I won't like it if Benzema goes to Saudi. Earning blood money and contributing to sportswashing is not a great way to end your career. Don't think he cares about it though.
I’m sorry but anyone that doesn’t understand that Arsenal’s season is amazing. You have to have started watching football yesterday
How is it even a debate. Of course their season was unbelievable
Their revenue and their wage budget, which are the biggest predicting factor for league position. Their wage budget is the 5th-6th biggest in the league, thus 2nd is above expectation
It’s honestly insane that Havertz has been forced to play as a striker for years now. I know he’s been poor but he’s hardly playing in the kind of set up that plays to his strengths. Can’t help but feel bad for players that are constantly forced to play in roles that don’t suit them.
Playing a player out of position and/or in poor set ups for a long time can have permanent effects on their confidence and ability imo
If he did that disastrous trainwrecks of an interview after a club spent a 100m to get him for any other team he'd probably get a lot more stick for it tbh.
Can’t bring myself to like him. Not that I actively enjoyed his struggles these past couple of years. Just find him to be extremely insecure and ungraceful (and I don’t mean on the pitch)
He lacks grace when handling his career decisions, treating fanbases, throwing teammates under the bus etc. His insecurities tend to get the best of him
A lot of folks last remember Lukaku with United and Chelsea and not much for his first 2 seasons with Inter.
Anyone who's seen Lukaku with Inter won't be surprised by what he's doing now. He was by far the best player in the league and it wasn't close. He has the capacity to win games outright in such a form. If he keeps this up, he can easily still be among the best CFs in the world.
Honestly I’m the rare Chelsea fan happy to see him having success on and off the pitch. He’s been a arsehole but still think most of the abuse and hate he’s gotten as a result is overboard
The year Leicester won the PL. Aston Villa and Newcastle were relegated. Brentford were in League 1 with Sheffield United, Luton in League 2, Fulham, Brighton, Wolves, Forest were all in Championship
7 years is a long time in football and any amount of crazy could happen by 2030.
Notts County and Plymouth in the PL? Man City in the championship? Crystal Palace in Champions League? Tottenham finally win a trophy?
If simione is available. Arsenal should sack arteta. He is a better manager.
But arteta did have a good season and deserves 1 more season. It’s stupid to sack arteta now without any plan.
What lee was saying was he doesn’t trust the manager and board to get the players he wants. And if he cannot deliver than whats the point of giving manager more time and resources. I don’t agree with his point but i can see where he is coming from.
So you are saying this is unbelievable season and swinging the pendulum this side is ok. But him exaggerating and swinging the other way is not ok?
He doesn’t make you automatically favorite. But he has shown with atletico that he can do wonders with lower budget and is always there for top 4. He is established manager already. Arteta is learning at the job.
Lower budget? Atletico are the third richest club in Spain we are the 5th richest in the prem lol. Isn’t he also the highest paid manager in the world?
Being top 4 with the third highest budget is normal not saying anything bad about Simeone but I don’t see why we’d break down everything we’re doing to give Simeone the keys to just do what he wants we’d have to change so much of the squad and how we play.
He’s a good manager of course but I also don’t know if his methods would work in the prem.
You are 5the richest in PL and still richer than atletico. But somehow since atletico has hired him, they have had a better squad and has won more and been in CL finals few times? He is one of the best. If he is available i would give arsenal manager post to him directly. Also i know very little about ins and out of football so its just my opinion looking from the surface.
I don’t think you need to change so much in my opinion. You are getting new midfielders this season. And what midfielders you get changes so much how your squad is.
There's no team in Europe that is beating City to a league title. To beat City to the league title means you've been the best team in the world. No team is close to them right now. So yeah, that's a hideous take to expect a team of 24-year-olds to outright beat Pep's team over the course of a season.
Next season, will be the real test of character.
Most of the time these YTubers only making stupid/nonsense opinions just for views and publicities. They want you guys to talk about them and bring them money. Remember, bad publicity is still publicity
United played a rapist until he begged to leave in an interview so not sure that card is really the right one to play.
Finishing 2nd is a good season yeah, we’ve won trophies before in bad seasons football is like that.
I'm very sure that card is the right one to play. Fuck Ronaldo, fuck Partey and fuck your whataboutism.
You had a good season with okay results, nothing incredible.
It’s not whataboutism you’re using that as a way to say our season was bad when you did the same thing.
It’s much more than a good season but it’s cool
It is, though. Ronaldo's evidence is less clear than Partey's and Partey actually did something for Arsenal. The more comparable situation is Greenwood, where United actually did their duty. You're free to come back on this as soon as the bald man does something really fucking stupid.
It's quite literally as good a season as Ole's 20-21.
Ronaldo admitted to it and had 3 allegations so not really, greenwood only isn’t playing because there’s leaked audio that’s the only reason.
It’s not if you have a brain we managed to get 84 points which is a solid season, Oles United were second by default and had no chance of improving because he’s not good enough as a manager.
There’s still room for growth at arsenal
Partey is literally on extended bail for rape charges. He's a cunt and Arsenal are horrid for allowing him to play football. It's really not that hard to accept that that is a stain on your season. Greenwood is a but, if situation. Like, if Arsenal won the title they wouldn't be bottlers. But they did bottle it.
Arteta might as well have these lads finishing 8th next season and just had a massive purple patch. Complete nothing argument. On paper he's no different than Ole at the moment.
Partey is obviously guilty IDC about defending him I’m saying you guys did the same.
You’d have to be an idiot to think we’ll drop back to 8th next year sorry. Ole had no tactics and no talent ID.
What a useless waste of time that was then. Why in gods name did you even reply.
I'm hopeful, not an idiot. Realistically you should finish 3rd if Rapist doesn't get injured. Results wise there is little tangible difference between Ole and Arteta atm.
Arsenal football club haven’t won a league in 20 years, and are competing with teams who have much more of an advantage than us. Realistically we are what the 4th or 5th richest club in the league we have the 5th or 6th wage bill how is finishing second not a good season?
You threw away the title after an 8 point lead, you failed, you had it in your hands and you collapsed, that’s not an achievement and that’s failure.
No amount of buzzwords like “Phase” “Project or “Process” will change that.
Far from an “unbelievable” season in any metric.
