Respectful Pep's Arteta Squashers vs Eddie "Fanny Magnet" Howe's Rapid Challengers

[Monkeys Fist 45163]

Fair enough. 
 

 

 

( also, their next game is after ours, so that’s that buggered). 

[Zathras 342]

34 minutes ago, OTF said:

Did you not just watch him petulantly rolling around moaning and constantly whinging and whining at the linesman and referee for not getting free kicks? I hate it when one of our players does anything similar. Big titties are good though.

 

Just about any titties are good, tbh.

[OTF 8420]

Just now, Zathras said:

 

Just about any titties are good, tbh.

 

Don't strawman me on the titties, friend.

[ewerk 33232]

47 minutes ago, OTF said:

Big titties are good though.

 

[PaddockLad 19027]

23 minutes ago, Monkeys Fist said:

For me, one of the biggest questions this match raised is- who is going to start the next match thread, now that Gemmill has blown his winning streak? 
 

 

I think whoever correctly predicts The Judge’s* minutes on the pitch for Al Ahli’s next game should do it. 
 

 

 

* ASM, because of how long he spends on the bench. 

 

[Monkeys Fist 45163]

12 minutes ago, Zathras said:

 

Just about any titties are good, tbh.

Just about, but there are exceptions  *
 

 

* I apologise profusely, but lines must be drawn. 

 

 

[Monkeys Fist 45163]

2 minutes ago, PaddockLad said:

 

Too late mate, I’ve jumped in like a shameless tart. 

[PaddockLad 19027]

6 minutes ago, ewerk said:

 

CT’s a fuckin pervert  

[PaddockLad 19027]

9 minutes ago, Monkeys Fist said:

Too late mate, I’ve jumped in like a shameless tart. 

Ooh ya wee hussy  

[aimaad22 4691]

1 hour ago, Renton said:

 

Aye, exactly. Liverpool next is a much more relevant test 

Edit: think Brighton away might be an even bigger test too.

 

Aye. Losing to Pep is never too bad. Really would love to see Klopp's fat face after getting stuffed at SJP. Losing that game will hurt. 

[Monkeys Fist 45163]

8 minutes ago, PaddockLad said:

CT’s a fuckin pervert  

Newquay agrees

[Dougle 3685]

Weird game tonight mind. Players who are solid gold just simply not looking right.

Joelinton was way off the mark, distribution was so sloppy, looked half asleep.

Isak also really strange, even his body posture looked unnatural.

Gordon compared to last week actually did look like a headless chicken.

Bruno? Has he been affected by his mate’s gambling accusations?

Even when Longstaff came on he looked fucking knackered, sweat all over his face after 5 mins.

Was there some sort of mad weather anomaly down there tonight that only affected our players?

I suppose a one nil defeat to the best side on the planet at their ground is hardly the end of the world.

And at least we kept Gilbert off the score sheet.

Edited August 19, 2023 by Dougle

[OTF 8420]

Just now, Dougle said:

Weird game tonight mind. Players who are solid gold just simply not looking right.

 

Joelinton was way off the mark, distribution was so sloppy, looked half asleep.

 

Isak also really strange, even his body posture looked unnatural.

 

Gordon compared to last week actually did look like a headless chicken.

 

Bruno? Has he been affected by his mate’s gambling accusations?

 

Even when Longstaff came on he looked fucking knackered, sweat all over his face after 5 mins.

 

Was there some sort of mad weather anomaly down there tonight that only affected our players?

 

I suppose a one nil defeat to the best side on the planet at their ground is hardly they end of the world.

 

And at least we kept Gilbert off the score sheet.

