FA Carling Premiership and Milk Cup thread 2024/25

[mim731]

23 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

I don't think a dislike of something immediately means that a discussion of that thing is going to be in bad faith, but ok.

Maybe not, but it's hard to feel like it's a good faith discussion when you start it with what feels like a misrepresentation of something that was said. Sets the tone of the discussion for my money. I like your posts on here in general, so if you're saying it's intended as an actual good faith discussion then I'll take that on the level and move on. 

23 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

Ithink Arteta is both the cure (got Arsenal contending again; overseeing promotion of excellent young talent) and the problem (Wenger-esque stubborn refusal to strengthen in problem areas; is a real tosspot). I wonder if his methods have reached a natural limit.

I think next season will answer that question, especially after what will likely be a very busy transfer window under Andrea Berta.

It's very possible his methods may have reached their limit and that he's taken the team as far as they can go under his tutelage. As previously mentioned I think he made some missteps in tactical planning this season, which I would like to see if he can redress the balance of the need to be physical as well as getting back to playing exciting football. 

Equally, we have now progressed from no Champions League football, to a Quarter final last year, and a Semi final this year, so it feels fair to see if he can take the next step and win the thing, or at least go deep while also competing for the league in a way we really didn't this year. If he doesn't win a trophy next season, I feel like he's done and that goodwill he built up will no longer insulate him. 

Edited May 8, 2025 by mim731
Adding some extra

[Mr_Danger]

3 hours ago, air_raid said:

I imagine after all the "put the pressure on" DVD memes over the years, I believe Arsenal fans will... think absolutely nothing of this twaddle from their gaffer, because they have zero self-awareness.

Mind you, putting club allegiances to one side for a second and just thinking about annoyance levels, I'd definitely take them winning the league over another Liverpool one at any point in the next 30 years.

This is absolutely disgraceful. I get that you don’t like Liverpool for reasons unknown (everyone should love us, we’re dead funny, sound and humble) but preferring your local most hated rivals success over a team that’s not even classed as rivals is terrible form. As funny as the Spursy thing is I would never want Everton to succeed at their expense. 
 

Anyway, here’s to Liverpool battering Arsenal on Sunday and them finishing third in a two horse race.

[lanky316]

The way they are now, Arsenal aren't coming third in a two horse race, they're somehow going to come fourth or fifth. Which would be a new implosion record even by Artetas Arsenal standards.

They'll probably get away with it but it would be very, very funny.

[hallicks]

2 minutes ago, lanky316 said:

The way they are now, Arsenal aren't coming third in a two horse race, they're somehow going to come fourth or fifth. Which would be a new implosion record even by Artetas Arsenal standards.

They'll probably get away with it but it would be very, very funny.

Once the league went, finishing ahead of Man City should have been a genuine priority. We still have a big psychological hoodoo when it comes to them, and having a season where we are irrefutably better after 38 games would be something meaningful for when they inevitably improve next season. (Unless they get relegated as punishment amirite lol).

It could have been done and dusted by now but the downing of tools in the last two league games means we’ve got to beat at least one of Liverpool or Newcastle, teams we have pretty poor recent records against (especially Newcastle), and that’s presuming we beat Saints on the last day and City don’t score 25 goals in the next 3 games. And I wouldn’t put it past the fucks.

I mean maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I think it’s important and it annoys me that Arteta doesn’t. 

[air_raid]

40 minutes ago, Mr_Danger said:

This is absolutely disgraceful. I get that you don’t like Liverpool for reasons unknown (everyone should love us, we’re dead funny, sound and humble) but preferring your local most hated rivals success over a team that’s not even classed as rivals is terrible form.

Eh. Real life is far more important than the “rules” of fandom, and having lived through three Arsenal titles since my childhood ended and two of Liverpool, I know which have annoyed me more. Probably helps that out of three Arsenal fans I’d call acquaintances in real life, one was a very sound lad, and the ratio within the Scouse gobshites I’ve had to endure looks vastly inferior. Much as I dislike Arsenal, West Ham and especially Chelsea, all my mates support Villa so I actually enjoy beating them the most.

I didn’t grow up supporting my local team either, something else the gatekeepers don’t like. They can fuck off, I don’t have to justify the team I’ve supported my whole life because a choice I made as a child was based on different reasons than theirs.

[SuperBacon]

Embracing my 12yo at full time having watched us make a European final >>>

Up Ange. UP THE FUCKING SPURS!!!

[TheBurningRed]

Worst Man Utd season in premier league history. Worst season in my lifetime. Defence and goalie are crap and we concede more goals than we score due to having a shit striker. And yet we are in a final and being the jammy bastards that we are, we’ll probably go on and win it.

And Antony will probably end up winning a European trophy as well as I can see Betis beating Chelsea. 

[SuperBacon]

8 minutes ago, TheBurningRed said:

Worst Spurs season in premier league history. Worst season in my lifetime

Snap!

[Carbomb]

8 minutes ago, TheBurningRed said:

And Antony will probably end up winning a European trophy as well as I can see Betis beating Chelsea. 

No way are we getting a profit on him, even with this level of performance, given how insane the fee was, and given how Betis probably can't afford him. Apparently Atleti are interested in him, but I don't imagine they'll break the bank for him.

I just want rid of the woman-beating fuck.

[Devon Malcolm]

This is a great picture.

[air_raid]

6 hours ago, SuperBacon said:

Snap!

I think there were plenty of 90s seasons worse than this, where we played no good football and beat nobody decent. At least this year there were a few good thrashings and wins at City and Old Trafford. Plus never any serious threat of going down ; that time Jurgen had to bail us out, Christ.

[Arch Stanton]

Absolutely gutted that it's a Barclays final in the Europa. If you play Spurs in a European final it shouldn't really be counted as a European trophy. This was my stance six years ago, so I have to stand by my principles.

[mim731]

I will say you guys are not selling me on the quality of the Europa League here. I haven't watched a minute of it this season, and can't see that changing based on what I'm reading. 

[SuperBacon]

49 minutes ago, Arch Stanton said:

If you play Spurs in a European final it shouldn't really be counted as a European trophy.

Dropped 12yo off at school this morning. She said the first thing she was doing was finding her Arsenal mates and asking when their European final was ? Legend.

We don't get many chances to actually enjoy football, so she'll have a good day for once.

[tiger_rick]

9 hours ago, Devon Malcolm said:

This is a great picture.

Surely the highlight of United's season, this lad? He's bloody brilliant. He ripped us apart when he was on loan at Sunderland (was that last season?) and has such a great attitude as well as pace, skill and intelligence. First name on any United team sheet for years and years, you'd imagine.

49 minutes ago, Arch Stanton said:

Absolutely gutted that it's a Barclays final in the Europa. If you play Spurs in a European final it shouldn't really be counted as a European trophy. This was my stance six years ago, so I have to stand by my principles.

That's Spurs who have won 3 European Trophies and made 6 finals. Football didn't start in 1992 you know! I'm just kidding, but Spurs European record is pretty impressive. I think they've made a final in about 20% of their seasons in Europe.