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#6,030
#6,030
From Le Grove’s Twitter…….I kind of agree with this.

Arsenal aged down their squad this summer. As painful as it is to hear, the underlying strategy of our recruitment policy is to be ready when City lands a brutal shock to the system (Pep leaving)... if this season was about the jugular, we'd have signed 28 yr old machete players.

Does that mean we're trying not to compete? No. Does it mean we can't win the league this season? No. But it does mean you have to contextualise 1) Why Arteta broke down what felt like a winning machine 2) Why he's moving towards formational fluidity 3) Why he's taking risks so early on with heavy rotation.

We topple City by investing in better ideas. Our idea last season was the same 13 until they broke. It was too predictable and too prone to breaking down. This new idea is wild unpredictability against anyone. That'll take time to hone.

Breaking what seemed like a winning machine was brave. If Wenger had our squad from last season this summer - he'd have kept Xhaka and renewed everyone. 'One or two special players' was Wenger's promise for years and it didn't work. Arteta and Edu are trying to create a winning machine that can do it for a decade.

That requires some short term pain - but longterm, we'll be more Manchester City than Liverpool (who rapidly declined after winning the league because they had an old starting 11).

No one will complain when we arrive at the promised land - but there will be bumps along the way. Mistakes will be made (loads today), there will be **** performances, and there will be terrible experiments that won't work. But I think we've seen enough from Arteta to know he'll get it right in the end.
 
#6,032
#6,032
mad4vols said:
From Le Grove’s Twitter…….I kind of agree with this.

Arsenal aged down their squad this summer. As painful as it is to hear, the underlying strategy of our recruitment policy is to be ready when City lands a brutal shock to the system (Pep leaving)... if this season was about the jugular, we'd have signed 28 yr old machete players.

Does that mean we're trying not to compete? No. Does it mean we can't win the league this season? No. But it does mean you have to contextualise 1) Why Arteta broke down what felt like a winning machine 2) Why he's moving towards formational fluidity 3) Why he's taking risks so early on with heavy rotation.

We topple City by investing in better ideas. Our idea last season was the same 13 until they broke. It was too predictable and too prone to breaking down. This new idea is wild unpredictability against anyone. That'll take time to hone.

Breaking what seemed like a winning machine was brave. If Wenger had our squad from last season this summer - he'd have kept Xhaka and renewed everyone. 'One or two special players' was Wenger's promise for years and it didn't work. Arteta and Edu are trying to create a winning machine that can do it for a decade.

That requires some short term pain - but longterm, we'll be more Manchester City than Liverpool (who rapidly declined after winning the league because they had an old starting 11).

No one will complain when we arrive at the promised land - but there will be bumps along the way. Mistakes will be made (loads today), there will be **** performances, and there will be terrible experiments that won't work. But I think we've seen enough from Arteta to know he'll get it right in the end.
Click to expand...
Why is there an assumption that City will “fall off” when Pep leaves. We might not be as good but does anyone think under current leadership that a slouch coach will be hired? What if Arteta came back?
 
#6,033
#6,033
Outofmyvolcanmind said:
Why is there an assumption that City will “fall off” when Pep leaves. We might not be as good but does anyone think under current leadership that a slouch coach will be hired? What if Arteta came back?
Click to expand...
That would be a nightmare if Arteta left for City when Pep leaves.
 
#6,034
#6,034
NorCalVol67 said:
Made contact from behind denying a clear path to goal.
Click to expand...
I wonder if any further suspension will be added for the way he exited the pitch. He was pretty aggressive with both the on-field referee and the fourth official, which I don't really understand because he had absolutely no room for complaint. That was a stone cold red. Isak had rolled him perfectly and was in on goal. I guess VVD did *technically* win the ball, but only after steamrolling straight though Isak.
 
#6,035
#6,035
bleedorange0037 said:
I wonder if any further suspension will be added for the way he exited the pitch. He was pretty aggressive with both the on-field referee and the fourth official, which I don't really understand because he had absolutely no room for complaint. That was a stone cold red. Isak had rolled him perfectly and was in on goal. I guess VVD did *technically* win the ball, but only after steamrolling straight though Isak.
Click to expand...

He was quite animated, but as you said, no doubt about that call.
 
#6,036
#6,036
Outofmyvolcanmind said:
Why is there an assumption that City will “fall off” when Pep leaves. We might not be as good but does anyone think under current leadership that a slouch coach will be hired? What if Arteta came back?
Click to expand...
I would assume most people would say because there is only 1 Pep. He is possibly the GOAT in some eyes and would be hard to replace. I’m not saying impossible, but it would be hard to replicate.
 
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#6,037
#6,037
mad4vols said:
From Le Grove’s Twitter…….I kind of agree with this.

Arsenal aged down their squad this summer. As painful as it is to hear, the underlying strategy of our recruitment policy is to be ready when City lands a brutal shock to the system (Pep leaving)... if this season was about the jugular, we'd have signed 28 yr old machete players.

Does that mean we're trying not to compete? No. Does it mean we can't win the league this season? No. But it does mean you have to contextualise 1) Why Arteta broke down what felt like a winning machine 2) Why he's moving towards formational fluidity 3) Why he's taking risks so early on with heavy rotation.

We topple City by investing in better ideas. Our idea last season was the same 13 until they broke. It was too predictable and too prone to breaking down. This new idea is wild unpredictability against anyone. That'll take time to hone.