 

 

It was our midfield three that were not at their best, but I really think there was something up with Joelinton, like he's coming into being sick or something because he lacked energy and the combative play he is synonymous with was completely absent. Bruno continues to be off his best, Tonali was reasonable I thought given as a unit how poor they were. Gordon then was left with too much to do when he had the ball, last week he combined sublimely with Joelinton, here he had noone working with him. Isak didn't have enough service of course, and he did make a few reasonable moves where he beat at least one defender, however after he made a couple of runs where he was up against multiple defenders who either disposessed him directly or shepherded him into losing the ball he lost his confidence. As a whole though I don't think we should be too critical of any players individually because it was as a team that we failed to execute at our normal level. 

[Christmas Tree 5106]

Shit game and our normal team didn’t turn up. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse. Back down to earth with a bump.

[sammynb 3923]

Not a great game, good performance from our defence but as others have said from the midfield forward things looked out of shape.

I would have liked to have seen Isak moved out left and Wilson up front but now with Gordon and Barnes the first two choices for LW, that is probably no longer an option in EH's mind.

It just seemed like Isak was pissed off with being so isolated and keeping him on may have sparked something for him and Wilson.

Time to move forward and keep looking ahead.

[aimaad22 4691]

1 hour ago, Christmas Tree said:

Shit game and our normal team didn’t turn up. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse. Back down to earth with a bump.

 

You were seriously expecting to get a result? Hoping is one thing but expecting? 

 

 

Perspective please. This is a team that blew away Real Madrid a couple of months back. We were nailed on for relegation less than two years ago. We will go through a number of these games and a few more transfer windows before we can contend with the big boys. And City might even be an exception to that, as long as they have Pep they'll be a class above for years still. 

 

Howe will be smart enough to know this. He'll have seen 3rd and 4th are very gettable again this season based on how Liverpool and Man Utd are playing. It'll be another fantastic season if we finish there. Toppling City will have to wait a bit, but it will come. 

 

 

[RobinRobin 12499]

3 hours ago, Monkeys Fist said:

Just about, but there are exceptions  *
 

 

* I apologise profusely, but lines must be drawn. 

 

 

[LondonBlue 1021]

6 hours ago, wykikitoon said:

Ederson is quite small for a 'keeper isn't he?

He can dribble past players better than most keepers though and he's quite relaxed about it

[LondonBlue 1021]

6 hours ago, ewerk said:

Especially that @LondonBlue

stayed respectfully quiet. fans of the same team argue about incidents whatever the result so opposing fans have no chance.

 

but sod it.

 

thought our squad was threadbare and in the last 20 we looked tired and ragged. Not surprising after the sevilla game. our bench meant we stuck with same 11 for 90mins. looked like our plan was to starve you of the ball and win it back quick if lost (kind of the usual plan). Stops us conceding. Peps been giving Foden experience across the front three as he's not ready defensively for midfield. I think in the academy he was a 10 and the usual know it alls would say he carried the ball like messi. more than a bit of a stretch but hes ok and may get a run there now.

 

feared the worst when rodri misjudged a pass and you were 3 against 1. Gvardiol did well but you should have scored. And Rodri has plenty of credit in the bank so i forgive him.

 

actually i feared the worst before the game. we just seem light on creativity at the moment. can't afford any injuries there. hopefully bernado silvas illness isn't a cover for a departure.

 

seen a lot of hate for grealish. i get it after that comment a season or so back but he's a good lad. that clip of him stopping to shake that disabled girls hand on the way for his medal is standard for him. he's just a big kid that gets a bit giddy at times. carries the ball and draws fouls.

 

[Andrew 5153]

2 hours ago, aimaad22 said:

 

You were seriously expecting to get a result? Hoping is one thing but expecting? 

 

 

Agreed all the way through, if this result has caused you some shock then your expectations were far too high to begin with.

Its funny isn't it, whenever we show up and batter people, you see a lot of "oh this team were poor today and Newcastle took advantage" and we are looking on saying "No, we made them look poor because we played very well" both can be true at the same time of course but we never seem to be given credit where its due.

 

So give it where its due, we played the actual best team in the world today, last season they played a bunch of the other best teams in the world and made them look ordinary, they did Bayern Munich in about 15 minutes in the CL. And yes, we didn't look amazing, in part because we could have been better but also because WE PLAYED THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD TODAY.

