Kante, for some odd reason, is always completely anonymous against Arsenal...

Good result. Away to Liverpool and Chelsea in rearview and a favorable run of games upcoming. All told, given Liverpool and Spurs results crisis averted?

[Edited on September 17, 2017 at 11:44 AM. Reason : Ox was the key...]

9/17/2017 11:43:49 AM

Got rid of Ox and the curse has shifted.

Gotta give credit to Wenger today, he got it right.

9/17/2017 12:46:45 PM

^^ IMO I honestly think if Arsenal were to advance past the quarters in the europa I don't think they can cope with the league. The depth is def. An issue because there just isn't enough quality on the bench.

The europa league takes a toll on your season with the extra matches and the Thursday fixtures. If Arsenal were to do it and hope for a top 4 finish then they need to start beating and not drawing teams in the top 5. Title race is def. Gone IMO.

9/17/2017 6:02:56 PM

^ I actually agree that we don't have the depth currently (even with some of the exciting young talent).

Without some additions in the winter transfer window we will be chasing a CL berth at best. We get knocked out of Europa early though and there is enough in the starting 11 and first choice bench to make things interesting.

At least we don't have to play Bayern this year

9/18/2017 12:48:03 AM

Bayern to finish third and draw Arsenal!

Early days still (I don't like to judge the title race till week 11 or 12 at least) but as expected the Manchester clubs are hot out of the gates. I am delighted at the progress Jose has made and I am even more delighted with the depth in the squad. Although Pogba's injury is a bit of a worry and even yesterday the midfield wasn't in control. I worry more about missing Pogba in Europe so I think Jose needs to drop one of Mikhi/Mata and add in Herrera/Carrick for more control.

City's attacking riches are insane and I think they have the best attack in the premier league. That said I still think Pep will find it hard in December/January when the fixtures pile up and there is less time to prepare for each fixture. I think in this regard United is better placed given the grind last year and the mentality of the team. We also have Ibra and Rojo back to add depth.

That said Chelsea/Liverpool still have a huge say in the title race and unfortunately for Spurs I can't see them keep pace with the Manchester clubs this year. I expect Tottenham to have a say but I still think Europe will be a huge distraction for them. Liverpool is a sleeper but I think if Klopp had been able to add VVD or another competent center half they would have been better placed.

33 more matches left though and I believe it is shaping up to be a monster title race this year.

9/18/2017 8:27:23 AM

I fail to see how Liverpool or Spurs, at a squad level don't have the same issues as Arsenal. It's nuts to me how they have essentially been written off by pundits. Are there issues? Yes. Are they nailed on top four? God, no. I'd say they aren't top four favorites but there were people everywhere claiming they will miss out on top six to the likes of Leiscester and Everton..

Fucking Gary Neville on TV droning on about how Chelsea was going to stick 5 by Arsenal without even casually mentioning Arsenal have only lost 1 of the last 5 head-to-heads now.

Quote :

"even with some of the exciting young talent"

Who??? Iwobi, I'll grant you. If he chose to put on an England shirt and not Nigeria he'd be getting a lot more hype but he is far from a finished product. Mainland-Niles? Not impressed. Holding? Major regression this season. Reiss Nelson looks a player but way too early to tell. There is no Marcus Rashford out there for us..

[Edited on September 18, 2017 at 12:29 PM. Reason : X]

9/18/2017 12:26:05 PM

Quote :

"I fail to see how Liverpool or Spurs, at a squad level don't have the same issues as Arsenal."

Because their first team squads are miles ahead of Arsenals at this moment in time and can win a majority of their matches. Who is Arsenals best player? Alexis Sanchez and he wanted out this summer. Arsenal needs a change. They aren't title challengers simply because of recent evidence. FA cup victories are nice but Arsenal haven't mounted a serious title challenge in over a decade.

Arsenal likely won't make top 4 for me either because the depth in your squad becomes more of an issue with the Europa league with the Thursday night matches. That gives you very minimal time to prepare for the weekend fixtures as well.

I think Arsenal needs a shake up. You will endure a few seasons like Liverpool and United did but a fresh face and a change of ideas will be better for the squad long term.

9/18/2017 1:53:31 PM

Quote :

"Because their first team squads are miles ahead of Arsenals"

This (if you believe it, which I don't necessarily) and the Europa League are valid. That other nonsense is ridiculous and irrelevant. Coutinho wanted to leave Liverpool too so I fail to see how Sanchez wanting a move is a reason why Liverpool/Spurs is better. And recent title challenges? So Luis Suarez playing like a world beater three years ago somehow means Liverpool is more likely to finish top four?

