I'm amazed Spence made the squad, even as a Spurs fan I would have gone for Maguire instead! At least we have one player in the sqaud I guess (although Harry will always be an honourary Spud!)
Premier League 25/26 Thread
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Madueke is a VERY Favourites FC pick! 2 goals this season?! Nuts. Gordon has also been very poor and not playing recently.
I agree on Maguire, I think he's **** and always have. England don't have many CB's though and Stones has become the new 'sick note'. I still think he was unlucky to miss out.
You not think Toney is a weird one? He's played two minutes under Tuchel.
@edd_jedi you must be delighted to have a such a committed club captain. Your team has a relegation decider this weekend and your injured captain decides to lead by example and……**** off to Argentina to watch his childhood club. You just can't beat commitment like that!
What an utter bell end
Jury is out for me on the selections for the England team, some strange decisions, on inclusions and omissions we will see how it plays out
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@weasel You could say Tony is weird, but he's a bit part player, Harry Kane is playing as the number 9 and Tuchel has clearly gone for options off the bench. Maquire and Shaw are crap and I'll argue with anyone including any of the previous 6 managers that have picked them and failed. As a Man Utd fan that watches Utd religiously week in week out I can't believe that people can't see that Carrick is picking 50% of the back 4 that Jose picked, 75% that OGS picked and 100% that Ten Hag picked. And fans wander why we have no style of play. It's because that back 4 can only play low block counter attacking football. Fans go on about the Utd way which we haven't played for 13 years, that way was relying on your full backs getting forward, overlapping the wingers and linking up with a strong number 10. We haven't had a full back that does that well since Evra. Look at Luke Shaws attacking stats this season, almost the worst in the league for a full back, he doesn't pass the eye test either, as stats aren't everything.
Tuchel has picked a squad that will have a style of play and not a bunch of overated favourites that rely on moments of brilliance. Maguire and Shaw have played for Utd collectively for 8 years and been no where near a style of play or league title/UCL final.
Emperors new clothes spring to mind.
Tuchel has picked a squad that will have a style of play and not a bunch of overated favourites that rely on moments of brilliance. Maguire and Shaw have played for Utd collectively for 8 years and been no where near a style of play or league title/UCL final.
Emperors new clothes spring to mind.
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Fair.
I think Toney is a wasted spot. One guy just in case you make pens is a waste for me especially as it's supposed to be 8,000 degrees in the US this summer. Still, if Tuchel wants to try it, his call. Time will tell who is right.
I take your point on Shaw. I haven't looked at his stats and was simply basing it off the little I have seen of him. He isn't, and never has been box to box. But then there will be times and games when you need a LB who can defend first and foremost. Does he not tick that box? All academic at this stage anyway
I think Toney is a wasted spot. One guy just in case you make pens is a waste for me especially as it's supposed to be 8,000 degrees in the US this summer. Still, if Tuchel wants to try it, his call. Time will tell who is right.
I take your point on Shaw. I haven't looked at his stats and was simply basing it off the little I have seen of him. He isn't, and never has been box to box. But then there will be times and games when you need a LB who can defend first and foremost. Does he not tick that box? All academic at this stage anyway
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Will probably go out in the quarter finals regardless of who gets picked.
Well done, Edd.
Genuinely gutted for you @Cazza you did everything you could and that last 20 minutes is probably the most nervous I've ever been watching a football match. It's a game of fine margins, only came down to two goals in the end. Burnley and Wolves were *****, but any of the other six could have gone down, I mean we only finished 11 points below Chelsea who were nailed on for CL a few weeks ago. Crazy season.
Hard luck WH, you did what you needed to on the final day but Everton let you down.
In truth they didnt turn up. Spurs weren't great but they were by a mile the better side. How that Everton team was in with a shout of european football is beyond me. Spurs could have refused to come out for the second half and they still would have won because Everton had no clue.
I hope WH don't have to have a fire sale of players now, although the likes of Bowen, Fernandez and Summerville may well be sold. Will Soucek and Callum Wilson fancy the Championship?
In truth they didnt turn up. Spurs weren't great but they were by a mile the better side. How that Everton team was in with a shout of european football is beyond me. Spurs could have refused to come out for the second half and they still would have won because Everton had no clue.
I hope WH don't have to have a fire sale of players now, although the likes of Bowen, Fernandez and Summerville may well be sold. Will Soucek and Callum Wilson fancy the Championship?
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Fair play to Palace. Always nice to see non big 6 sides win stuff, especially in Europe.
Ps, can Liverpool have Adam Wharton now please? We'll throw in a free Arne Slot, you need a manager……
Ps, can Liverpool have Adam Wharton now please? We'll throw in a free Arne Slot, you need a manager……
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Slot sacked, kind of predictable and hopefully the wrong decision.