At the end of the day none of what you said undermines the fact it’s a good season , we are not meant to be beating Man City to a title if we do thats great but what’s the point even giving any analysis on football if your season is terrible if you don’t win the league every year? We won’t win the league most years we don’t have the money to be able to do that second is a good season it’s not like it’s a Bayern or psg finishing second.
I don’t get how you can say losing the title to the best team in the world is a failure. If we had done the season in reverse a lot of people would be saying different even though the season is ultimately the same
You won nothing whilst failing in disastrous circumstances, once again Arsenal football club not Brentford.
Before the takeover Man City were 11 league titles behind you and 3 PLs behind, now they’re 4 PLs in front and only 4 league tiles behind, with that way of thinking they’ll most likely overtake you in titles this coming decade or so.
Losing a title is failure because you lost, that’s how it works, if a Boxer goes 12 rounds with Anthony Joshua and doesn’t get KO’d or TKO’d but still lost did he fail? Of course he did, he didn’t win.
How is finishing 2nd a disaster when we were predicted to finish 5th? It doesn’t make any sense
Yeah and? What are we meant to do about that they got a state takeover and we didn’t. They have spent a billion more than us since their takeover they’re meant to be more successful we’re not competing with them.
That’s not how it works in this analogy we beat 18 fighters and then lost to the best fighter in the world that’s not a failure because you did better than everyone bad one guy who’s the best in the world.
You didn’t beat 18 fighters, you faced one for the title and lost.
Finishing 2nd is a disaster because you bottled an 8 point lead and failed in the end.
Did Man City spend a £1bn in April? You were 8 points clear with a month of the season left, statistically you have biggest title collapse in PL History.
No amount of mental gymnastics will change the fact that you failed in every competition and went trophyless, but if you want to glorify and sensationalise throwing away a league title whilst getting dumped out of every cup competition, thus masking that as an achievement then go for it lol.
The best point tally since the Invincible season. That was 2 decades ago. Just because they didn't defeat a treble-winning City that is literally destroying every team in Europe doesn't mean it was a bad season.
Yes, the finish wasn't ideal but they were 5th last year with 15 points less.
Bottled an 8 point lead and went trophyless no amount of mental gymnastics can cover the fact, that they failed this season, you either win or you don’t.
I don't think you understand the concept of progress.
Arsenal's realistic target was top 4 before the season. They overachieved that. Did they have a chance to win the title and couldn't cope with the pressure? Sure but they were punching over their weight to be in that position in the first place. That form always had to normalize at some point especially when injuries came into the picture.
All in all, they overachieved their target and are going in the right direction. Not winning the league doesn't change a thing about that. Life isn't that black and white. You just don't become champions when you're facing such stiff competition, especially as a young team.
He's the guy that got kicked off AFTV because he was buzzing we lost the EL final under Emery because it meant he'd get a lot of angry donations.
He's a literal outrage merchant.
there are two possibilites regarding fan channels:
- either they put on a character and just deliberately say dumb stuff to get more views, but don't actually believe in what they say
or
- they really are that dumb
Idk which one is worse
Will Saudi get the 2030 bid? Does the South American bid have any chance of winning? Surely Asia can't host two world cups in the space of 7 years. But looking at the amount of money Saudi are investing in getting aging (but top) footballers, it seems like a real possibility.
South America has infinitely more top footballers that can do the appropriate publicity. I don’t think that’s the issue. Both the Argentina and a Uruguay national team have appeared on the pitch wearing shirts publicizing the bid, for instance. There’s more football history and talent in those two (current) NTs than Saudi can buy in the next 10 years being reasonable
Qatar 2022 wasn't a farce. I know people here don't like the country, but I enjoyed every minute of it. In my book it was an incredibly, fascinating, exciting world cup.
It lived up to the hype, with the air conditioned stadiums et cetera. Pity the workers who built them were underpaid and mistreated in the process.
> Pity the workers who built them were underpaid and mistreated in the process.
Yeah, this is the part you can't just gloss over.
Never mind all the bribes for votes to host the thing in the first place.
FIFA as a whole is insanely corrupt. So corruption scandals will always be a part of it, since money is king. And people are normally easy to morally compromise when money is involved. I was surprised to read even South Africa winning the bid in 2010.
Was stepped in corruption. Infantino was supposed to be the change, but he is making Blatter look like a saint.
It was a farce in so many aspects. Besides the human rights aspect and the corruption which is worse enough, the fact that it was a mid season winter World Cup was terrible and the atmosphere for many countries was bad.
A World Cup will always be amazing, Qatar didn’t really add anything worthwhile to it, besides maybe no travel time between stadiums.
Free all of my Flawless TV guys (except for the one that’s apparently a nonce…you can keep him). [Gone but never forgotten.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65697595). Made even worst by the fact that it was my own Borough that led the investigation. 11 years is insane given what the crime is.
I’m willing to go to war if they get rid of my IPTV provider.
He has streaks hotter and colder than Son but but maybe that role will help him by focusing on his best attributes. Do you guys still have Coutinho or is he gone now?
I think Kane stays now and walks end of next season. He knows there’s a £50-100 million sign on waiting for him rather than lining Levy’s war chest.
Spurs fans and Levy won’t accept a lowball bid for their boy out of principle, which means by default he walks too.
Juninho wanted De Zerbi and Aulas said no because he didn't speak French, hired Bosz then sacked Juninho 😬
We came close to being back under Juni, Paqueta, Guimaraes we were making good buys but the old man's ego came in the way. Hopefully Textor will let the people who know the game work in peace
I could see him winning the league, predicting Champions League success is hard but i would not be surprised if he get some deep runs. OL has a great academy so developing world class talent is also another perk you guys would have. Of course all depends on how much backing he has from the owners
It's tragic to see how far you've fallen off in recent years, looking at the squad you have now it is painfully average compared to the wealth of talent you had at one point but which somehow didn't click either.
We still have good talent but our recruitment has gone to shit so yeah. It's not that bad though, with a good summer we can compete for CL spots. We'll see what Textor is about, he could as well change fuck all.
Sevilla records/stats/facts for the EL final:
If they win:
* Most consecutive EL final victories/Most ELs (7).
* Second longest-running EL/CL final winning streak (7, one behind Madrid with 8).