I think the two Manchester teams are miles ahead of the rest of the league including Chelsea. But the separation between them and third place is far greater than Spurs/Liverpool/Chelsea are to Arsenal.

[Edited on September 18, 2017 at 2:25 PM. Reason : And I didn't say I thought Arsenal were title challengers]

9/18/2017 2:24:18 PM

^ that's fair. League title aside I just haven't seen the same ability for Arsenal that I have seen from Liverpool/Spurs so far. That said obviously there is a lot of time to improve and if you want to back anyone to finish top 4 the likeliest is Wenger. Wenger needs to get back to basics though. The worry for Arsenal is that a lot of times they are devoid of ideas and look like they haven't prepared. This is on the manager just as much as it is on the players.

Its a bit weird because I can't tell if the issues at Arsenal (lack of planning in the transfer window, lack of match preparation, and weird formations/tacitcs) are from the board or from Wenger. I would imagine a manager of Wenger's caliber would have an effective transfer plan but its always a mess. Its probably a little bit of everything. Best thing Arsenal can do is get Kronke out.

[Edited on September 19, 2017 at 10:16 AM. Reason : a]

9/19/2017 10:15:13 AM

Quote :

"Best thing Arsenal can do is get Kronke out."

Never going to happen. He's got fuck you money so he never needs to sell and already doesn't care what the supporters think. The worst part is he's always going to have the club on the back burner now that his LA Rams project is beginning. They're stuck with him until he dies most likely.

9/19/2017 3:38:19 PM

Ozil to United on a free is going to kill me.

9/24/2017 11:28:19 AM

9/25/2017 8:11:01 AM

As expected City's attack running away with it so far. I think they are looking incredibly strong all over the pitch and it is going to be hard to derail them. That said I still expect Pep to struggle with the Christmas fixtures and that is where United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea have to make up ground IMO.

Tottenham for me is still an outside chance for the title this year. They look great so nothing to take away from them but again I question the depth of the team especially with the CL and potential Europa distraction if they can't qualify out of that tough group. Harry Kane has to carry them here and they are slowly building a strong mentality which could bode well. If Erickson, Alli and Kane are fit all year they have a good shout.

I said this before and I still think its true but United's greatest asset this season is depth. However, the one person we couldn't afford to lose is Pogba and that was glaringly obvious against Southampton. Without him the midfield just doesn't tick with the attacking tempo. I worry if he has surgery this week and misses the bigger matches coming in October/November.

Liverpool still don't know how to play defense so I expect them to not be in the running towards the end of the year unless they pull off a defensive signing in January. Top 4 team surely and of course they will have say in the title race with Mane and Salah on fire but I still think the biggest issue with pool and Klopp is that Klopp doesn't know when to stop pushing and play for the win/draw. The players get absolutely battered towards the end and they tend to fall off. Great manager but you need a plan B in England because the fixtures are unforgiving. Until Klopp gets a top calibre CB or learns to temper some matches and shore up defensively when they have the lead I can't see them winning it. That said I think next year (jokes aside) they will be set up really well to truly push for the title with Keita and for them a defensive rock (remains to be seen who this may be).

9/25/2017 10:52:56 AM

While I agree that Liverpool's defense will cost them at a shot at the title, I disagree it's Klopp's tactics that do it. I do however think he should be blamed for not buying reinforcements/upgrades. Absolutely no excuse for not getting another CB and upgrading Moreno. Clyne out has hurt a lot but it's no excuse for a team looking to win a title. And while Mignolet can make a nice save here and there, he just isn't good enough and I'm not sure Karius is either.

For example, I think for the majority of the Leicester game, the defense looked pretty good. It's that little lapse in concentration that ALWAYS leads to a goal and Lovren is the worst at it. The foul that led to the first goal (even though it was Vardy doing that horseshit stick out your leg dive thing) was a let-off from Matip because he didn't even need to making that challenge. There's the little unforced giveaways by Lovren/Gomez/Moreno that just piss you off and of course Mignolet's dumbass is always doing some random idiotic thing. But for the most part, I thought they were very organized and Leicester had very little going until they scored.

It's easy to say "play defensively" in one game and "go all out attack" in this game. That's not even realistic. I think with better players in the back 4, the tactics Liverpool uses to be exciting offensively would translate into defensive improvements as well.

[Edited on September 25, 2017 at 2:06 PM. Reason : .]