[Gemmill 50011]

Aye you can't go in the huff about this. We're at least 5 years of spending behind these, and as good as Howe is, Pep is on another planet.

 

We need him to leave so City can experience some post-Pep wilderness years.

 

Take this one out on Mr Wind-up Teeth next week and I'll be happy.

[aimaad22 4691]

Not to mention we stayed in the game till the end despite not being at our best. That is a true sign of how far we've come. I didn't particularly enjoy the game of course, but was proud of the fact we're already going into these games with confidence rather than dread. 

 

I think games like these we miss Willock, his energy and especially ability to carry the ball and create space. 

 

4 points in the next 2 games would be a very good return. After that string a good run together in the easier run in. 

 

[The Fish 11323]

2 hours ago, LondonBlue said:

stayed respectfully quiet. fans of the same team argue about incidents whatever the result so opposing fans have no chance.

 

but sod it.

 

thought our squad was threadbare and in the last 20 we looked tired and ragged. Not surprising after the sevilla game. our bench meant we stuck with same 11 for 90mins. looked like our plan was to starve you of the ball and win it back quick if lost (kind of the usual plan). Stops us conceding. Peps been giving Foden experience across the front three as he's not ready defensively for midfield. I think in the academy he was a 10 and the usual know it alls would say he carried the ball like messi. more than a bit of a stretch but hes ok and may get a run there now.

 

feared the worst when rodri misjudged a pass and you were 3 against 1. Gvardiol did well but you should have scored. And Rodri has plenty of credit in the bank so i forgive him.

 

actually i feared the worst before the game. we just seem light on creativity at the moment. can't afford any injuries there. hopefully bernado silvas illness isn't a cover for a departure.

 

seen a lot of hate for grealish. i get it after that comment a season or so back but he's a good lad. that clip of him stopping to shake that disabled girls hand on the way for his medal is standard for him. he's just a big kid that gets a bit giddy at times. carries the ball and draws fouls.

 

Another one of those players that his own fans live, opposition fans get wound up by. Gordon is becoming ours, I'm sure he's a lovely lad off the pitch, but he's a right prick on it.

 

Had we played to the levels we can hit I think we would have caused you way more problems, even if restricted to those few chances we had, we would have taken them and made a game of it. 

 

To be honest before a ball was kicked I was expecting 0-2 points from the first four games, so to have 3 already is encouraging.

 

I'd much rather face Man City away early in the season. Imagine having to go there in April or May needing to get something.

 

So we've got through the hardest fixture of the season, with no suspensions, hopefully no injuries, and only conceding 1 goal. But CT is pissing his sheets again? 

[Christmas Tree 5106]

6 hours ago, aimaad22 said:

 

You were seriously expecting to get a result? Hoping is one thing but expecting? 

 

 

Perspective please. This is a team that blew away Real Madrid a couple of months back. We were nailed on for relegation less than two years ago. We will go through a number of these games and a few more transfer windows before we can contend with the big boys. And City might even be an exception to that, as long as they have Pep they'll be a class above for years still. 

 

Howe will be smart enough to know this. He'll have seen 3rd and 4th are very gettable again this season based on how Liverpool and Man Utd are playing. It'll be another fantastic season if we finish there. Toppling City will have to wait a bit, but it will come. 

 

 

Nah, we were 3-1 up against them last year at one point and played much better in the away fixture. The result yesterday was more about our midfield and front 3 just not turning up for some reason. We just didn’t give them a game.

[Kid Dynamite 7644]

3 minutes ago, Christmas Tree said:

Nah, we were 3-1 up against them last year at one point and played much better in the away fixture. The result yesterday was more about our midfield and front 3 just not turning up for some reason. We just didn’t give them a game.

Eddie said as much in his post match comments. We don't have too many off days. Onwards and upwards