they were another poor team Arsenal have faced in the knock out rounds<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 a massive factor in them ending up where they have.<\/p>\nMy opinion is that if they had faced any of PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona and City or Liverpool in a knockout game \u2013 they would not still be in the competition. Instead they faced Leverkusen, Sporting Lisbon and Athletico. All of whom were extremely tepid in every game. It makes a massive difference. They\u2019ve barely had to play any football at all to win those games \u2013 just be solid and structured \u2013 and hope for a penalty or a rebound from 2 yds just before half time (again). And I\u2019ve made myself watch these games live so I\u2019m not going by whatever algorithm that will give a positive spin on what the performances have been like. It\u2019s been turgid.<\/p>\n
Rafa\/Liverpool\/2005 turgid \u2013 but they had an excuse back then \u2013 they weren\u2019t claiming to be the best in the world and had just changed managers\/lost Michael Owen\/had Jimi Traore in the 11 \u2013 when they managed to spawn that smash and grab win. Fair f***s to them. But if the Arse do manage to do the unthinkable\/unpalatable \u2013 and scrape past the wonderfully positive and joy to watch PSG or Bayern, I will admit it will be one of the most excruciating things to have to suffer. And of course the Arse fans will love that. But just stop kidding yourselves that you have done it being the best team. You haven\u2019t \u2013 not by a long shot.<\/p>\n
Long time ago I know but it will never leave me \u2013 my first proper World Cup 1982. Brazil played the best football anyone had ever seen up to that point \u2013 better than the 1970 team. It was awesome (go back and watch it \u2013 its spectacular). Italy drew their first 3 games \u2013 0-0, 1-1, 1-1 \u2013 going through on a technicality. They then kicked Maradona out of the next game and then managed somehow to get past this Brazil team with some scrappy goals from Paulo Rossi \u2013 at least one down to defensive errors. They eventually got to the final and found a way to win. Did that make them better than Brazil \u2013 the best team ever up to that point? Or was it things just went their way at the time? I know my opinion on that.<\/p>\n
I \u2013 along with other football purists and lovers of attacking play I imagine will be praying that PSG or Bayern can put Arsenal where they belong when they finally face a way better team \u2013 one that attempts to win games rather than not lose. Being a Liverpool fan I think I\u2019m entitled to have this opinion seeing as there hasnt been too many LFC teams over the last 10-15 years (barring the past 2 seasons) that can ever be accused of not being positive \u2013 and giving their fans and the general paying public what they deserve for their \u00a3\u00a3\u00a3\u00a3\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Heres still hoping \u2013 but fearful that the dark side will still end up winning the lot.
Shunt LFC<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arne Slot will stay\u2026probably<\/p>\n
VAR complaints aside, the man has had about as much bad luck \u2013 in terms of players\u2019 form \u2013 as any coach in the league (coach, not manager, because they are different things). The following, previously great players, have all been sub-standard at best: McAllister, Van Dijk, Salah, Gravenberch, Robertson. The following have been borderline atrocious: Gakpo, Konate. That\u2019s seven starting players. Disappointing: Wirtz, Kerkez, Frimpong. Outstanding last year, you would have had a tough choice, this year: Szoboslai, a nod to Ekitike.<\/p>\n
Factor in the absence throughout of Isak and Connor Bradley, and also the death of Jota, not just a beloved teammate but also a great striker, and suddenly you see the difference between excuses for poor form, and reasons. Two excellent players cannot carry an entire team, just ask anyone who played for England from 1973-2018.<\/p>\n
I do quibble with some of his selections: Rio is clearly a better option than Gakpo; the team should be built around Szoboslai, not stick him at right back; Marmadashvili should have gotten more minutes. But it\u2019s individual performances that have been poor, that is what has driven LFC into fourth or fifth place.<\/p>\n
The Italian lad, centre-back, whose name I forget, will return. A second central defender and defensive mid needed. Someone to replace Salah. With a fit Isak back and Ekitike too some point next season, and Wirtz settling, the picture looks much, much better. The man at the helm won a title at the first attempt: the players who won it were not playing for Klopp, did not look like they were playing for Klopp, had moved on from Klopp.<\/p>\n
LFC is not Chelsea, who in firing Maresca not only shot themselves in the foot but into mid table. But look at what Carrick has done to MUFC, made them believe in themselves again. Fernandes is playing out of everyone\u2019s socks. The worst thing LFC can do right now is not to allow the team to regain belief.<\/p>\n
Persist. Suffer, and persist. It will come good.