9/25/2017 2:04:21 PM

Quote :

"Vardy doing that horseshit stick out your leg dive thing"

God he loves that move. Tried it twice on Spurs last season.

9/25/2017 2:32:28 PM

Quote :

""The Jacksonville Jaguars now have more home league wins at Wembley than Tottenham Hotspurs" - Michael Davies @embassydavies @MenInBlazers"

9/25/2017 8:37:25 PM

Gotta throw league in there because, you know, Dortmund.

9/26/2017 8:16:34 AM

Running out of superlatives for Kane. "But can he do it in the Champions League?" a brace against Dortmund and a perfect hat trick tonight sends those questioning him crawling back under their log.

Says volumes about how far we've come as a squad tonight as well going on the road with 7 first team players out and get a clean sheet and a win.

I'm pumped to see what we can come up with at the Bernabeau now. I know that any points would be a blessing but I feel like on our day we can compete. It will be a perfect litmus test for the squad to see how well we can play vs the truly elite in Europe.

COYS

9/27/2017 7:20:34 AM

Spurs play Real Madrid twice, Liverpool and United in a five match span in October

Reminds me of some of those stretches Arsenal got with Bayern in the knockout stages. Always had United, Chelsea or Spurs right around then too..

[Edited on September 27, 2017 at 9:01 AM. Reason : City play Bournemouth, Newcastle and Palace over Xmas. Wouldn’t be too sure they struggle.]

9/27/2017 8:59:39 AM

That stoppage time goal was clutch

9/27/2017 5:02:01 PM

Similar feelings for Lukaku and Kane as well. I am impressed with the Spurs in the CL so far. I agree Madrid will be a good litmus test as well. Spurs are quietly doing their thing. Lets see if Poch can keep it up.

On another note Anthony Martial is so fucking silky on the ball. I am so happy to have him and Rashford on the team.

9/28/2017 11:34:12 AM

Spurs look good in CL. I can see them giving Madrid a game. Shame Pulisic was drawn in that group.

Spurs, in the league, haven’t been great yet. Early days, though.

9/28/2017 2:07:43 PM

Aguero out several weeks due to broken rib suffered in a Taxi Cab crash in Amsterdam.

That takes some depth away from the Citeh attack coupled with the Mendy injury, good news for Chelsea and United.

9/29/2017 9:43:42 AM

I hate even thinking this but damn Wilshere looks good. Such a shame with his injuries. I’m sure one is right around the corner but his control and vision is still top notch..

[Edited on September 29, 2017 at 10:05 AM. Reason : Of course it’s his technical ability that results in him getting hurt by shit tackles too ]

9/29/2017 10:01:35 AM

https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/913142202993451009

Funniest shit I've seen all week.

9/29/2017 12:53:39 PM

9/29/2017 2:34:36 PM

Oh come on

9/29/2017 2:37:43 PM

9/29/2017 2:42:24 PM

Liverpool should spend 100 million at the next transfer window at any top tier defenders they can get. It is crushing to watch such a fun group (offensively) be offset by god awful defending.

9/29/2017 2:46:52 PM

How are Pool fans feeling about Klopp now? The tides turning yet?

Quote :

"There are different ways to get one win in seven. You can play really bad and lose a lot of games or you play more than a few games really, really good. Most of the games actually we were the better side but a few chances are enough for the opponent to score and we need a lot more and in the end we have had the same number of goals. That happens too often in the last few weeks, of course." "The boys will go away and we all feel not perfect in that moment and by the way the main problem is not only that football is not fair, people write about it and the boys read it and it makes it even worse. You have a point but it feels like you have lost"

So are these players so fragile mentally that they can't take some deserved criticism? MUH FEELINGS

He's now fallen into trying to take on journalists for their articles, which is a key milestone in the downward spiral of a manger. The book has been out on Liverpool for 18 months now and he's done nothing to change the way they play. If you sit back, they really can't break you down, and their back line will give you chances.

I'd be livid knowing he made no defensive signings this summer when that was the weakest unit on the pitch all of last season.

[Edited on October 2, 2017 at 8:47 AM. Reason : inserted the quote so everyone will know what I'm talking about]

10/2/2017 8:42:09 AM

I feel alright. not happy.

After 7 games.

Liverpool 17/18- 12 points
Chelsea 16/17- 13 points
Leicester 15/16- 12 points
Man City 13/14- 13 points
Man United 10/11- 13 points
Man United 08/09- 14 points
Man United 07/08- 14 points


problem arrives that we are being left behind. still a long season.