Bye bye Arne!
Looks like Iraola is favourite. That'll be binary outcome. Superb or *****.
He did well at Bournemouth after a rough start, but can he cope in a bigger spotlight with bigger egos?
I watched Bournemouth City a week or so back and they played City off the park. The league table suggests that wasn't a one off fluke. But big fish little pond, and little fish big pond are two different mind sets.
The only other name who sounds interesting is Hoeness at Stuttgart, albeit I know very little about him beyond hearing how his teams play and that Klopp was a big fan. Insert your own comment about how well letting Fergy pick his successor went.
Looks like Iraola is favourite. That'll be binary outcome. Superb or *****.
He did well at Bournemouth after a rough start, but can he cope in a bigger spotlight with bigger egos?
I watched Bournemouth City a week or so back and they played City off the park. The league table suggests that wasn't a one off fluke. But big fish little pond, and little fish big pond are two different mind sets.
The only other name who sounds interesting is Hoeness at Stuttgart, albeit I know very little about him beyond hearing how his teams play and that Klopp was a big fan. Insert your own comment about how well letting Fergy pick his successor went.
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Yeah whoever Liverpool get it's a risk. No doubt whatever Liverpool do they will make Utd giving Carrick the full time job look amateurish.
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Why not take the Arsenal approach and appoint Jordan Henderson, that worked out OK after a few seasons! As you say anyone going from a small club to a "big" club tends to divebomb - Moyes, Frank etc
lejackal
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Still very raw, but initial thoughts.
Should we have gone be at then a bit more after the first goal?
No early yellow for delaying the restart, first one from Arsenal was a yellow.
Why was there no VAR review on the Madueke non penalty? (Maybe still not a pen, but surely worthy of a review)
Several decisions against us and similar given to PSG
Eze - FFS just blast it and never ever do the hop, skip and jump run up again
Big Gabby - should never have been him taking any of the first five
Should we have gone be at then a bit more after the first goal?
No early yellow for delaying the restart, first one from Arsenal was a yellow.
Why was there no VAR review on the Madueke non penalty? (Maybe still not a pen, but surely worthy of a review)
Several decisions against us and similar given to PSG
Eze - FFS just blast it and never ever do the hop, skip and jump run up again
Big Gabby - should never have been him taking any of the first five
Unlucky Carl, really wanted Arsenal to win
Weird there was no VAR for the pen shout.
Yes think Arsenal should have gone for it a bit more after Havertz scored, pens are always a lottery though
Def think Arsenal are a force though, yes there are detractors about the way the play the game, but hey you won the league and got to CL final, that's what history will record
Chin up mate and look forward to next season
Weird there was no VAR for the pen shout.
Yes think Arsenal should have gone for it a bit more after Havertz scored, pens are always a lottery though
Def think Arsenal are a force though, yes there are detractors about the way the play the game, but hey you won the league and got to CL final, that's what history will record
Chin up mate and look forward to next season
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Hard way to lose, and yes Arsenal certainly should have gone for it. 28% possession and 1 shot on target in 90 minutes is asking for trouble against PSG. I'm sure Arteta will be back determined more than ever to win it.
Hard luck, Carl. Horrible way to lose. The ref did seem to give them a bit more. Not a pen for me, though. Arsenal just didn't do enough, although PSG huffed and puffed, but deserved it overall I guess.
Yeah, hard luck Arsenal that's a brutal way to lose a final, and for it to be a CL final as well. Gut wrenching.
@theforceuk summed it up well.
As a neutral, and possibly for Arsenal too, them scoring early was the worst thing that could happen. They are a fantastically well drilled defensive side (that's a compliment, not a dig) and going 1 up so early in a CL final against one of the best attacking sides in world football, the temptation is bloody strong to sit in and do what you do best. Pool, were baffled by the same conundrum against Spuds after the nonsense pen. TBF to Arsenal they held PSG at arms length for most of the first hour. But holding someone like PSG off for near enough 90mins is a massive ask. To answer your question, yes, they should have gone at them a bit more. Not gun-ho but they sat in too much. Totally understandable, but with the benefit of hindsight, they needed to be a bit more aggressive in the final third.
That wasn't a penalty. It said a lot when even Martin Keown who has drunk more Arsenal cool-aid than the kit man and club mascot, said it probably wasnt a penalty. When he says that, you know, it wasnt a pen.
Ali McCoist summed it up well, "clumsy, seen them given, not enough for VAR to get involved."
To be brutally honest, the double handball by Saka in the first half was much more of a pen. I am amazed that wasnt given, especially with the daftly low bar used for handball in the CL.