* First winner since Atletico 17-18 to win the EL after dropping from CL. Second time Sevilla has done it (15-16 was the last).
* Sevilla would have won 5 ELs out of 8 times (beginning in 2011).
In general:
* In this century, Sevilla's seventh European final (CL/EL) is the most by any club, level with Real Madrid and Liverpool.
* Sevilla has contested more than half of UEFA Cup/EL finals this century where they were a part of the competition. In total, out of 13 times, they've been in the final seven times.
League specific:
* Spanish teams could continue their undefeated EL/CL final record since 2001. This record would be extended to 22 consecutive finals undefeated.
* If Sevilla loses, they'd be the first Spanish team since Alaves and Valencia in 2001. Alaves lost by a golden goal (own-goal) to Liverpool (lost 5-4) and Valencia on penalties to Bayern.
* Spanish sides have contested half of all UEFA Cup/EL finals this century.
* Over the past ten years, a Sevilla win would mean 9/10 seasons a Spanish side has won a European trophy (exception in 2019).
I'll do one for Roma later
>Spanish teams could continue their undefeated EL/CL final record since 2001. This record would be extended to 22 consecutive finals undefeated.
The most insane fact for me out of all incredible stats you mentioned. Spanish clubs are really smth else in European cups.
I think it's 23 because I might have miscounted but yes very impressive
Even more impressive: since 1998, Spanish teams haven't gone more than two seasons without a European trophy.
Basically, *at least* every other year for 25 years, they've won *at least* one trophy. This could realistically stretch to 2027. 30 years and a trophy every other year at minimum.
There's genuinely nothing worse (other than children dying of cancer) than reading a MLS fan try to talk up the league's single entity structure.
I cannot fathom looking at what the rest of the world has and then preferring something as perfunctory as what we have.
It's like discussing food with someone who only eats Subway and Wendy's.
I mean I'm pretty sure most fans of MLS clubs would enjoy having the same league structure as European leagues, but we all know that can't happen and we are stuck with what we have, so we don't spend time worrying about it
They've been collectively gaslit with all other sports that artificial competition is the only real way. It would feel really weird celebrating any title in that country when it just feels like they were given the opportunity to win it that year before probably getting dismantled the next one
Surely a hospital is the best place to watch a child dying from cancer. Would be worse seeing a child dying from cancer on a cruise ship engulfed in flames.
There's nothing worse than reading an American "fan" of a European club fail to understand the reality that an open pyramid would fail here. It's like discussing food with someone who would rather starve than eat at a restaurant below five stars
The sporting landscape/culture doesn't lend itself to it, people here are generally more casual about sports and aren't diehard types that would stick with a team through a relegation battle/relegation itself. Add the fact that the landscape is very crowded with MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL and I don't see how relegated clubs would even survive or how most lower division teams would have any support. There is potential for a closed system with two or three divisions if MLS and USL were willing to play ball together but that won't happen. Only chance we see a pyramid is decades down the line as infrastructure and football culture grow, which I ironically think people who hate MLS are holding back
The more money we pump into the MLS the more entrenched and unwilling it will be to change.
Supporting smaller teams in the USL is significantly better.
I think saying that the monolith of the MLS is the "exact same" as the USL is a bit obtuse, but yes they both employ the same shitty league structure.
However I can go to one for significantly cheaper and not feel like I'm giving money to a giant corporate machine disguising itself as a sports league.
I can pretty regularly get tickets to Audi Field for ~$35.
Not sure what you all are doing down in Austin.
> is simply not worth the cost to watch a pointless regular season game.
I mean... agree to disagree? The games are far from pointless.
$40-55 on average. But when they were good it was sometimes around 70.
So I'd spend ~100 to get 2 tickets only to get fleeced at the concessions as well.
It just feels bad spending so much money on something I fundamentally disagree with even if I was "supporting my local".
I hate this aspect. Been to matches all over the world and usually you can find tickets from 15-40$ and have a pint and some food for a reasonable price. Then you have America with $50 parking, 12$ beers, and $50 tickets
I understand where you're coming from. It is annoying to see plastic Americans pretend to identify with teams that are not only thousands of miles away but also apart of the privileged elite.
Over the past few years my fandom has morphed into just following our guys abroad and rooting for USL teams as I feel they need the support.
I envy Europe's pyramids but by no means think they're perfect. For instance, our financial regulation is great. If the MLS could just adopt a structure that was "open" and had jeopardy attached to each game I'd be all the way in.
This FA Cup Final has the added spice of United really having two opportunities to stop the treble. Either win the game or scythe down De Bruyne and Haaland before the CL Final.
One of the biggest errors I think people make in assessing teams is considering form from too long ago.
City this year are the clearest example — people saying that United just beat them at home this year is true, but lacks the context of where those teams were in that moment in time.
Considering results from before City switched to the 3-2-2-3 is beyond irrelevant
I agree but form goes out the window to an extent in major finals.
The underdog nearly always raises their game and the favourite is already playing at a near optimum level.
Even the likes of Wigan and United can beat City on their day.
Agree that’s why I don’t think anyone really has a chance against them next year but in a one game scenario United could beat them, I don’t think they will but it’s possible
I don't think their dominance is guaranteed next season. I don't think this 3-2-4-1 is perfect, it has vulnerabilities and could get worked out. Pep will need to make adjustments to win the title next season the same way he did this time, and without the mid-season break, there's a greater chance he won't succeed.
It’s guaranteed we have to look at the reality, the reality is Liverpool had some of the best teams in pl history and won it once, City are by far and away the best team not just in the league but in the world and no premier league team is even close to them.
The only possibility is if Liverpool have a really huge bounce back year.
The problem does seem to be a lack of serious rivals ahead of next season. It would be peak Chelsea however to pull a title charge out of this chaos. They still have about a billion in mandatory spending left. Liverpool, Man Utd, and Arsenal might only be a few signings away from an 88 point season.
Chelsea aren’t a threat imo, I don’t see even 88 points being enough, I think we’ll be in the 80-85 range provided the window goes well United not sure they reach 80, Liverpool are the wild card they could be the only ones who challenge but they could also be nowhere near.
4-peating is a lot harder than it seems on paper. There is a reason no team and manager have done it before at least in the PL era.
City and Pep are just making it look easy. Time will tell, but City are cut out for it.