10/2/2017 8:46:10 AM

Mane out 6 weeks......

[Edited on October 10, 2017 at 1:12 PM. Reason : E]

10/10/2017 12:45:22 PM

Mane too. Funny coincidence.

I'll admit I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I saw that. He would have torn us up. Davies got flat out abused by him in Anfield last season.

10/10/2017 1:06:03 PM

De Gea is insane

10/14/2017 8:09:56 AM

Fucking De Gea standing on his head

10/14/2017 8:25:01 AM

Liverpool far the better team but this is a championship point for United...

I’ll say it again, all the hand-wringing and with similar strength of schedules Arsenal will be ahead of Liverpool if they beat Watford today..

[Edited on October 14, 2017 at 9:21 AM. Reason : Salah is a beast tho]

10/14/2017 9:20:27 AM

I don't get why you're so against Klopp Ribs... where's all the hatred from?

As a neutral, the league would be so much better if we had more Klopps/Pochettinos as managers and less Mourinhos. Before wazza jumps in, I know it wins titles and I know that's all he and United should care about. But it makes for really shit "big" games.

I'm still 100% behind Klopp, btw. Almost every single signing he's made has been on point, except for maybe Karius. Can/Lallana have been miles better under him. Already made my feelings known about his lack of defensive signings but definitely not turning on him because of it. A solid team in the mix for the title that can compete against the top clubs, ain't mad at it. I typically enjoy watching them play every week which is what you want as a fan. Yeah, sometimes they make dumb mistakes and miss chances but I'd rather watch them than a team that bunkers down and grinds out games.

[Edited on October 14, 2017 at 9:37 AM. Reason : .]

10/14/2017 9:28:46 AM

Yep classic Kloop draw

10/14/2017 9:37:53 AM

[/quote]As a neutral, the league would be so much better if we had more Klopps/Pochettinos as managers and less Mourinhos.[quote]

I know you won't see it this way but I think it takes a lot more tactical nous to negate a team than to always stick to one plan and attack. I also very much enjoy a defensive backs to the wall performance like Inter v Barca and even United v Barca in the semis in 08. Atletico matches are the same way. I am not saying that is what United did yesterday because honestly the defending was pretty easy yesterday for the most part. I would argue Liverpool had 2 clear chances yesterday. One De Gea did what we expect and the second was wasted. For all this talk about Mourinho playing negative (yes he did no doubt about it) you can also argue Klopp took zero risks. All of his changes were like for like and United defended rather comfortably. If Klopp wasn't as worried about United as Joses was about Liverpool he would have taken off a defender of midfielder for a forward and really put us under pressure. Klopp was just as risk averse yesterday.

As far as entertainment, it is a 38 match league. United has scored 4 goals in 4 out of the last 7 occasions. I am ok with what happened at anfield without Pogba, Fellaini and Bailly. All of whom start and make a huge difference for us. I am also fairly entertained outside of our big game performance.

There isn't one way to play football. If you win you are entertained. Simple as that. All of these pool fans and pundits complaining about Jose would absolutely be ok with it if their team were the ones doing it and keeping pace with the league leaders.

[Edited on October 15, 2017 at 8:45 AM. Reason : D]

10/15/2017 8:41:14 AM

Quote :

"If you win you are entertained."

Nope. I mean you can call me a liar but I just wouldn't be. I know I'll just take shit for being a Liverpool fan and we never win any so of course I don't care about trophies, ha ha. But I want to watch good football matches. Not ones with teams that obviously have the talent to play entertaining barely even try to get over midfield. My comments were also directed at a neutral, not you anyway.

And that's fine if you care about "tactical nous." Also, lol at word for word repeating Mourinhos post game comments.

[Edited on October 15, 2017 at 2:20 PM. Reason : feel like we've had this argument multiple times on here]

10/15/2017 1:52:27 PM

You are saying that because let’s be honest you haven’t been in that position. If Liverpool won any trophy using “negative” football then you wouldn’t be complaining.

Also yes I agree we have the talent to play an open game and that would haveplayed into Liverpool’s hands. It would have maybe been more entertaining but increased our chances of losses. Which at this point in the season would not have been good. Klopp obviously agreed because he didn’t take the risk to truly push for the win either. Without Pogba our game plan works a little better. Your midfield was better simply because we couldn’t play our game. Similarly your attack would have been better if you had Mane.

