[Editor]

I don’t agree with the marathon thing tbh. Arsenal had this in their hands and weren’t “overtaken by the better runner” so to speak. They imploded in games which should have been in the bag. They were awful against City. Fine, City can do that to anyone. But they were in a position where that City game needn’t have mattered. Potential champions don’t throw away two 2 goal leads on the bounce, concede 3 against the worst side in the league at home, almost losing and get torn apart by Brighton at home (themselves fresh off a 5-1 home humbling against Everton). It’s a well done on the progress from me but they won’t escape criticism from me for that collapse. I’m seeing lots of Arsenal fans saying the same tbh.

If I could modify the marathon analogy to oneI feel better reflects the race than your “the better runner overtook them” I’d say Arsenal were the runner who led for 80% of the race with just the home straight remaining and City nowhere in sight only to trip over his own laces 4 times before stumbling over the line in 2nd place despite many having tipped him to not even be top 5.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

It’s always a difficult one that Lucky. I think there are two camps. Those that think you can’t be bottlers if you overachieved against expectations and those that think you very much can. I’m very much in the latter category. Take my own team. Nobody had us to finish in the top 4 this season. Despite that, we’d be massive bottlers if we fail to get it now because of the lead we’d have thrown away. IMO you can very much overachieve against initial expectations AND be massive bottlers. Leicester another great example. They had a couple of seasons where they spent a ridiculous amount of time in the top 4 spots only to collapse at the final moments.

That Arsenal will thrown away two 2 goal leads against Liverpool and West Ham, drew at home to the bottom side in the league (almost losing) and got battered by Brighton at home is unforgivable for a top 4 side, never mind one fighting for the title. They should be praised for their progress while also being torn apart for their subsequent collapse. Both can be true imo.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Arsenal massive bottlers again under Arteta. Shameful how they’ve collapsed these last few weeks and with no other competition to distract them. The problem with having now done that twice (last season with top 4) is that it starts to become an expectation, a habit. Just as winning can be a habit, so can falling at the final hurdle. It will need some strong characters to shake that out of the team now.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Probably a wise choice considering Chelsea’s current status as a club. Not too dissimilar to when he took over Spurs who were, at the time, another fallen giant who were badly struggling. I don’t particularly fear Chelsea initially under Poch but he could get them back to a point where an elite manager could then come in and do the rest, as others have alluded to.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Yeah how does that work with the San Siro? Is there any difference in the home and away aspect of this tie? Do they get a bigger fan allocation for the home leg?

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Rover, I don’t want any other side to win anything aside from mine. I would hope all fans are like that. City are no different in that regard.

What rubs me up the wrong way is this “poor City, everyone hates us. Why do all decisions go against us?” kind of attitude from City fans. Especially when they got very fortunate with the ball being out before the goal yesterday. If that had happened to Liverpool or Utd, there would be bedlam.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

City really got away with one there. What’s the point of VAR if they don’t even check it for such blatant decisions?

🎙️| Arsene Wenger: "VAR should have checked Bernardo Silva's controlling the ball out of play."

beIN Sports later confirmed with 3D technology that the ball was indeed out of play. #rmalive pic.twitter.com/ekcuhoU0Jn

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 9, 2023

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

You have to be joking Adlab, surely? Nothing about the ball being out before the City goal?

🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti: “For me, the ball went out but according to the referee, it didn’t. I don't understand why they did not use VAR." pic.twitter.com/zoNcZgAQL8

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 9, 2023

Or this from Bernardo somehow not leading to a red?

This Bernardo Silva challenge on Camavinga 😨 pic.twitter.com/YpK323K8hq

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 9, 2023

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Incredible result by Everton away at Brighton. When you look at the stats, it’s hard to understand how they got that result. Brighton had almost 80% of the ball, 23 shots and actually had a higher xg than Everton. I didn’t see the game but it looks like a case of one team more than taking their chances and the other not taking theirs. Brighton have done so well this season but their top 4 chances are gone now as they have some tough games coming up.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Can we all just agree to let Brighton and Newcastle have 3rd and 4th? I’m not sure either Utd or Liverpool fans can handle missing out on top 4 and seeing the other one get it.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Oh I know Lucky 😄. Ten Hag is something like the 8/9th longest serving manager in the league now I think so the “Erik Ten (time period)” joke has lost all its shine now anyway 😁

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Oh it would be a massive opportunity missed Lucky and we’d have bottled it Arsenal style. No getting away from it. But all of Klopp, Pep and Arteta had iffy first seasons in the league. It’s essential to take the positives from this season and let Ten Hag continue to build the side he needs, whatever happens now.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Yeah Liverpool have some nice games now and are playing with no fear. They’ve nothing to lose. I don’t think anyone doubts Liverpool’s ability to get their job done. It’s whether or not Utd or Newcastle continue to falter and let them in. The way Utd are playing and with Newcastle having some awkward remaining games, there’s every chance now.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

This is the first weeks rest Utd will have had since September, as well as having a lot of players going far in the World Cup.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

If we miss top 4, we’ll only have ourselves to blame. I don’t think anyone expected miracles from Ten Hag in his first season and it was always going to take time to implement such a shift in style. If we get rid of the Glazers and end the season with the Carabao Cup and no top 4, I’d have taken that before the season started.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

You’d think so Sean but we’ve looked so fatigued in recent weeks. Shaw has been great at CB but we’re really missing him at LB. Up front, we’re just so dependent on Rashford

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

The way we’re playing at the moment, I think that’s a given Nil. We look absolutely shot at the moment. Whether it’s fatigue, lack of quality in players covering for injuries, lack of goalscorers in the team. I’m not sure what it is but we seem to be playing decent first halves then just so far second half. Top 4 looking less and less likely to me for Utd.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

It’s pretty much the team Sean suggested but with these changes:

Ramsdale instead of Alisson
Dias instead of Martinez
Salah instead of Saka

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Not far off the team Sean suggested. Saka, Rodri and Martinez look unfortunate to have missed out on first look

Premier League #TOTS:

Ramsdale 🔴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Trippier ⚫️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Saliba 🔴🇫🇷
Dias 🔵🇵🇹
Zinchenko 🔴🇺🇦
De Bruyne 🔵🇧🇪
Casemiro 🔴🇧🇷
Ødegaard 🔴🇳🇴
Salah 🔴🇪🇬
Haaland 🔵🇳🇴
Rashford 🔴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/bDMKDvSBWn

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 5, 2023

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

If be shocked if Liverpool drop another point this season Nil. If Utd and Newcastle are to make top 4, they’re going to need to not drop silly points now because both Brighton and Liverpool will smell blood. They’re both now in the enviable position of being able to play without fear or pressure as nobody expects either to make top 4 now anyway so the pressure is off. A real test of character for the two in 3rd and 4th to see out the last few games with the pressure fully on.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Author]

Posts