Marcus Davidson<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Sunderland re-distribution list<\/p>\n
Last year, Sunderland bought a whole new squad. A young, hungry team that overachieved and turned heads\u2026 They\u2019re about to get picked apart.<\/p>\n
So, where does everyone go? Here\u2019s a look at where Sunderland\u2019s starting XI could end up with the rule that no two players join the same club.<\/p>\n
Robin Roefs \u2013 Chelsea
Let\u2019s be honest, 1973 FA Cup Final Sundelrand hero Jim Montgomery would be an upgrade on what they have now<\/p>\n
Nordi Mukiele \u2013 Arsenal
Long throws, solid defensively, and built for a team that likes control but occasionally needs a bit of chaos.<\/p>\n
Omar Alderete \u2013 Man City
Underrated, comfortable on the ball, and the kind of defender Manchester City quietly turns into something elite. \u2026 might be a slight upgrade while at 29, old enough to help while City transition to younger players.<\/p>\n
Dan Ballard \u2013 Man United
Why pass with feet when he can head it further? Harry Maguire 2.0<\/p>\n
Trai Hume \u2013 Leeds United
Feels like a Leeds United player already. Tenacious, aggressive, annoying.<\/p>\n
Granit Xhaka \u2013 Newcastle United
Well, I am going to have to relocate. Newcastle United will likely lose a key midfielder this summer and Xhaka\u2019s composure and leadership instantly raises the level around him. Will Finish about 3rd in PFA player of the year.<\/p>\n
Noah Sadiki \u2013 Liverpool
Energy, pressing, and legs, something Liverpool need more of. Raw, but young enough to sharpen up in the final 3rd.<\/p>\n
Habib Diarra \u2013 Aston Villa
With Aston Villa likely to lose a star, Diarra slots in. Already did them a favour by missing a one-on-one against them.<\/p>\n
Enzo Le F\u00e9e \u2013 Brighton
Technically gifted, lightweight, loves a clever pass and has lovely hair \u2013 basically built in a lab for Brighton<\/p>\n
Brian Brobbey \u2013 Everton
Big, physical, a proper handful. Moyes would absolutely love him. Dutch Lukaku\/Big Dunc vibes.<\/p>\n
Chemsdine Talbi \u2013 Bournemouth
Not entirely sure, which probably means AFC Bournemouth.<\/p>\n
Join in, dismantle your club for the elite before ai does it for you.<\/p>\n
Witness protection name,
Stephen Stefan Stepthenson<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going wrong at Aston Villa?<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t know if you still want views on Villa Park #restgate from Sunday, but an important point to note amid all this is that our \u2018A team\u2019 would probably have lost comfortably as well. We beat Spurs in the cup after making changes; while our supposed best side has recently lost to Wolves, Forest (admittedly not the Ange\/Dyche version) and got smashed by Linkedin Ball Respectah Ponzi Scheme Yeeha FC.<\/p>\n
They may also lose to Forest again on Thursday; to Steven bloody Gerrard of all things at Burnley at the weekend; and miss out on a Champions League place to Bournemouth, who will just rub it in by letting Iraola sign a deal to work from home and sell 26 players in the summer.<\/p>\n
Why are Villa so awful at the moment? Well a few things, but most of them are Boubacar Kamara. Since Bouba\u2019s season was ended by Paulinha in a challenge not even considered as a foul \u2013 but hey, we\u2019re letting the game flow, so that\u2019s the main thing \u2013 Villa have lost half of their games in the league. We\u2019ve picked up 19 points from the 18 games he\u2019s missed this season, conceding two thirds of our goals in that time. A full season of this form would see us finish on 40 points \u2013 usually enough to stay up, although possibly not this season.<\/p>\n
Whereas in the 17 games he played pre-Pauline Fouler, Villa were collecting points at a rate of 2.3 per game. 38 games of that would net you a total of 87 points \u2013 enough to win the title in 10 of the last 20 seasons, and also this year, as Arsenal\u2019s max will be 85.<\/p>\n
Hipsters and the internet love a bit of underrated holding midfielder content, so I\u2019m surprised he doesn\u2019t get mentioned more. I guess his \u00a30 price tag, Purslow\/Gerrard association, and being stuck behind Kimpembe and Tchouameni for France sees to that. Also he knows where the treatment room is, along with Youri, Barkley and Onana; so it wasn\u2019t a surprise Villa were trying to buy the injury-proof Gallagher in January. Which just made it doubly pleasant to see him opening the scoring on Sunday. Thanks Conor. But the fact is that Villa just don\u2019t work without him.<\/p>\n
Some Villa fans are getting a bit antsy about Emery, and obviously Arsenal fans are always raging at the idea that everything their club has ever done hasn\u2019t been perfect, so have got the volume back up again (see also whenever Martinez doesn\u2019t have a 9\/10 game).<\/p>\n
But we\u2019re just 3 good results away from a season where we win a trophy we\u2019ve not won before, with CL football \u2013 and maybe a more pleasant transfer window \u2013 to look forward to. It\u2019s not over, as someone once said.
Raines<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarification<\/p>\n
A bit curious as to why Ed chose such a snarky heading<\/strong><\/a> for my letter this morning. There was a little more nuance than LOL JUST PLAY LESS FOOTBALL HURR DURR. I suggested prioritising different tournaments or blooding youngsters and academy prospects.<\/p>\nMore specifically I addressed the concept of complaining your players are tired when you largely put the players on every game over four tournaments. There\u2019s an opportunity cost to everything.<\/p>\n
Having a well thought out letter diminished to a Strawman in the heading is poor collating from F365. If anything you were more than welcome to have a go at my tinfoil TV nonsense. Odd decision but we wonder why nothing gets solved
Disgruntled, RSA<\/strong><\/p>\n(Erm, it wasn\u2019t a snarky headline. Really weird thing to get so upset about \u2013 Ed)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Manchester United fans want Michael Carrick rather than another shiny big-name manager with a philosophy. We also have…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471375,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[2725,18,793,794,19,17,11138,20,47746,132],"class_list":{"0":"post-471374","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-arsenal","9":"tag-eire","10":"tag-front-page","11":"tag-home-page","12":"tag-ie","13":"tag-ireland","14":"tag-mailbox","15":"tag-manchester-united","16":"tag-michael-carrick","17":"tag-sports"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116528099263916267","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=471374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/471375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=471374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=471374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=471374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}