If literally all you have to complain about is that Jose is a shit manager because he doesn’t take risks then all I have to tell you is that it gets results. Now I know you don’t think you would be ok with this but if those methods made Liverpool title challengers you wouldn’t be complaining.

10/15/2017 2:33:57 PM

again, keep telling me what I want or wouldn't want. I'm pretty jaded as a sports fan in 2017 and will not watch sports if it's not enjoyable to me on a weekly basis. I have supported LFC for a long time but I'm being honest when I say I will tune out if they play like a Tony Pulis coached team.

United have been good most of the season so don't misinterpret me talking about Saturday's game as United always play like that. I just can't believe you're not disappointed that in EVERY single "big" game he plays like that when he has world class attacking talent at his disposal. Call it tactical brilliance or whatever but it's fucking boring.

I'd be disappointed as a United fan because you should not be held scoreless by a team with Lovren and Moreno in it and that game was there for the taking because like you say, LFC just didn't create enough chances. And honestly, I don't think beating small/mid-table clubs and grinding out draws against big clubs will win the league this year because a) beating those teams consistently is a lot harder to do now and b) there is too much attacking talent at the top of the league to expect to keep every single one of them quiet like they did with Liverpool Saturday.

10/15/2017 2:57:15 PM

[Edited on October 15, 2017 at 8:27 PM. Reason : Honestly, at this point I’d take Mourinho style over whatever Wenger is trying to do]

10/15/2017 8:25:49 PM

Quote :

"there is too much attacking talent at the top of the league to expect to keep every single one of them quiet like they did with Liverpool Saturday."

This is exactly where Mourinho thrives. Defending takes just as much skill as attacking. Again I am not surprised you see it as me telling you what you want. If you are so willing to stop watching Liverpool because a new manager may play a defending style but win then I would question why you support them in the first place. How did you handle the years under Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish where entertainment was never an issue because Liverpool seemingly had no game plans at all?

I am entertained on a weekly basis. If that means there are 4 to 8 match days a year where we set up to not lose with an eye on the bigger picture I am absolutely ok with it. Every manager that is worth anything has resorted to those tactics when they want to win, its pretty simple as that. I would argue it is pretty stupid of a manager to play with only one method and one way throughout the season. Mourinho and Man United apologize for not setting up to get beat against a loud angry Anfield crowd and ruin the game of football. Yes those tactics are just as acceptable at Manchester United as it is acceptable at anfield to have 1 win in 8 matches.

10/16/2017 9:12:10 AM

lol bitch. the post before that, you literally told me I wouldn't be complaining. And are you arguing that I liked Roy Hodgson? Just stop.

This is such a stupid argument because Tony Pulis would be a genius to you if he was at United. Not worth continuing the discussion.

10/16/2017 1:54:09 PM

I actually sort of - and I hate to say this, I really do - agree with wazza here. Mourinho hasn’t been all that negative this year, United has been entertaining and on the front foot. A draw is a decent result at Anfield and he knew that.

[Edited on October 16, 2017 at 2:09 PM. Reason : But City wouldn’t do that and they are massive title favorites]

10/16/2017 2:08:19 PM

That's fine. My take isn't even the same as most Liverpool fans. And I have admitted United have been good all season. The whole reason this started was that I don't really get why Ribs is such a Klopp hater, it's weird to me. But I guess I just ended up taking shots at Mourinho mostly because I can't stand him or his approach in big games.

It's weird to say because aside from Fellaini, Jones, Herrera, I don't really mind this United team compared to others. Rashford, Martial, Pogba, Lukaku, etc. are objectively good, exciting players and even when it's against my team, it's annoying to see them neutered intentionally. I dunno, I'm no European soccer expert and I only really watch Bundesliga aside from PL but it just seems a bit dated in 2017 to play these tactics when there aren't many other clubs doing it, aside from Atletico. I mean even wazza up there referencing games almost 10 years ago as classic defensive battles.

10/17/2017 7:16:33 AM

Crickets up in here. I, 4-1, would love to talk about the matches this weekend. Anybody else?

10/23/2017 8:08:57 AM

Klopp isn't long for Liverpool. I'm afraid.

10/23/2017 8:47:53 AM

Koeman sacked by Everton after dropping into relegation zone. Goes from being considered for Barca job to fired in 6 months, life comes at you fast.

Unless Citeh picks up a significant injury to De Bruyne or Sane it will be hard for them to be caught, though Spurs have a real shot but the dropped points in August are going to haunt them.

10/23/2017 1:33:38 PM