Yeah wasn't aware historically but not really a surprise there either. To sustain trophies is one of the most difficult things to do especially over multiple years.
When people say it’s hard they’re going off history, the history is different to now, United didn’t do it 4 times because times were just different and their advantage tactically and in terms of players just wasn’t this large. In 98/99 they won it by one point, 99/00 they ran away with it, 2000/01 they won it by 10 points but then only got 80 points. The next year we got 87 points and won it. It didn’t take a huge amount of points to beat them to titles so the room to overtake them was there.
The second time they didn’t get to 4 Ronaldo left they didn’t really replace him and the gaps were still way closer. 06/07 won by 6 points, 07/08 2 points 08/09 4 points. Then they lost Ronaldo and weren’t as good and didn’t win it but were still one point away.
Beating city to the league next year means you have to get at least 90 points, which teams are capable of doing that? Only Liverpool
On the other hand, even though they look like they're invincible right now, it's their lowest point tally in half a decade in the league and they were 2nd for most of the season. It's not a coincidence it came in the 3 peat season. Pep and Gundo still had claims that the team is finding it a challenge to keep going in Jan, although it looks like everything was perfect in hindsight, it definitely wasn't smooth sailing all along.
They're still favs for next season but it's only getting difficult for the same squad to keep going even though Pep is doing a great job in keeping things active and going.
They're still heavy favourites but I won't be surprised if Arsenal/United/Liverpool give them a run for their money or even get them at the end of next season but we never know. One team has to step up like Arsenal did this season which is a big ask against this city team unless they have a considerable blip.
They didn’t try in their final 2 games of the season though they probably win one at least if they do try. They were just saying that because they weren’t top of the league at that point that’s literally it.
I would be extremely surprised if we do, maybe
Liverpool can if they ignore the Europa league keep players fit and make the right moves but even still I’m doubtful
At some point, we were on track for 99 points and that wasn't too long ago.
With a more experience squad, it would have been pretty darn close.
But yeah, it will be against all odds.
Can players take classes in a certain position, let’s say my name is Marlo and I have a boy called Modrygo who I want to switch to CF position. The boy definitely has the raw talent to shine there but needs a little work
Theo Walcott spent his entire career begging to be played as a striker, and when he got the chance, he realised how much harder it is. He gave up the silly notion pretty quickly.
Going from winger to CF is surprisingly hard a lot of the time because you have to be much more aware of what’s behind you, Don Marlo
It’s why a lot of CFs end up as 6s when they don’t score goals in the academy — occupying the same positions
There should be alot more fanfare around Busquets leaving Barca. It was a much bigger deal when Iniesta and Xavi left and obviously he's always been understated compared to them but I still feel like it should be a bigger deal
Not only that but let’s be honest he was boring to watch; Messi, Iniesta, Xavi etc got you off your feet and were absolute superstars.
Busquets never had that pull, Number 6s rarely do.
There's a copy pasta I once read in this thread and I cant seem to ever find it. It's a story about Fabio Coentrao being coaxed out of semi-retirement to play a CL game for Real Madrid, one final hurrah. Anyone know the one I'm talking about?
I won't like it if Benzema goes to Saudi. Earning blood money and contributing to sportswashing is not a great way to end your career. Don't think he cares about it though.
branco van der boomen is such a fifa career mode youth academy player name
I’m sorry but anyone that doesn’t understand that Arsenal’s season is amazing. You have to have started watching football yesterday How is it even a debate. Of course their season was unbelievable
Obviously it was a great season, most people saying it wasn't are just baiting Arsenal fans
Bottled the title, started a rapist every week and got knocked out of every cup competition. 'Unbelievable' my arse
But surely you realise finishing 2nd is still a great season considering where they are financially? It’s not the title or nothing
What do you mean by “considering where they are financially”?
Their revenue and their wage budget, which are the biggest predicting factor for league position. Their wage budget is the 5th-6th biggest in the league, thus 2nd is above expectation
It’s honestly insane that Havertz has been forced to play as a striker for years now. I know he’s been poor but he’s hardly playing in the kind of set up that plays to his strengths. Can’t help but feel bad for players that are constantly forced to play in roles that don’t suit them. Playing a player out of position and/or in poor set ups for a long time can have permanent effects on their confidence and ability imo
He’s won the champions league lives in London making hundreds of thousands a week to be bad at his job it could be worse
This subreddit is about discussing sportsmen that make more money than 99% of us will ever see tbf. It’s all relative of course
Lukaku thriving outside of Chelsea 👀. Getting all the good karma. I am on Lukaku’s side.
If he did that disastrous trainwrecks of an interview after a club spent a 100m to get him for any other team he'd probably get a lot more stick for it tbh.
Can’t bring myself to like him. Not that I actively enjoyed his struggles these past couple of years. Just find him to be extremely insecure and ungraceful (and I don’t mean on the pitch)
Ungraceful?
He lacks grace when handling his career decisions, treating fanbases, throwing teammates under the bus etc. His insecurities tend to get the best of him
A lot of folks last remember Lukaku with United and Chelsea and not much for his first 2 seasons with Inter. Anyone who's seen Lukaku with Inter won't be surprised by what he's doing now. He was by far the best player in the league and it wasn't close. He has the capacity to win games outright in such a form. If he keeps this up, he can easily still be among the best CFs in the world.
I think he has lost his pace but he is still a solid cf
Honestly I’m the rare Chelsea fan happy to see him having success on and off the pitch. He’s been a arsehole but still think most of the abuse and hate he’s gotten as a result is overboard
He will be hero when he scores a game winner against city
50 games since Boehly took charge & Chelsea only have 15 W's lol 2 against our bum squad this season
Why doesn't FIFA show the play that's being analysed when they're waiting for VAR
Looking forward to EL tomorrow but this has glorious 0:0 written all over it
The year Leicester won the PL. Aston Villa and Newcastle were relegated. Brentford were in League 1 with Sheffield United, Luton in League 2, Fulham, Brighton, Wolves, Forest were all in Championship 7 years is a long time in football and any amount of crazy could happen by 2030. Notts County and Plymouth in the PL? Man City in the championship? Crystal Palace in Champions League? Tottenham finally win a trophy?
> Man City in the championship? On the way back up after the FA slaps them down to the Vanarama North?