Maybe those two penalty calls even themselves out.
Other random thoughts on the game, Gabriel was immemse. That first half was one of the best I have seen from a CB in a CL final. Gutted for him that he will remember that game for his missed penalty. Why was he taking one though?
I have always said "never trust a CB taking a penalty." I dunno what is about the position but so many of them miss. JT slipping over being a prime example. If the CB's name happens to be David Unsworth……..then let him take it. Proper old school "you save this and you're going in the ******* net with the ball" styled GBH smack it as hard as you can.
Surely Arsenal have better penalty takers than him? Easy to say after he misses, maybe he was/is superb at them in training and wanted to take one/no one else did. Gutted for him though.
Steven Gerrard on co-co-comms is an experiment that should be left with this season. He offers nothing and has the world's dullest voice. Great player does not mean he will be a great pundit or co-comm. For examples see 90% of ex players. He is bad though.
TNT sports' panel was Our Martin, Jack Wiltshire and Laura Woods. Three Arsenal fans. Can we have ONE impartial person? Is it too much to ask to just have one? I know there aren't many big ex PSG players who have played in the PL (David Beckham can barely speak English so he is ruled out straight away) but Thiago Silva or even someone like Patrice Evra who would at least be able to provide a French aspect (and is a surprisingly good pundit).
I think was a level too high for Gokyeres (spelling). He was poor when he came on. Everyone can have bad games, but he just didn't do the basics you want when it's backs to the wall. Hold the ******* ball up son. DON'T give it away every time it comes near you. Hard to come on in a final and get up to speed, but I'm still not convinced by him.
Fair play Arteta got his selection right, Haeverts (who I also dont rate) played well while he was on, and MLS was very good in CM. Especially considering how inexperienced he is at that level in CM and that it was a CL final. It would have been easy to be overawed. You have to fear for Zubimendi's spot in future.
That's probably one of the hardest ways to lose a final, that and how Bayern lost in '99, I do feel for Arsenal. But 28% possession, the lowest ever in a CL final and so few shots on target. It may have been a semi intentional game plan, and plays to their strengths, but the stats do lean towards PSG deserving it.
Take NOTHING away from Arsenal though, SUPERB season, PL winners and two finals to boot. Losing a CL final is tough, I know, but if we had offered Arsenal fans 'just' the PL and early exits in all 3 cup comps, in August they would have bitten our hands off. To have a CL and LC final thrown in. Stunning season. I am jealous.
Can you please go back to being **** now?
@theforceuk summed it up well.
As a neutral, and possibly for Arsenal too, them scoring early was the worst thing that could happen. They are a fantastically well drilled defensive side (that's a compliment, not a dig) and going 1 up so early in a CL final against one of the best attacking sides in world football, the temptation is bloody strong to sit in and do what you do best. Pool, were baffled by the same conundrum against Spuds after the nonsense pen. TBF to Arsenal they held PSG at arms length for most of the first hour. But holding someone like PSG off for near enough 90mins is a massive ask. To answer your question, yes, they should have gone at them a bit more. Not gun-ho but they sat in too much. Totally understandable, but with the benefit of hindsight, they needed to be a bit more aggressive in the final third.
That wasn't a penalty. It said a lot when even Martin Keown who has drunk more Arsenal cool-aid than the kit man and club mascot, said it probably wasnt a penalty. When he says that, you know, it wasnt a pen.
Ali McCoist summed it up well, "clumsy, seen them given, not enough for VAR to get involved."
To be brutally honest, the double handball by Saka in the first half was much more of a pen. I am amazed that wasnt given, especially with the daftly low bar used for handball in the CL.
Maybe those two penalty calls even themselves out.
Other random thoughts on the game, Gabriel was immemse. That first half was one of the best I have seen from a CB in a CL final. Gutted for him that he will remember that game for his missed penalty. Why was he taking one though?
I have always said "never trust a CB taking a penalty." I dunno what is about the position but so many of them miss. JT slipping over being a prime example. If the CB's name happens to be David Unsworth……..then let him take it. Proper old school "you save this and you're going in the ******* net with the ball" styled GBH smack it as hard as you can.
Surely Arsenal have better penalty takers than him? Easy to say after he misses, maybe he was/is superb at them in training and wanted to take one/no one else did. Gutted for him though.
Steven Gerrard on co-co-comms is an experiment that should be left with this season. He offers nothing and has the world's dullest voice. Great player does not mean he will be a great pundit or co-comm. For examples see 90% of ex players. He is bad though.
