PSG with a complete meltdown. Half their team seem to have lost their heads 20 minutes in. Crazy how mentally out of it these guys were and always have been. No growth. Some shocking challenges, deserved a second red but City came away looking infinitely more professional. Better the enemy we know than the one we don't IMO. I prefer to face City, assuming we get shit done tomorrow.
Reminds me of a certain "Battle of the Bridge".. more concerned with fouling and complaining than they were with the job at hand.
Hahaha it’s not Stones it’s that Dias is a beast. He was someone I thought we should sign on a bargain. Was surprised how much city paid but he’s worth every cent.
The thing is, CB pairings are often better as just that... a pairing. It's like JT with Billy G. One guy attacked the ball while the other tidied up anything he missed. So I can well imagine Stones can be very good if he's with someone who attacks anything that gets past a holding midfielder, (with Fernandinho as citeh's Makalele), and Dias in the JT role. JT and WG had the best defensive record in the prem, only conceding 15 goals in a 38 game season IIRC So I think Stones can be a good defender but, like a few players, he needs to be partnered with someone who compliments him.
I’m pretty sure JT and Riccy were the most common CB pairing the 2004-05 season, with Billy playing left back.
Ah, yes... good point Hey, I'm getting old. Give me a break Yeah, that was partly why Billy left, wasn't it... because he'd be moved wide. Anyway, point was that CB's are usually better as a pair that compliment each other.
I guess no 4 English teams in European finals. I was actually slightly rooting for Arse, even just for the fact that they had something else to play for when they face us.
When it comes to Arsenal they have a much better domestic record than us, we need to make sure we continue to have a better European record than them . To be honest with you for a club that has (I think) 13 league titles the fact that they have only one European trophy (a minor one at that) is a pretty poor return.
Yes, Freddie Ljungberg was just talking about how far the mighty have fallen from their Invincible season highs. I'm still pissed about the last 2 times they beat us in the finals.
Wonder if they stick with Arteta.. this seems to be their level though. Its been what, at least 4 years since they cracked top 4? Also very happy the club stayed firm on not giving Willian the contract he demanded.
It is funny seeing Arsenal fans wanting a change of management on repeat. Not so simple a task to find somebody long term now is it? SAF and Wenger were anomalies.
Well, they are seeing it's working for us, but they can't replicate the success. Must be something beyond managerial changes then.
Arsenal don't have the money, seems they have problems with their owner. He is taking the money out of Arsenal and putting it into his NFL side. Stan Kroenke is in need of a £408million loan. This loan comes in addition to the £327.7m they have already borrowed from the league’s stadium lending programme. Stan needs the loan for his NFL side the Los Angeles Rams to help finance their new SoFi Stadium. Kroenke has asked for 30 years, double the usual 15, to be able to pay the money back, which suggests finances could be a problem for him and the Rams. Finances for Arsenal would be decent otherwise and they would be able to invest in players. It is no wonder the Arsenal fans are pissed. Arsenal fans are essentially financially supporting an NFL team. Lots of cultural differences to unpack at Arsenal FC.
They're going to have to go it the 'other' way, find a good manager, stick with him, do some world class scouting and find the next top notch players before everybody else does! This way takes a bit of patience and courage, I think Brighton are doing it this way, I rate Potter and the club has stuck by him while the team develops, they've completely changed their playing style and now they're safe (this season's goal) I expect them to be a MUCH better side next year.
Not such an easy task really. Wenger was very successful because of his insight into scouting all the best young players, especially the young French players and bringing them into the Prem. Since then, scouting is far more of a science and everybody is scouting everywhere for the exceptional talents. Agreed. But I am not sure Arsenal fans and as a club, have the patience of Brighton. Arsenal are a big historical club who have more immediate demands in terms of CL qualification and winning trophies. Arsenal were very lucky to win a trophy last season. . . .wankers
Also, persisting with managers, is something I am encouraging our rivals to keep doing. I still think that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a shit manager and I hope Manchester "GlazersOut" United stick with him.