foden clear of the lot for me, nobody under the age of 21 comes close.
Saka is quality but Sancho is a level above. Not an insult at all to our young gem. Sancho would not look out of place in a world XI
Charlie
Foden is a lovely player to watch, real throwback. Reminds me of early Wilshere except much better in the final third and a little more technically gifted. Real elegance to his game as well as having that potent edge to hurt teams.
Jack’s first full season here for us was immense though, a lot of people just remember the Barcelona game but he was one of our best players for the season.
Sancho for me is the best English youngster though. As Dream says, he’s already World XI good or thereabouts.
The danger with Sancho is that if they pay a 21yr old £300k p/w, that he then falls out of love with football
Where does a 21yr old go from earning £15million + p/a?
Talent alone is never enough, once the hunger and desire is gone, it’s pretty much game over
I’m not saying Sancho will lose interest, but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if he decides he’s got enough money and security, and decides he’d rather take up golf
Charlie When you put those numbers up, they don’t show that saka didn’t play half the season at an attacking position. He was playing everywhere he was needed. Or the fact that his team has no cohesion to be able to help him flourish. And it is his full debut season. All of which are factors. If you put Saka in an oiled team he would put up those numbers. Playing alongside debruyne and Gundogan instead of Xhaka also has an effect aside from the manager who is world class. For comparison he has 7 goals and 6 assists in… Read more »
Rich
He could have stayed at City and racked up millions. Pretty sure all the big clubs in England made a run at him. To go a foreign country at 17 is something.
Think arteta is going to lodge saliba…sad man not been given a chance
Would love to see a back 3 of him gabs n Mari
Anyone watch the Palace game yesterday? Exe looks to have loads of ability, potentially a top player. You never know with youngsters because the mature at different ages.
I have to agree with Charlie, Foden at the moment is different class. His balance is something else.
*Eze.
Rich
“””””Football can change very quickly, if we get it right, we can close the gap in front of us,””””
Agreed, it can change quickly.
Only have to recall the immediate impacts heavy weight managers George Graham and the imperious Wenger had when they first took over as managers.
‘But to say it is disrespectful to foden to be compared with Saka is ridiculous to me.’ I’m with Charlie on this. I love Saka and he’s already a very good PL player but you are comparing him to two of among the best players in the world in their positions. Foden is starring for a team that look set to do the Champions League and Premier League double and Sancho is carrying a top team in Borussia Dortmund along with Haaland. There’s no shame in admitting that Saka has ways to go before he can be compared to those… Read more »
AFC Forever
Wanted us to sign Eze instead of Ceballos. Missed a trick there.
King Benz was always going to come out on top, Deschamps just couldn’t resist. Devastating lineup with him up top.
Chavs are battering Leicester, HT and they’re still hanging on in there 0-0.
Chelsea have had 65% of the ball, 3 goals ruled out x2 offside and a handball, 11 shots with 4 on target.
Leicester 35% possession, 1 shot, 0 on target.
Marc
Werner always runs offside!
Mike Dean got that penalty wrong, Tielemann booted Werner blatant penalty. Most incompetent referee in the PL. I don’t want Chelsea to win but how you can kick someone like that from behind & not see a pen is beyond me. And every single pundit watching it are all amazed. Our referees are hopeless.
Dream10
Yes, Eze really does look a quality baller, really impressive.
Wenger eagle. That is the point though isn’t it. Both Sancho and Foden are playing in far better teams. All I am saying is, Saka has shown this season that he really can play at that level. If he was in their shoes in a better team, he wouldn’t look out of place. That us the point I am trying to make. All you are pointing out is the reality they are playing in better teams. Starring in a city side or a weaker Bundesliga in a Dortmund team doesn’t mean they would have the same impact if they were… Read more »
Weagle If you give the best clubs in world football the choice of Foden, Sancho, or Saka for free I think the overwhelming majority are taking Foden in a heartbeat. Being a standout in the best team in Europe, decisive in CL knockouts stages against sides like PSG etc is testament to his ability. This too in his first proper season as a starter. Habesha Not sure how you arrive at me thinking less of Saka because he plays for Arsenal, but there you go. I rate Saka highly, I’m just not blinkered because he’s an Arsenal player. I don’t… Read more »
Dean pulling a Dean, just saw Werner pen shout. Really not even close.
Arteta:
“””””I want to spend time building, creating and with all the foundations we have in place now – evolve. I want a pre-season where I can work with the players and create, I am a really creative person, I want to create and evolve.””””