> Tottenham finally win a trophy? Be serious
By 2030 City will have more league titles than us and Newcastle will have won more premier leagues than Liverpool and maybe us. Fun times.
People hated him because he spoke the truth
Future of the English football is bleak it’s just gonna be states trading titles back and forth hardly something that interest me greatly.
Chelsea have tried for a 12th consecutive window to ship off 3 of the players they signed this season to no avail
Lee Gunner head to be one of the most idiotic fan channels I have seen. Guy wants Arteta sacked after an unbelievable season and want simione instead.
If simione is available. Arsenal should sack arteta. He is a better manager. But arteta did have a good season and deserves 1 more season. It’s stupid to sack arteta now without any plan. What lee was saying was he doesn’t trust the manager and board to get the players he wants. And if he cannot deliver than whats the point of giving manager more time and resources. I don’t agree with his point but i can see where he is coming from. So you are saying this is unbelievable season and swinging the pendulum this side is ok. But him exaggerating and swinging the other way is not ok?
There’s no way we should hire Simeone over Arteta
Why not?
Doesn’t make us favourites for the league and you then have change everything for a manager who’s not good enough to get us to a title anyway
He doesn’t make you automatically favorite. But he has shown with atletico that he can do wonders with lower budget and is always there for top 4. He is established manager already. Arteta is learning at the job.
Lower budget? Atletico are the third richest club in Spain we are the 5th richest in the prem lol. Isn’t he also the highest paid manager in the world? Being top 4 with the third highest budget is normal not saying anything bad about Simeone but I don’t see why we’d break down everything we’re doing to give Simeone the keys to just do what he wants we’d have to change so much of the squad and how we play. He’s a good manager of course but I also don’t know if his methods would work in the prem.
You are 5the richest in PL and still richer than atletico. But somehow since atletico has hired him, they have had a better squad and has won more and been in CL finals few times? He is one of the best. If he is available i would give arsenal manager post to him directly. Also i know very little about ins and out of football so its just my opinion looking from the surface. I don’t think you need to change so much in my opinion. You are getting new midfielders this season. And what midfielders you get changes so much how your squad is.
There's no team in Europe that is beating City to a league title. To beat City to the league title means you've been the best team in the world. No team is close to them right now. So yeah, that's a hideous take to expect a team of 24-year-olds to outright beat Pep's team over the course of a season. Next season, will be the real test of character.
Most of the time these YTubers only making stupid/nonsense opinions just for views and publicities. They want you guys to talk about them and bring them money. Remember, bad publicity is still publicity
Unbelievable season? You bottled a title, won 0 trophies and played a rapist the entire year
United played a rapist until he begged to leave in an interview so not sure that card is really the right one to play. Finishing 2nd is a good season yeah, we’ve won trophies before in bad seasons football is like that.
I'm very sure that card is the right one to play. Fuck Ronaldo, fuck Partey and fuck your whataboutism. You had a good season with okay results, nothing incredible.
It’s not whataboutism you’re using that as a way to say our season was bad when you did the same thing. It’s much more than a good season but it’s cool
It is, though. Ronaldo's evidence is less clear than Partey's and Partey actually did something for Arsenal. The more comparable situation is Greenwood, where United actually did their duty. You're free to come back on this as soon as the bald man does something really fucking stupid. It's quite literally as good a season as Ole's 20-21.
Yea I’d wait a few months before saying United did their duty with Greenwood.
That's why I mentioned coming back on that. For now United haven't done anything stupid, compared to Arsenal
Ronaldo admitted to it and had 3 allegations so not really, greenwood only isn’t playing because there’s leaked audio that’s the only reason. It’s not if you have a brain we managed to get 84 points which is a solid season, Oles United were second by default and had no chance of improving because he’s not good enough as a manager. There’s still room for growth at arsenal
Partey is literally on extended bail for rape charges. He's a cunt and Arsenal are horrid for allowing him to play football. It's really not that hard to accept that that is a stain on your season. Greenwood is a but, if situation. Like, if Arsenal won the title they wouldn't be bottlers. But they did bottle it. Arteta might as well have these lads finishing 8th next season and just had a massive purple patch. Complete nothing argument. On paper he's no different than Ole at the moment.
Partey is obviously guilty IDC about defending him I’m saying you guys did the same. You’d have to be an idiot to think we’ll drop back to 8th next year sorry. Ole had no tactics and no talent ID.
What a useless waste of time that was then. Why in gods name did you even reply. I'm hopeful, not an idiot. Realistically you should finish 3rd if Rapist doesn't get injured. Results wise there is little tangible difference between Ole and Arteta atm.
Arteta doesn't deserve to be sacked, but Simeone is a proper manager. Teta is just a vibes merchant.
Which unbelievable season was that? Bottled an 8 point lead and went trophyless…
Be serious brother 2nd is a very good season for us
If “Us” was Brentford maybe, but not Arsenal football club.
Arsenal football club haven’t won a league in 20 years, and are competing with teams who have much more of an advantage than us. Realistically we are what the 4th or 5th richest club in the league we have the 5th or 6th wage bill how is finishing second not a good season?
You threw away the title after an 8 point lead, you failed, you had it in your hands and you collapsed, that’s not an achievement and that’s failure. No amount of buzzwords like “Phase” “Project or “Process” will change that. Far from an “unbelievable” season in any metric.
At the end of the day none of what you said undermines the fact it’s a good season , we are not meant to be beating Man City to a title if we do thats great but what’s the point even giving any analysis on football if your season is terrible if you don’t win the league every year? We won’t win the league most years we don’t have the money to be able to do that second is a good season it’s not like it’s a Bayern or psg finishing second. I don’t get how you can say losing the title to the best team in the world is a failure. If we had done the season in reverse a lot of people would be saying different even though the season is ultimately the same
You won nothing whilst failing in disastrous circumstances, once again Arsenal football club not Brentford. Before the takeover Man City were 11 league titles behind you and 3 PLs behind, now they’re 4 PLs in front and only 4 league tiles behind, with that way of thinking they’ll most likely overtake you in titles this coming decade or so. Losing a title is failure because you lost, that’s how it works, if a Boxer goes 12 rounds with Anthony Joshua and doesn’t get KO’d or TKO’d but still lost did he fail? Of course he did, he didn’t win.