TNT sports' panel was Our Martin, Jack Wiltshire and Laura Woods. Three Arsenal fans. Can we have ONE impartial person? Is it too much to ask to just have one? I know there aren't many big ex PSG players who have played in the PL (David Beckham can barely speak English so he is ruled out straight away) but Thiago Silva or even someone like Patrice Evra who would at least be able to provide a French aspect (and is a surprisingly good pundit).
I think was a level too high for Gokyeres (spelling). He was poor when he came on. Everyone can have bad games, but he just didn't do the basics you want when it's backs to the wall. Hold the ******* ball up son. DON'T give it away every time it comes near you. Hard to come on in a final and get up to speed, but I'm still not convinced by him.
Fair play Arteta got his selection right, Haeverts (who I also dont rate) played well while he was on, and MLS was very good in CM. Especially considering how inexperienced he is at that level in CM and that it was a CL final. It would have been easy to be overawed. You have to fear for Zubimendi's spot in future.
That's probably one of the hardest ways to lose a final, that and how Bayern lost in '99, I do feel for Arsenal. But 28% possession, the lowest ever in a CL final and so few shots on target. It may have been a semi intentional game plan, and plays to their strengths, but the stats do lean towards PSG deserving it.
Take NOTHING away from Arsenal though, SUPERB season, PL winners and two finals to boot. Losing a CL final is tough, I know, but if we had offered Arsenal fans 'just' the PL and early exits in all 3 cup comps, in August they would have bitten our hands off. To have a CL and LC final thrown in. Stunning season. I am jealous.
Can you please go back to being **** now?
I don't think it's so much about Arsenal going **** again, it's more will anyone else step up. Timing is everything in football - Spurs had a good spell while City, Liverpool, Chelsea and even f**king Leicester were flying high. Arsenal have managed to time their good spell with Liverpool dropping off a cliff, Chelsea and Spurs imploding, United only being good for half a season, and City coming to the end of the Pep era. Not sour grapes, just a fact. Will be interesting to see if there is any serious competition next season, and at this point based on the above I seriously have no idea who that may be!
Yeah, next year is gonna be very interesting.
New managers at Pool, Chelsea and City.
Carrick at Utd, they underperformed under Amorim (they were never THAT bad) and they have over performed under Carrick so far (results have been better than performances, according to a few Utd supporting mates). Add in De Verbi at spuds (which wont end well, but it's just a case of what happens before he blows up).
Then there is the matter of how Arsenal react to that defeat. History, in the PL, suggests they will go again…sadly.
New managers at Pool, Chelsea and City.
Carrick at Utd, they underperformed under Amorim (they were never THAT bad) and they have over performed under Carrick so far (results have been better than performances, according to a few Utd supporting mates). Add in De Verbi at spuds (which wont end well, but it's just a case of what happens before he blows up).
Then there is the matter of how Arsenal react to that defeat. History, in the PL, suggests they will go again…sadly.
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I agree with your mates @weasel results have been better than performances for Utd. Apart from Arsenal and City the performances were often terrible. That's the thing with Utd's squad, they've been moments FC for years.
Next season will be interesting but if Liverpool get Iraola they will be favourites for me, bar City Bournemouth played the best brand of football last season and he took Bournemouth on the longest unbeaten run in Europe. Ok Liverpools a different kettle of fish completely, but if the players respond to him it could be title number 21 for Liverpool.
Next season will be interesting but if Liverpool get Iraola they will be favourites for me, bar City Bournemouth played the best brand of football last season and he took Bournemouth on the longest unbeaten run in Europe. Ok Liverpools a different kettle of fish completely, but if the players respond to him it could be title number 21 for Liverpool.
lejackal
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Thanks Mike
They literally planned for winning the league at this time - they calculated when the best chance would be based on the other teams cycles and plotted a route to deliver a winning team around the right time. Incredible levels of strategic planning behind the scenes. The first title challenge and second place was as much a surprise to Arsenal as it was to anyone else.
lejackal
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On the Spuds front they have openly said (paraphrasing here) that they weren't operating to win trophies. Brave to be so honest, but **** me, I can't see their fans appreciating that.
I think that's more in the short term, trophies are not a realistic prospect when you've finished 17th for the last two seasons 
I'd be happy with a bit of stability - retain the (any) manager, buy a few good players, sell a few dead wood, do something about the double figure injuries every season (some people are saying it's the pitch) and a mid table finish is about the best we can hope for next season, will take a few seasons to become competitive again.
I'd be happy with a bit of stability - retain the (any) manager, buy a few good players, sell a few dead wood, do something about the double figure injuries every season (some people are saying it's the pitch) and a mid table finish is about the best we can hope for next season, will take a few seasons to become competitive again.In all seriousness, that's most of your squad!
It's all down to how well he copes with going from being a big ish fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a much bigger pond. The track record of manage making that step is almost universal failure.