He should stick to pottery classes.
God give me strength!
And he is younger than them. A year in a footballers development means a lot. Let us see in a year or two where they are. Assuming ofcourse Saka gets a better manager.
I’d crease if Benzema scored in the final and lifted his shirt to shit talk Valbuena.
Ultimate statement.
Dream10 Money does funny things to people, huge admiration for Sancho going to another country as a teenager and achieving what he has, shows real characters and desire to make a career But where do you go from £300k p/w at 21? Unless he has a relentless passion for the game and a burning desire for success on the pitch , it would be quite easy to get distracted with other things When people have goals in life, and then they hit those goals, they sometimes lose purpose We regularly see contract renewal time focusing the minds of players, and… Read more »
Habesha
Come on mate, Saka doesn’t get near that City team. No chance.
Sancho wouldn’t look out of place at all in it and Foden is one of their best players. That’s the difference, not that he is playing on a worse team.
Charlie
A lot of clubs would sure, think a few would opt for Sancho though.
You know you’re good when Neymar announces that he is a huge fan of yours.
Wenger eagle.
Let’s agree to disagree then. I say only Mahrez is better than him on thise wide positions. Sterling has improved a lot as a player but is still hasn’t got a footballers brain. If he had a season at city I bet he would start ahead of him. Torres is good but I would still say Saka would bench him. It is just that Saka hasn’t been playing in attacking positions for more than 5 months. It is the sample size that makes you think he won’t start ahead of them. But I believe he can.
Weagle
Sancho is quality don’t get me wrong, I just think Foden is unreal. But much to say he’s a mile ahead of Sancho, he’s not leagues better, but those two are on a different level to any of the youngsters England have to offer up.
Maybe Bellingham can threaten inside 18 months, but I very much doubt it. Looks a super player in making, but he’s arrived now more because of physical maturity than outright talent imo.
Rich
In terms of wide forwards it’s Messi, Cristiano, Neymar, Mbappé, Hazard, Salah and Mané at his level in last five years. Only ones who are not on 300k a week are Salah and Mané. They will be when they move this summer or next. And they’re 29.
I get what you mean, but that’s the market rate
Chavs foul as soon as Leicester cross halfway line
Leicester putting aon another striker and going for it.
Should be interesting 30 mins…
Habesha
What do you EXPECT of our talents next season in terms of raw output?
Saka, ESR, Martinelli
We all hope they have stellar seasons, but what do you personally consider likely goal contributions from each in the PL?
And I am not saying these things about Saka because he is an Arsenal player. He will be a great player regardless whether he stays with us or not. But in two years time you will see what Saka is going to become. He will be a scary player. I just hope it will be with us.
Charlie
The talent is just absurd between Sancho, Foden, Mount, Grealish, Sterling and Rashford for those starting CAM/wide berths at the Euros.
I think England’s strongest XI myself is Pope in goal, Walker RB, Shaw LB, Maguire and Stones CB, Rice and Mount CM pivot, Foden CAM, Sancho RW, Grealish/Sterling LW and Kane CF.
I reckon Southgate bottles it though and instead has Henderson in CM with Rice, Mount or Foden as the CAM, Rashford at RW, Sterling LW and Kane up front and benches Grealish and Sancho.
Charlie
In our team I can see Saka putting at least 20 G/A combined. ESR is vague for me. He still doesn’t score enough yet but 10 to 15 G/A combined. I have no Idea about Martinelli. If Arteta unleashes him, he might get back to those numbers under Emery but if not it will be another frustrating season.
Rudiger has been terrific since Tommy Tuchel touched in West London. He’s tall and fast. Has the nasty streak of the Portuguese Pépé and Ramos.
One year left on his deal…….yes yes I would take this Chelsea cast off.
He was linked with Tottenham when he was out of favour under Lampard
Habesha
Agree to disagree then.
I think that you sorely underrate Sterling though which seems to be all too common. Man hasn’t had the best season but he has been at an insane level these past few seasons for City.
Timo given a PEN by VAR
Weagle
Imagine, a double pivot of Hendo and Rice with that flair available lol
Habesha
What do you mean combined? You expect Saka to drop 10 goals and 10 assists in the PL next year?