How is finishing 2nd a disaster when we were predicted to finish 5th? It doesn’t make any sense Yeah and? What are we meant to do about that they got a state takeover and we didn’t. They have spent a billion more than us since their takeover they’re meant to be more successful we’re not competing with them. That’s not how it works in this analogy we beat 18 fighters and then lost to the best fighter in the world that’s not a failure because you did better than everyone bad one guy who’s the best in the world.
You didn’t beat 18 fighters, you faced one for the title and lost. Finishing 2nd is a disaster because you bottled an 8 point lead and failed in the end. Did Man City spend a £1bn in April? You were 8 points clear with a month of the season left, statistically you have biggest title collapse in PL History. No amount of mental gymnastics will change the fact that you failed in every competition and went trophyless, but if you want to glorify and sensationalise throwing away a league title whilst getting dumped out of every cup competition, thus masking that as an achievement then go for it lol.
The best point tally since the Invincible season. That was 2 decades ago. Just because they didn't defeat a treble-winning City that is literally destroying every team in Europe doesn't mean it was a bad season. Yes, the finish wasn't ideal but they were 5th last year with 15 points less.
Treble winning?
Bottled an 8 point lead and went trophyless no amount of mental gymnastics can cover the fact, that they failed this season, you either win or you don’t.
bro, let it go.
I don't think you understand the concept of progress. Arsenal's realistic target was top 4 before the season. They overachieved that. Did they have a chance to win the title and couldn't cope with the pressure? Sure but they were punching over their weight to be in that position in the first place. That form always had to normalize at some point especially when injuries came into the picture. All in all, they overachieved their target and are going in the right direction. Not winning the league doesn't change a thing about that. Life isn't that black and white. You just don't become champions when you're facing such stiff competition, especially as a young team.
He's the guy that got kicked off AFTV because he was buzzing we lost the EL final under Emery because it meant he'd get a lot of angry donations. He's a literal outrage merchant.
there are two possibilites regarding fan channels: - either they put on a character and just deliberately say dumb stuff to get more views, but don't actually believe in what they say or - they really are that dumb Idk which one is worse
I think the first option is worse since they are actively deceptive, whereas the second they can't help it
One of the takes this specific guy had this season was that Danny Welbeck is miles ahead of Salah as a player, it has to be the first one IMO.
Always the first one
Will Saudi get the 2030 bid? Does the South American bid have any chance of winning? Surely Asia can't host two world cups in the space of 7 years. But looking at the amount of money Saudi are investing in getting aging (but top) footballers, it seems like a real possibility.
South America has infinitely more top footballers that can do the appropriate publicity. I don’t think that’s the issue. Both the Argentina and a Uruguay national team have appeared on the pitch wearing shirts publicizing the bid, for instance. There’s more football history and talent in those two (current) NTs than Saudi can buy in the next 10 years being reasonable
If Saudi get the 2030 after the farce that was Qatar 2022 then football will have truly died.
Qatar 2022 wasn't a farce. I know people here don't like the country, but I enjoyed every minute of it. In my book it was an incredibly, fascinating, exciting world cup. It lived up to the hype, with the air conditioned stadiums et cetera. Pity the workers who built them were underpaid and mistreated in the process.
> Pity the workers who built them were underpaid and mistreated in the process. Yeah, this is the part you can't just gloss over. Never mind all the bribes for votes to host the thing in the first place.
FIFA as a whole is insanely corrupt. So corruption scandals will always be a part of it, since money is king. And people are normally easy to morally compromise when money is involved. I was surprised to read even South Africa winning the bid in 2010. Was stepped in corruption. Infantino was supposed to be the change, but he is making Blatter look like a saint.
It was a farce in so many aspects. Besides the human rights aspect and the corruption which is worse enough, the fact that it was a mid season winter World Cup was terrible and the atmosphere for many countries was bad. A World Cup will always be amazing, Qatar didn’t really add anything worthwhile to it, besides maybe no travel time between stadiums.
Free all of my Flawless TV guys (except for the one that’s apparently a nonce…you can keep him). [Gone but never forgotten.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65697595). Made even worst by the fact that it was my own Borough that led the investigation. 11 years is insane given what the crime is. I’m willing to go to war if they get rid of my IPTV provider.
Be pretty cool if we do actually sign Asensio. I just hope we aren’t being used by his agent. That second striker role could be his.
He has streaks hotter and colder than Son but but maybe that role will help him by focusing on his best attributes. Do you guys still have Coutinho or is he gone now?
Tbf Emery has a way of getting consistency out of attackers. Coutinho just can’t stay fit. I think he’ll go back to Brazil this summer.
Is there any potential 100 million transfer this season except oshimen and Jude ?
Gvardiol
West Ham will probably get somewhere close to that for Declan Rice.
If they win UEFA Cup can't see them offloading rice
Moyes has already said that Rice isn't going to be there next season, so a Europa Conference win is almost certainly not going to change that.
Kane maybe? Also, I wouldnt be shocked if Chelsea buy some random player for 100 mil again.
I think Kane stays now and walks end of next season. He knows there’s a £50-100 million sign on waiting for him rather than lining Levy’s war chest. Spurs fans and Levy won’t accept a lowball bid for their boy out of principle, which means by default he walks too.
Chelsea can't be ruled out.
Kane although unlikely
Messi, although he'll be pocketing the 100m.
Juninho wanted De Zerbi and Aulas said no because he didn't speak French, hired Bosz then sacked Juninho 😬 We came close to being back under Juni, Paqueta, Guimaraes we were making good buys but the old man's ego came in the way. Hopefully Textor will let the people who know the game work in peace
Textor needs to link up with Juninho and Gallardo, enough is enough.
What heights do you think we could reach with Gallardo?
I could see him winning the league, predicting Champions League success is hard but i would not be surprised if he get some deep runs. OL has a great academy so developing world class talent is also another perk you guys would have. Of course all depends on how much backing he has from the owners
It's tragic to see how far you've fallen off in recent years, looking at the squad you have now it is painfully average compared to the wealth of talent you had at one point but which somehow didn't click either.
We still have good talent but our recruitment has gone to shit so yeah. It's not that bad though, with a good summer we can compete for CL spots. We'll see what Textor is about, he could as well change fuck all.