Breaking what seemed like a winning machine was brave. If Wenger had our squad from last season this summer - he'd have kept Xhaka and renewed everyone. 'One or two special players' was Wenger's promise for years and it didn't work. Arteta and Edu are trying to create a winning machine that can do it for a decade.

That requires some short term pain - but longterm, we'll be more Manchester City than Liverpool (who rapidly declined after winning the league because they had an old starting 11).

No one will complain when we arrive at the promised land - but there will be bumps along the way. Mistakes will be made (loads today), there will be **** performances, and there will be terrible experiments that won't work. But I think we've seen enough from Arteta to know he'll get it right in the end.
Click to expand...

Well, Chelsea’s average age on their squad is less than Arsenals and we signed 476 South American teenagers that will be lethal in a few years 😅 so we will meet you there for some competition 🤝

Edit: I’m totally guessing on the squad ages. Old man Thiago Silva may bring our age up too much lol
 
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#6,038
#6,038
Wasn't able to watch the game live again due to moving, but missing VVD next match is less than ideal and his tirade against the officials may lead to further disciplinary action/suspension, not what I want to see from the captain there.

Again I'll beat the drum that the entire Liverpool backline needs revamping. Trent needs to move to midfield permanently since Klopp is hellbent on him creating and playing up so much. Andy Robertson has slowed down and LFC needs to find an heir apparent and quickly. What else can be said for the vaunted Gomez, Konate and Matip rotation other than a permanent solution is needed there? None of the three inspire confidence at this level of football.

As far as Darwin, I'm ecstatic for him. The voices were loud and I doubted him, but there is no question that he has the talent. Hopefully that performance builds confidence because the shots he took/made were pure class in a very hostile environment and not ideal situation. He should be the starting 9 moving forward.
 
#6,039
#6,039
This whole Spanish football saga is an epic **** show. It’s like Rubiales must have blackmail on the Spanish FA. They can’t force him out and he won’t leave.


Edit: I read these tweets and others wrong. I thought the FA was threatening to leave UEFA if he didn’t resign. It’s opposite. They threaten to leave if he is forced to resign.
 
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#6,042
#6,042
Been a lurker for a while, but first time posting. I've been following LFC for 17 years and seeing a lot of VVD's red being a stonewall red. However various pundits (Clattenburg, Lineker, etc.) said it was harsh. The refs have been absolutely horrible this year (e.g. no foul on Onana vs Wolves, Mac Allister red, Tomiyasu red, etc.). The first yellow on TAA should've been a foul on Anthony Gordon. Joelinton was spotted twice motioning a card in the air, which I thought was suppose to warrant an immediate card. Nevermind the many fouls committed without a card. Both Joelinton and Bruno G had 4+ fouls each without a card. I saw a stat (admittedly, I have not verified) where only once all of last season where a LFC player had 4+ fouls and didn't receive a card - it occurred once by Luis Diaz. I also thought EPL was placing an emphasis on number of managers allowed in technical area to 1 and it seemed Jason Tindall spent a lot of time there. Their entire staff stood up at the second TAA foul and all clamored for a yellow. There was another weird incident in the game where LFC had a throw in and the ball boy threw a second ball onto the pitch. LFC players were bemused still trying to play and ball went out - Ref awarded a throw to Newcastle. Ironically, John Brooks is the same ref who didn't award a foul when Gakpo took studs to the chest drawing blood last season.
 
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#6,043
#6,043
Postecoglou with his first questionable decision as Tottenham manager: letting Davinson Sanchez shoot third in a penalty shootout.

We are a very average side without Bissouma and Maddison. I guess it’s a good thing we only have two competitions to worry about now.
 
#6,046
#6,046
City giving a masterclass on how to continue improving their squad after winning the treble. FSG giving a masterclass on how to sit on your thumb despite squad having the same glaring issues for two consecutive summer windows. It is extremely maddening and baffling. I feel for Salah & Alisson.
 
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#6,048
#6,048
City is doing excellent business. Gundo and Mahrez are still excellent but aging. Save a ton on salary there. Sell Palmer, LaPorte, Mahrez, Herrerra and use money to get Gvardiol, Kovacic, Doku, and M. Nunez seems likely. Also plan to loan Cancelo to Barca. They get younger in every one of those deals. Kovacic and Gvardiol have fit right in.
 
#6,049
#6,049
VolsLFC said:
Been a lurker for a while, but first time posting. I've been following LFC for 17 years and seeing a lot of VVD's red being a stonewall red. However various pundits (Clattenburg, Lineker, etc.) said it was harsh. The refs have been absolutely horrible this year (e.g. no foul on Onana vs Wolves, Mac Allister red, Tomiyasu red, etc.). The first yellow on TAA should've been a foul on Anthony Gordon. Joelinton was spotted twice motioning a card in the air, which I thought was suppose to warrant an immediate card. Nevermind the many fouls committed without a card. Both Joelinton and Bruno G had 4+ fouls each without a card. I saw a stat (admittedly, I have not verified) where only once all of last season where a LFC player had 4+ fouls and didn't receive a card - it occurred once by Luis Diaz. I also thought EPL was placing an emphasis on number of managers allowed in technical area to 1 and it seemed Jason Tindall spent a lot of time there. Their entire staff stood up at the second TAA foul and all clamored for a yellow. There was another weird incident in the game where LFC had a throw in and the ball boy threw a second ball onto the pitch. LFC players were bemused still trying to play and ball went out - Ref awarded a throw to Newcastle. Ironically, John Brooks is the same ref who didn't award a foul when Gakpo took studs to the chest drawing blood last season.
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Welcome and happy you decided to join and participate.
 
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