Premier League Games | 27/28/29 Sept '25

Big Dunc there has the stance of someone who is going to kick fuck out of folk. You just wouldn’t cross him, woukd you?!
 
That will never not put a lump in my throat, little Brad Lowrey. Grealish doing Grealish things there with two kids with cancer
 
WallyA said:
Newcastle lost that on many levels.

Pope definitely at fault for 2nd and could argue he didn't try at all for the 1st.

Howe fucked Newcastle with some of those subs and going 541 so early.

And now they lost Livramento for a long time it seems.
Click to expand...
I watched the final 20 minutes or so, plus injury time. The basic scenario of the match is a recurring theme...

As others have already mentioned, Newcastle have been in this position again and again, even while playing at home. Choosing to defend a narrow lead, failing miserably, ending up with a draw or even losing. The result is entirely on Howe -who has not learned his lesson. I would bet his supervisors are already having second thoughts about his future at the club...

I remember City's epic comeback at the same stadium 2 years ago. Why we went behind, I will leave that aside for now, it's beyond the purpose of this post. With Julien missing sitters, Pep will introduce Kevin deep in the second half, who hadn't played for months, recovering from that injury (had only played a few minutes in a Cup game 3-4 days before). The man was not 100% fit (he never was till the end of that season), but his body language while entering the pitch suggested he was mentally ready to help the team -like he always has. City are a team educated to create / identify and exploit space, even if space is inexistent. Following clear instructions, Kevin was lurking between the lines, Rodrigo will find him beautifully, Kevin will turn facing the net. Their Swiss good central defender will hesitate moving forward, forced to keep his line by our movement around him: Newcastle's second -and fatal- tactical mistake. The play evolves according to our plan, yet it will the execution of a football genius to convert it...

City will patiently push for the second, but will have to wait until 89', 90'. With Kova - Kevin exchanging passes in midfield, I cannot fucking believe my eyes watching Oscar daring to make that run. And it becomes absolutely fucking sureal watching Kevin, in a totally relaxed, composed manner (like he's in the garden of his house playing with his kids), delivering that cross. Again, space is inexistent: Trippier is breathing in the boy's neck, GK 2 metres ahead of him, the angle is closed. You would hope for Kevin's precision, and a first time strike from Oscar above the keeper, right? Probability of a goal, what? 1%? 2, 3, 5%? Nope! Kevin will find him at his feet, from one foot to another, round Dubravka and into the net. City had done the impossible, once again. Highly experienced, international Trippier is on the fucking ground, unable to "absorb" what the fuck has just happened...

It seems unfair, doesn't it? I mean we had to work like animals, we also had to score world class team goals to win there. Fact. Objectively speaking, it turned out easier for Arsenal last night though. I want to be fair: Arsenal did keep their composure, and kept fighting till the end. They have also invested heavily on good players, their squad has significant depth now, people like Martinelli, Merino, Odegard, MLS arrived from the bench. Truth remains though, Howe's "strategy" invited pressure in his box, facilitating Arsemal's effort. Unfair or not, all goals count the same in football...

You can argue that Arsenal's game created problems on the ground, in open play (Odegard's through ball from the left, for example). But the game was definitely won in the air, which is entirely unacceptable in my eyes. Merino delivers the perfect header, yes, absolutely perfect. Good player, competent in the air. But if you decide to defend deep, allowing crosses, situations like that are bound to occur. And if they do, it's simply a matter of statistics...

But if we're discussing the second goal, what can I say. If I'm a professional coach and my team concedes such a goal, I would feel ashamed. That's my position regarding set pieces since being a kid -and yes, I am aware of the relevant stats. The thing is, there is a fucking history people like Howe should take into account...

Apparently we have a guy in Arteta with such a noble vision about football. A guy who has spent lots of man hours on the training ground working on set pieces, teaching his team specific "patterns". In the framework of which, players are assigned to "block" the opposition keeper. "It's a contact game" would be the arguement, I suppose, so it's not illegal. I'm not always sure about that though (would it become illegal if City adopted the same tactics?). Fact remains, however, that there are people on a mission during every Arsenal set piece, the actions of whom increase the probability for Gabriel or Saliba to score from a header. Are we pretending we don't understand this? Arteta will not hesitate to do whatever it takes so as to achieve results. it's about his vanity. Period. But what about his colleagues?

The play leading to the corner for Arsenal's second goal is clearly on Pope. Did you hear Slot's comment on his player? At that moment there's nothing else, "we only defend". Pope is on the pitch, totally aware of the mood within his team. Nevertheless he decides to get adventurous. In such a case, he has to be precise. Othewise, Arsenal could be awarded with the opportunity for a final attack. Which they did get and it was fatal: Opportunism costs...

But regarding the actual corner itself, say what you want about Pope, the point remains he (as well as everyone in his position) needs support. Yes, I agree, he was poor in his "exit", but I repeat: He needs the support of his teammates. Once again: You are facing a team that "invests" in set pieces, playing them with a very specific manner. This thing is going on for the last 2, I repeat, TWO fucking years. I am sorry, there is zero excuse. You will spend some time on the training ground, working with your players on ways to deal with this shit. Players who will have to become a shield for your GK, providing protection from assholes such as Calafiori, enabling him to operate as a goalkeeper...

Furthermore, I'm sick and tired of professional managers "investing" in "physicality", instructing their players to bully opponents in duels with the support of the home crowd. Which is what Newcastle constantly do in St. James Park. Well guess what: Arsenal are not City, are they? Arsenal do enjoy protection from officials, so such measures could prove to be ineffective. Furthermore, when it comes to that handball, for example, VAR's intepretation could go against you (not sure it would if that was Ruben Dias though). Which means, you have no choice but to work on your football, keep improving in all phases of the game. Defending as a unit, defensive coordination in general so as to effectively deal with a variety of situations and challenges (set pieces included), does present a skill -which is coachable. Otherwise every motherfucker could do it. Newcastle ignored the football, Newcastle were poor, they deserved to lose. Period...

As for Mikel Arteta (and that **** of assistant of his), congratulations! Keep doing what you're doing. Why shouldn't you? It's definitely working, it's definitely getting points and results. Apparently you're smart dealing with idiots: The PL as a whole is simply watching...
 
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