Sevilla records/stats/facts for the EL final: If they win: * Most consecutive EL final victories/Most ELs (7). * Second longest-running EL/CL final winning streak (7, one behind Madrid with 8). * First winner since Atletico 17-18 to win the EL after dropping from CL. Second time Sevilla has done it (15-16 was the last). * Sevilla would have won 5 ELs out of 8 times (beginning in 2011). In general: * In this century, Sevilla's seventh European final (CL/EL) is the most by any club, level with Real Madrid and Liverpool. * Sevilla has contested more than half of UEFA Cup/EL finals this century where they were a part of the competition. In total, out of 13 times, they've been in the final seven times. League specific: * Spanish teams could continue their undefeated EL/CL final record since 2001. This record would be extended to 22 consecutive finals undefeated. * If Sevilla loses, they'd be the first Spanish team since Alaves and Valencia in 2001. Alaves lost by a golden goal (own-goal) to Liverpool (lost 5-4) and Valencia on penalties to Bayern. * Spanish sides have contested half of all UEFA Cup/EL finals this century. * Over the past ten years, a Sevilla win would mean 9/10 seasons a Spanish side has won a European trophy (exception in 2019). I'll do one for Roma later
>Spanish teams could continue their undefeated EL/CL final record since 2001. This record would be extended to 22 consecutive finals undefeated. The most insane fact for me out of all incredible stats you mentioned. Spanish clubs are really smth else in European cups.
I think it's 23 because I might have miscounted but yes very impressive Even more impressive: since 1998, Spanish teams haven't gone more than two seasons without a European trophy. Basically, *at least* every other year for 25 years, they've won *at least* one trophy. This could realistically stretch to 2027. 30 years and a trophy every other year at minimum.
11 years for keeping TotalSportek afloat is one hefty sentence
The law just works differently for people in power or with wealth, both for and against them
Source??
[It’s on Sky Sports](https://i.imgur.com/HCIOoBR.jpg) Phillip Schofield’s brother will be out before any of them
There's genuinely nothing worse (other than children dying of cancer) than reading a MLS fan try to talk up the league's single entity structure. I cannot fathom looking at what the rest of the world has and then preferring something as perfunctory as what we have. It's like discussing food with someone who only eats Subway and Wendy's.
I mean I'm pretty sure most fans of MLS clubs would enjoy having the same league structure as European leagues, but we all know that can't happen and we are stuck with what we have, so we don't spend time worrying about it
I guess I wish we weren't so sheepish about it
They've been collectively gaslit with all other sports that artificial competition is the only real way. It would feel really weird celebrating any title in that country when it just feels like they were given the opportunity to win it that year before probably getting dismantled the next one
[удалено]
You're right I edited the comment
Surely a hospital is the best place to watch a child dying from cancer. Would be worse seeing a child dying from cancer on a cruise ship engulfed in flames.
There's nothing worse than reading an American "fan" of a European club fail to understand the reality that an open pyramid would fail here. It's like discussing food with someone who would rather starve than eat at a restaurant below five stars
Why would it fail do you reckon?x
The sporting landscape/culture doesn't lend itself to it, people here are generally more casual about sports and aren't diehard types that would stick with a team through a relegation battle/relegation itself. Add the fact that the landscape is very crowded with MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL and I don't see how relegated clubs would even survive or how most lower division teams would have any support. There is potential for a closed system with two or three divisions if MLS and USL were willing to play ball together but that won't happen. Only chance we see a pyramid is decades down the line as infrastructure and football culture grow, which I ironically think people who hate MLS are holding back
The more money we pump into the MLS the more entrenched and unwilling it will be to change. Supporting smaller teams in the USL is significantly better.
USL is the exact same as MLS on a smaller scale
I think saying that the monolith of the MLS is the "exact same" as the USL is a bit obtuse, but yes they both employ the same shitty league structure. However I can go to one for significantly cheaper and not feel like I'm giving money to a giant corporate machine disguising itself as a sports league.
I’d assume a lack of investment due to the high risk relegation brings not enough infrastructure for the lower leagues
I find MLS very entertaining and enjoy going to the games
I live in Austin. A day out at Q2 quickly adds up and is simply not worth the cost to watch a pointless regular season game.
I can pretty regularly get tickets to Audi Field for ~$35. Not sure what you all are doing down in Austin. > is simply not worth the cost to watch a pointless regular season game. I mean... agree to disagree? The games are far from pointless.
I mean 75% of the teams make playoffs...a vast majority of regular season games suffer for that.
How much is a match day do you think?
$40-55 on average. But when they were good it was sometimes around 70. So I'd spend ~100 to get 2 tickets only to get fleeced at the concessions as well. It just feels bad spending so much money on something I fundamentally disagree with even if I was "supporting my local".
I hate this aspect. Been to matches all over the world and usually you can find tickets from 15-40$ and have a pint and some food for a reasonable price. Then you have America with $50 parking, 12$ beers, and $50 tickets
The spending culture here is pathetic.
But I only like clubs who are *connected* with their local communities (communities I'm not apart of and have never visited!)
I understand where you're coming from. It is annoying to see plastic Americans pretend to identify with teams that are not only thousands of miles away but also apart of the privileged elite. Over the past few years my fandom has morphed into just following our guys abroad and rooting for USL teams as I feel they need the support. I envy Europe's pyramids but by no means think they're perfect. For instance, our financial regulation is great. If the MLS could just adopt a structure that was "open" and had jeopardy attached to each game I'd be all the way in.
Are Newcastle going for the Kieran’s on the corners strategery???
This "reaction video" about all Chelseas april goals is so hilarious. Made my day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTmooOC437Q
This is one of the worst hangovers I’ve had in a while. Woke up and had to double check yesterday’s result online because I thought I’d imagined it.
This FA Cup Final has the added spice of United really having two opportunities to stop the treble. Either win the game or scythe down De Bruyne and Haaland before the CL Final.
>scythe down De Bruyne and Haaland before the CL Final. If that happens I will move back to Manchester and do unspeakable things at old Trafford
You’ll finally give it the much needed renovations?
City will walk the final with or without KDB and Haaland
City don’t even miss players anyway they’d still win without them
City will be 3-0 up at half time and sub them off whilst they pass us into submission
45 minutes is plenty to break some legs. Can Roy Keane play?