Dream10
Hazard fell off a cliff after joining Madrid at 28, signed a 5yr deal earning a reported £400k p/w basic, and he’s scored 5 goals and 8 assists in 2 seasons, and can’t off the bench
What I think we’ll see over the next 5-15 years is more top talent produced in much higher quantities
Once that happens, wages, agent fees, and transfer fees, will begin to start coming down again, and as talent filters downwards, the league will naturally become more competitive
Brendo’s going to bottle top four again, Klopp playing for GD will be interesting.
Know who I favour.
Chaos 2
Probably too hard a come back for Leicester with 20 minutes to go
A needless penalty to concede by Pofana with Timo running out of the box and Timo in 1 v 2 situation
‘When people have goals in life, and then they hit those goals, they sometimes lose purpose’ He comes across as a football loving lad in his interviews. I’m sure when he was playing on the streets of London as a kid that his dream wasn’t one day to be a pro footballer earning 300k a week. He won his first proper trophy there at the weekend with the German Cup vs RB Leipzig, scored two goals and was MOTM in the Final. I’m sure that he wants to win league titles, Champions Leagues and an international trophy with England. Gareth… Read more »
Brenda will be getting the rosary beads out as we speak, top 4 becoming a hot potato for them.
Needs a Klopp/Tuchel disaster class to intervene
‘Hazard fell off a cliff after joining Madrid at 28, signed a 5yr deal earning a reported £400k p/w basic, and he’s scored 5 goals and 8 assists in 2 seasons, and can’t off the bench’ Was more to do with his body falling apart than anything else. John Terry said that he was by far the least professional player that he had ever trained with. Guy showed up to Real Madrid a stone and a half overweight. He was actually very good in patches for Real last season when he did play. There’s a reason why Benzema is still… Read more »
Chelsea throw this away and not only will they miss out on top 4 they’ll get spanked in the CL final.
Leicester got 1 back…
Not sure why pedro she Arteta needs to work with younger players receptive of his ideas. He picks the older players, ran when they perform badly inspite of the young guns bailing him out in dec. Nobody is stopping Arteta from playing the youngsters except Arteta himself.
That was like watching the mighty Arsenal play out of the back.
Ooof.
Rich
Hazard did fall off to injuries. But he was top class from 19 to 28. He was the best player in France and led unfancied Lille to a league title at 19/20. Thought he was the best player in the PL in his last season at Chelsea too. Clearly the best player for Belgium at multiple tournaments. Not easy. That talent is worth premium.
He should have moved to PSG/Real three or four years ago.
Really difficult.to.see.wages going down.
Pedro says *
Charlie
It’s going to happen. You see the BBC Pundits for the FA Cup Final’s Euro XI’s? Shearer had that exact pivot haha, comical.
You boys never fucking learn, they still bitch about that golden generation of midfielders and how Scholes was marginalised for England.
Mount and Rice as a pairing is brilliant. Both technically gifted, Mount ridiculously so as well as being industrious off the ball workers and athletic.
Foden simply has to start, would be uproar if he were benched. And Sterling imo doesn’t justify a starting spot over Sancho and Grealish based on the season.
WE
Would a young and hungry player without the security of a big contract turn up a stone overweight?
Sancho is a wonderful young player, but he’s been disciplined by Dortmund a fair few times, and by England once
I don’t think you can play at the very highest level unless you live your profession, once the hungers gone, it’s game over
He’ll probably hit the ground running, but if he was done in his mid twenties, I wouldn’t be at all surprised
Come on Leicester, piss on Tuchel’s bonfire once again.
Weagle
You know I don’t care for international football, so I’m utterly unsurprised by that. The England manager has been filled with drab for years, and the one time they went foreign it was for fucking Capello who was hardly sexy football.
Sterling has had a poor season, he should be on the bench. But if Southgate doesn’t play Grealish, Foden, Mount and Sancho around Kane then he’s everything I already think of him tbh.
Kinda like our sad EL semi…. Leicester just need 1 goal
5 more minutes
Charlie
Agreed, first time in well over a decade that you lot genuinely have the players and talent to outplay the likes of Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Croatia, etc.
But fully expect Southgate to cave and start Henderson and Rashford along with Sterling and for the football to be pace and counter attack centric as per usual with the inferiority complex to the continental sides on the ball.
Wenger Eagle
Will Henderson be fit? I was not a fan, but he’s grown on me the last couple of years
Ayoze missed a sitter ffs
Feel bad for Leicester they will miss out on top 4 again. Very good side but just don’t have the squad to keep them up their and injury to maddison and out of form vardy and they miss out
Weagle
Nail on the head.
