12 Apr 2025 20:17:25
9s the new number, hopefully 6 by the end of the weekend. Arsenal have obviously turned their attention to the CL but it doesn't take any shine off what these are about to achieve. Fingers crossed we box it off in April and can celebrate through to seasons end and beyond.
12 Apr 2025 21:35:44
Could be 6 should we win our next 2 games and they drop points in their next game. First tho, let's take care of bus. at home v WH.
12 Apr 2025 21:40:47
We should have been in the CL mix only if our incompetent board had signed a midfielder and left back in January. Gave up 3 competitions simply due to lack of squad depth.
12 Apr 2025 23:12:38
I just want too see us win tomorrow.
One game at a time.
No point getting away from that now so close to the end.
12 Apr 2025 23:55:10
To be fair Amitabh, there's players there that are in good form that are being underused in my opinion.
When going through a spell like this, I think it's a good time to bring one or two in to remind the team that it's performance that gets you picked in the starting 11.
I'm surprised that Elliott and Endo who have shown really well when they come on don't get more looks.
Listen, Slot has been amazing. Winning the league in his first season is sensational if we go on to do it.
But that's not to say there's no improvements to make. And trusting your squad a little more is one for me.
Playing the same 11 week after week regardless of their performance the week before is in my opinion not the right approach. Especially when I think some players are absolutely chomping at the bit to have a say in this premier league title run in.
I would certainly start Harvey tomorrow personally.
Let's see if Slot does give someone a chance to step in and perhaps give the team a lift out of the mini slump.
13 Apr 2025 00:14:52
What a first season for Slot. Young manager, a bit inexperienced, new league, and no signings (bar Chiesa and Marmadashvili), and yet we are few games away for a league title.
Perhaps those are the reasons too that Slot didn't rotate much - he is still learning. He look and sound like a smart guy. I'm sure he has learnt lots, and hopefully we will see more changes and new stuffs from him in the next season.
13 Apr 2025 00:17:04
Harry is never happy, Davey, you should know that.
Obviously his main team is faltering, hence is back haunting us here.
13 Apr 2025 00:18:37
Klopp rotated last season a hell of a lot and we still fell off a cliff around this point and failed to win the league went out of the Europa and fa cup.
13 Apr 2025 00:43:28
Amitabh Bachhan, how easy is it to sign quality players in January?
13 Apr 2025 02:29:09
Arsenal won't win the CL. They haven't got a centre forward. They tried to buy a 29 year old one in January and got knocked back.
If our incompetent board was the same we'd be up in arms.
Then again, Amitabh thought Gattuso and Ancelotti were at Milan in the 90's.
I wonder who he/ she/ they was watching when the Miracle of Istanbul happened.
I'll never forget Gattuso touching the trophy as he walked past it, the angry little tosser.
13 Apr 2025 02:32:57
JK23, things should be looked at contextually instead of in silos and rotation of squads is not the sole reason for a team to win as there are many other factors as well. Last season, rotation was the issue with us and we fell away for different reasons. This season, it is evident that rotation was our weakness as Slot kept playing the same group of players despite them having to play 5 games in 15days, resulting in them looking leggy at the end of that period. Substitutions also came late, mostly after the 75min mark so the main players didn't have time to rest while the back ups barely had time to warm up. Last seasons fall away was entirely different from this seasons one as the contexts for the two are different.
13 Apr 2025 02:38:51
Harry’s team signed a bunch of players in January and they are currently 4th and went out of the champions league ?.
13 Apr 2025 05:08:07
Drac good reply that and on one hand I do agree with you and on the other it can be debated with also.
Which of the 5 games in 15 days are you referring too mate as there’s been a few heavy fixture periods.
I would definitely have liked to have seen us rotate more but the 2 games we did heavily rotate we lost to Plymouth and PSV (which resulted in us drawing PSG) .
I was as disappointed as the next fan with the Newcastle final but if Slot keeping his best team on the pitch for most of the league game minutes results in us winning our 2nd league title in over 30 years then I’m good with that.
I do believe Slot will want to go for the CL and title defence next season though so I envisage him bringing in players to build his squad to rotate more.
What do you believe last seasons fall away was. I personally don’t think it was a reaction to Klopps decision to leave which took 10 weeks for the players to react too if that’s the case.
13 Apr 2025 05:41:00
PSG or Barcelona for the champs league and either would deserve it for the football they are playing. We seem to be moving away from the pep era of playing slow possession based football and I am all here for it!
13 Apr 2025 07:51:59
Well it looks like a lot of fans are not really upset of missing out on CL or other competitions. Hmmmm…
Honestly @Rigsby since I am not “old enough” to recollect players from the 60’s and 70’s. I just shared a player name I loved watching play. Gattusso. A proper midfielder.
“I'm surprised that Elliott and Endo who have shown really well when they come on don't get more looks. ”
Why are you surprised @Davey? Slot doesn’t rate them. It is that simple. He made it absolutely clear by not playing Endo and Quansah.
If they are here next season he won’t play them!
13 Apr 2025 08:43:52
I enjoyed reading those comments.
Just to be very clear, I love Slot.
Think he is immensely talented and winning the league in first season would be an absolutely remarkable achievement. I'm so so happy with him and excited by our future under him.
I just personally think the right move, in this time where performances have not been great last 3 games would be to freshen the side very slightly.