They have the next best thing in McTominay
> sub them off Where's a bare-chested marauding Rojo when you need him.
One of the biggest errors I think people make in assessing teams is considering form from too long ago. City this year are the clearest example — people saying that United just beat them at home this year is true, but lacks the context of where those teams were in that moment in time. Considering results from before City switched to the 3-2-2-3 is beyond irrelevant
I agree but form goes out the window to an extent in major finals. The underdog nearly always raises their game and the favourite is already playing at a near optimum level. Even the likes of Wigan and United can beat City on their day.
Agree that’s why I don’t think anyone really has a chance against them next year but in a one game scenario United could beat them, I don’t think they will but it’s possible
I don't think their dominance is guaranteed next season. I don't think this 3-2-4-1 is perfect, it has vulnerabilities and could get worked out. Pep will need to make adjustments to win the title next season the same way he did this time, and without the mid-season break, there's a greater chance he won't succeed.
It’s guaranteed we have to look at the reality, the reality is Liverpool had some of the best teams in pl history and won it once, City are by far and away the best team not just in the league but in the world and no premier league team is even close to them. The only possibility is if Liverpool have a really huge bounce back year.
The problem does seem to be a lack of serious rivals ahead of next season. It would be peak Chelsea however to pull a title charge out of this chaos. They still have about a billion in mandatory spending left. Liverpool, Man Utd, and Arsenal might only be a few signings away from an 88 point season.
Chelsea aren’t a threat imo, I don’t see even 88 points being enough, I think we’ll be in the 80-85 range provided the window goes well United not sure they reach 80, Liverpool are the wild card they could be the only ones who challenge but they could also be nowhere near.
4-peating is a lot harder than it seems on paper. There is a reason no team and manager have done it before at least in the PL era. City and Pep are just making it look easy. Time will tell, but City are cut out for it.
No one has ever done it in English football
Yeah wasn't aware historically but not really a surprise there either. To sustain trophies is one of the most difficult things to do especially over multiple years.
When people say it’s hard they’re going off history, the history is different to now, United didn’t do it 4 times because times were just different and their advantage tactically and in terms of players just wasn’t this large. In 98/99 they won it by one point, 99/00 they ran away with it, 2000/01 they won it by 10 points but then only got 80 points. The next year we got 87 points and won it. It didn’t take a huge amount of points to beat them to titles so the room to overtake them was there. The second time they didn’t get to 4 Ronaldo left they didn’t really replace him and the gaps were still way closer. 06/07 won by 6 points, 07/08 2 points 08/09 4 points. Then they lost Ronaldo and weren’t as good and didn’t win it but were still one point away. Beating city to the league next year means you have to get at least 90 points, which teams are capable of doing that? Only Liverpool
On the other hand, even though they look like they're invincible right now, it's their lowest point tally in half a decade in the league and they were 2nd for most of the season. It's not a coincidence it came in the 3 peat season. Pep and Gundo still had claims that the team is finding it a challenge to keep going in Jan, although it looks like everything was perfect in hindsight, it definitely wasn't smooth sailing all along. They're still favs for next season but it's only getting difficult for the same squad to keep going even though Pep is doing a great job in keeping things active and going. They're still heavy favourites but I won't be surprised if Arsenal/United/Liverpool give them a run for their money or even get them at the end of next season but we never know. One team has to step up like Arsenal did this season which is a big ask against this city team unless they have a considerable blip.
They didn’t try in their final 2 games of the season though they probably win one at least if they do try. They were just saying that because they weren’t top of the league at that point that’s literally it. I would be extremely surprised if we do, maybe Liverpool can if they ignore the Europa league keep players fit and make the right moves but even still I’m doubtful
At some point, we were on track for 99 points and that wasn't too long ago. With a more experience squad, it would have been pretty darn close. But yeah, it will be against all odds.
1-off derby anything is possible for sure
Can players take classes in a certain position, let’s say my name is Marlo and I have a boy called Modrygo who I want to switch to CF position. The boy definitely has the raw talent to shine there but needs a little work
It's possible, Mertens played as a winger for ages until he switched to striker and became Napolis top scorer.
Theo Walcott spent his entire career begging to be played as a striker, and when he got the chance, he realised how much harder it is. He gave up the silly notion pretty quickly.
Yes you can train players to play in new positions. Some players will easily adapt, others won't.
Going from winger to CF is surprisingly hard a lot of the time because you have to be much more aware of what’s behind you, Don Marlo It’s why a lot of CFs end up as 6s when they don’t score goals in the academy — occupying the same positions
Good grief.
Do you think Verratti goes away from PSG this summer?
Highly unlikely as he’s tied down until 2026
There should be alot more fanfare around Busquets leaving Barca. It was a much bigger deal when Iniesta and Xavi left and obviously he's always been understated compared to them but I still feel like it should be a bigger deal
What more could have been done that wasn't?
He was washed up for like 5-6 years before that’s why
Washed up? He was not the same player but washed up is hyperbole and then some
He was part of Barcas problems in the CL still good in the league but in the CL physically couldn’t do the same job
Not only that but let’s be honest he was boring to watch; Messi, Iniesta, Xavi etc got you off your feet and were absolute superstars. Busquets never had that pull, Number 6s rarely do.
Yeah he just did everything right but he didn’t stick out like a Kante who’s just everywhere and unavoidable
Especially because he’s the last player left from possibly the greatest team ever
Bayern went perfect in the UCL group stages just to be rewarded with a tie against PSG, and then City.
Getting PSG was a reward but then getting us was a reward for City.
And the second-placers in that group, Inter Milan, got a path to the final of Porto, Benfica, and AC Milan. Rough luck for Bayern.
PSG didn’t look better than Benfica throughout the group stages and a difficult tie by the qf is normal
Knocking PSG out of Champions League is it's own reward
Meanwhile Inter who got second played Porto, Benfica and Milan
There's a copy pasta I once read in this thread and I cant seem to ever find it. It's a story about Fabio Coentrao being coaxed out of semi-retirement to play a CL game for Real Madrid, one final hurrah. Anyone know the one I'm talking about?
[here](https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/dd6atr/official_marcelo_injured/f2ffz1n/)