As good as Sterling is, and as effective as Rashford has been this season, both are well beaten on ability by the rest mentioned. And almost just for that reason you can guarantee they’ll barely get a kick. I mean it’s been such a ball ache just to get Grealish established in the setup ffs, alarm bells for that alone.
Sad that our football is quick counters at its peak with that sort of talent available.
Rich For being overweight? Pretty sure it was for flying out his barber or flying out to London to get his barnet trimmed or some goofy shit like that. Guy seems to be a top pro from all accounts. Didn’t pout when the move to United collapsed at the last minute, instead went on to be Dortmund’s driving force in helping them secure CL Football for next season as well as winning them a trophy. Maybe he does go off the rails but there’s not much evidence to indicate that as of now. He’s already on huge money and a… Read more »
Players fighting..wot a mess
Coaches and assistants involved in the pushing unusually
That could prove to be an incredibly expensive miss by Perez, ouch.
Nice to see some backbone in these players, can you imagine some of our guys in a scrap?
Ceballos, Elneny, Chambers, Auba 😂😂
Tierney one man army type stuff.
Chaos(Rudri) started it and I think to disrupt any hope of leicester come back… no rhythm left surely
Dream10 Football is the most watched sport in the world, and the PL the most watched league, they’ll always be money to be made But once they crack the code for educating young players, they’ll be able to produce the likes of Saka, Mount, Foden, Sancho, Greenwood, Bellingham, Smith-Rowe, in much higher quantities Once really top talent is produced in much higher quantities, then wages and fees will naturally balance out When something becomes more valuable, the free market naturally produces what’s in short supply in much higher quantities The best thing for inflation, is usually more inflation Clubs know… Read more »
Charlie
That’s when you call in the cavalry and summon Kolasinac.
Man is pure aids at football but he can definitely throw hands.
Tierney would be rolling around on the floor.
Dream
Not sure, forgot that he was injured. If he is fit then he likely starts though.
I rate him too but he just pales in comparison to Mount or Grealish on the ball, no real reason for England to be safety first and conservative when they have all of that firepower and technical ability.
Don’t see really our guys scrapping it at all in similar occasions. Most don’t stand up for their own who got poorly fouled nor appeal much for penalties these days
This is fhowever football passion and itd appear our guys have been coached out of it in the name of discipline and non negotiables..
Perez should have at least hit the target, the Chavs game was rooted!! Well, it’s not as if our players don’t miss these big chances…
Weagle
We’re a team of fannies, hardly any could hack Sunday league. The fact our captain is a goofball like Auba says enough, he’s leading nothing but the dance battles in the dressing room ffs
He isn’t trying to sell any of our squad?
Man’s an idiot.
Out of their hands now, Brendan needs his old pal Mr Dyche to somehow pull a result out of his arse tomorrow.
Daniel Levy might be able to land Rodgers if Leicester miss top 4
Charlie is right about Brendan being a bottler at the final hurdle though. Good manager. But he never seems to get if over the line.
Charlie
That’s what I loved about Cesc, he was fairly small and slight but he knew how to put himself about and could mix it up with any other CM in the PL even as a kid. Took no shit and always stood up for his team mates.
Had heart for days too. Fucking a Pizza in Fergie’s direction alone makes him a legend forever.
Get it*
Need Spurs to drop points tomorrow, they’re away to Leicester on Sunday
We need to take 6/6, there’s still an slight chance we can do them at the finishing line
If we are sending Balogun out on loan next season and offing Laca and Eddie why not try to add some height and scoring talent to the front line. Abraham is the forgotten man at Chelsea. Young, mobile, EPL proven, good header of the ball and wanting to prove himself. It doesn’t look like he fits into Tuchel’s plans and from what I saw of him pre Tuchel, he impressed. We spent a ridiculous number of games crossing to no one because we didn’t have a player with enough size and skill to be on the other end. Smart business… Read more »
Weagle Ahh mate, that sort of petty and scornful is innate, you need guys like that who dial up the nutter within. Half of the love for big Patrick was his intense desire to headbutt the opposition when it called for it. We’ve got some lovely players, but they’re also lovely guys and it’s sorely lacking a few off-kilter personalities. None of the Guendouzi bollocks mind, I mean actual tough personalities and not precious bitches. Massive difference between competitors who held others accountable and wankers in pink boots who think they’ve arrived. Chalk and cheese at the pitches on weekends,… Read more »