Bradley will of course also help a tonne.
No coincidence either that those three games where performances dropped we had no recognized RB. I don't think anyone we tried played very well there. But with a few more games, I think slot would have found the answer. I had originally suggested Jones myself when Quansah failed there but must admit it didn't really work. Better than Quansah but still didn't work.
My next thought would have been to play Szobo there and put Elliott Am but thankfully now Bradley is back, he is the obvious answer.
Also, I don't solely blame Slot either for this small season blip. Lots of individual errors out there last few games.
Rambling a bit here.
Ultimately, love Slot, Love the players. Hope we take a giant step towards number 20 today and whoever is in the starting eleven today plays a great game and a great team performance.
13 Apr 2025 09:31:02
The Everton win was in amongst those games Davey.
PSG home the performance was good but PSG are also a very good side. We went out on pens.
Newcastle we were awful but it did come after 120 mins of football.
Last week most of the players had, had 10-14 days international break rest and recuperation.
I’m all for Slot mixing the team up but Im not sure that a completely different team would have overcome PSG, Newcastle and Fulham when our squad players couldn’t beat Plymouth and PSV.
13 Apr 2025 10:06:33
I didn't count Psg JK23. Thought we did well in that game too against a very very good team.
Newcastle and Fulham we were pretty bad.
Everton was ok. Not brilliant but decent.
Just feel we re not fully firing right now.
Could all change today with a big performance.
13 Apr 2025 10:17:37
Enjoy the game, JK. I've not got a ticket, which I'm gutted about.
13 Apr 2025 10:45:08
I agree, JK.
PSG are a better team than us; it's the simple, for me.
Newcastle outplayed us on the day. Their midfield is stronger than ours and they dominated us. They have a quality CF, too.
We have been the most consistent team in the PL this season, though.
I praised Slot early on the season for quickly working out his best team and sticking with it. We'd all do things differently but you can't avoid the fact that his way has worked in the League over the season, so far.
I don't like the way we line up sometimes but he's often proved me wrong and over the season there are bound to be times when I/ we could say 'what if? '
It's his first season, too, and he's using someone else's players some of which he clearly doesn't fancy or is willing to risk playing. I expected a drop off from Klopp not an improvement so that also tempers my criticism of him and his team.
13 Apr 2025 11:14:17
Cheers for the reply Davey and I fully agree mate. We not firing on all cylinders and we are struggling more in recent weeks. I think quite a few of the teams are blowing hot and cold though and throw in the fact it was the euros in the summer the top players have been going almost straight for 2 years (maybe even more)
Gutted Rome. Would have been good for a catch up. I got these ones in the ballot and in and around the ground looks far more family orientated today. Pubs are empty and club shop is rammed at the moment.
Rigsby agree there mate and although i am defending Slot slightly here I do agree that he’s been brilliant for his first season but if I want to be a petulant spoilt child I’ll go as far as saying I’m loving the fact that we’re likely going to win the league but I’m not enjoying (not saying I don’t enjoy) the football as much under Slot as I did Jurgen.
And what I mean is under Klopp I was on the edge of my seat beit in the ground, pub or house watching us and with Slots more controlled play not so much.
But if we lift the league trophy in a few weeks then I won’t even remember saying this.
13 Apr 2025 11:15:52
Good points raised in this thread. I have to say that I didn't consider the lack of an RB too, which in hindsight, did definitely affected the way we played and affected our results adversely.
To answer your question JK, I don't think it was a delayed reaction to Klopp's announcement but I am inclined to think that it was the FA Cup result against Man Utd. We were flying high until that point but to play decently well and still get knocked out, I think affected the players. I believe they all wanted to send Klopp off on a high and win it all for him but went that went poof, the players let it get to their psyche and we ended the season on a whimper. Added to that the injuries we had too and that made it difficult for the players to recover.
And the PSV and Plymouth game saw wholesale changes which rarely works. There was no synergy in that team at all, with many coming in cold against a team who knew what each other was doing. Rotation for me would be to make small changes in personnel and to get their match fitness up so that when they are called on, they can seamlessly fit into the team. Chiesa, Endo, and Elliott were not given that opportunity at all and it showed. Throwing them in against a bunch of kids they've never played with before and expecting them to perform like the first team is a bit much, I feel.
13 Apr 2025 11:21:39
Best team over 38 games wins the league. Whether you peak early, or late or just unbelievably consistent throughout the season it doesn’t matter, cos the cream will always rise to the top.
Also, hope it works out that we secure the league by beating Spurs at Anfield. Be nice fans to have that moment.
13 Apr 2025 11:43:43
Drac as I said mate I agree with your first post and I for one would have been more than happy to see Endo and Harvey etc get more minutes.
Not saying you’re saying it but I can’t agree with we would have beaten the teams we lost too with them starting in their place but I’m probably having that debate with myself lol.
Good thread this with some great posts to read.
13 Apr 2025 11:43:56
You and your lad sing your hearts out, JK. Savour it all.
13 Apr 2025 12:50:12
Say it loud, Thunderbird 2. Say it loud.
13 Apr 2025 14:13:22
With 3 wins to take premier league tiredness should not be an issue the players should be chomping at tbe bit to get out and win the games even more so with Arsenal unable to hold a lead and dropping points every game it seems. YNWA.