Liverpool banter 9

02 Nov 2026 13:33:56
Two losses against the two best teams in the league, with one being the reigning champions. Two decisions altered the game in both cases. But for me the biggest issue is the poor results against Fulham and Forest. That's 4 points dropped imo.

Even a win against one would of put us on the same points as if we drew with City and Arsenal. The biggest issue we had under Klopp in some seasons was to many draws, not killing the teams off. This is something I hope Iraola sorts out.

02 Nov 2026 13:47:57
Agree with what you say there, Big HA.

02 Nov 2026 13:55:38
We are miles better now than we were against Forest and Fulham. So that is a good thing.

02 Nov 2026 14:07:34
Those two decisions has cost us points. Grav was in no way a 2nd yellow, never in a million years, and Isak should have got a penalty. Never a more clear foul than you will ever see. The fact that VAR never even got involved with the shirt pull tells me that my suspicions about match fixing is true and prevalent. We are not the only team to suffer the consequences of, quite frankly, pathetic officiating either.

Something which seems to be a weekly occurrence. I've said it before, and i'll say it again, take these games as serious as you would watching WWE wrestling, as that's about as real as it gets. VAR is just a tool to micro manage the results to their (insert blame here) liking. The league is corrupt and so are the people that run it.

02 Nov 2026 14:33:44
BHA it is a work in progress. The Forrest game was unlikely as they were gifted a goal with that penalty which left us constantly chasing that game.

03 Nov 2026 10:23:20
@Big, refs ruined the result in the Forrest game as well because the Incident Review Panel ruled after the game that the pen they gave Forrest was an error and should not have been given.

And who was on VAR that game? You guessed it, Michael Oliver.

02 Nov 2026 12:39:37
I thought we acquitted ourselves pretty well yesterday.

Positives were:
- Trey Nyoni was absolutely brilliant again and is making a case to be our first midfield pick now
- Jacquet had a really different type of battle with the awkward and pointy Kai Havertz and came through again
- Love Araujo running around kicking people
- We seem to be much better at set-pieces
- We seem to be much fitter
- The coach showed bravery in selecting Trey.

Negatives:
- Kerkez is really struggling on the ball. Arsenal actually left him to have the ball.
- I have no idea what we are doing with throw-ins. The lack of movement/options from throw ins, especially on the left-hand side, is concerning.
- These goal kicks aimed at drawing out the opposition press by building from our 6 yard box seem to be worthless, and if anything, an unnecessary risk
- Our forwards just don't get enough touches and as a result, look like strangers playing together
- Barcola seems a bit shocked by the intensity of the game. Hopefully it is just period of adaptation
- Szobo coming on in the midfield two was probably not the right choice at that moment in the game. But at the same time, Trey's minutes are probably being managed, so I can understand that
- Would have liked to see Rio come on earlier and possibly even switch with Barcola.

And lastly, given the referees just get worse, we might just have to up our dark arts game now. Sad situation to be in but we've now had 3 high profile officiating errors costing us anywhere between 4 and 8 points already.

02 Nov 2026 13:12:29
FPF, my biggest issue with your post is the last one- AM and DS were embarrassing yesterday.

Isak shouldn't have to flounce to the ground for VAR to look at the pen incident, even if the ref missed it. But if AI could see it from the touchlind, why couldn't the ref or the linesman?

02 Nov 2026 13:26:09
PD - I was reading Tomkins latest blog where he talks about how biased toward the visitors the refs are at Anfield on fouls and pens. Even without a tin hat on, the numbers are wild. Check it out.

02 Nov 2026 14:21:17
FPF, thought he was behind a pay wall these days? Used to enjoy his articles.

02 Nov 2026 14:49:08
I think maybe this last one is a freebie.

03 Nov 2026 10:35:39
FPF, the first time I knew of or even heard of Paul Tomkins was in 2019 and he was already talking about this stuff.

Like you, I advise people to check out his stuff because the numbers are staggering.

02 Nov 2026 06:54:18
So we lost a bit of control when Trey went off, that leaves AI with a big problem of where to play sob, it's either Sob or Wirtz not both.

02 Nov 2026 07:03:43
Very true, was thinking exactly the same thing. I think Iraola made the wrong switch. We also have a real problem if Isak isn't firing, until Ekitike is fit there's just no quality alternative in the squad including Gakpo or Koumas. Neither are good enough as a nine or false nine.

02 Nov 2026 07:38:15
It's hard to blame Isak if we aren't giving him any chances, he should of made a big deal of that pull (no idea why he didn't)

It needed one of our top players yesterday to score a worldie, you could just see as soon as they scored the pattern of the game was set out.

Yes we played well but it's was a lot of huffing and puffing, no shots on target (very difficult granted with how Arsenal dropped off and defended)

It needed someone to step up a get a goal from somewhere but it just didn't happen.

02 Nov 2026 11:57:16
We still have a ball progression problem. We have loads of ball carriers but not enough passers. We need to be feeding the forwards more often, and quicker.

02 Nov 2026 12:12:41
I think the fact that we identified players like Zubimendi and Wharton suggests it is a player profile we are looking to bring in. Nyoni has stepped in and made himself look integral which, for a player that is 19, first genuine senior season, must drive the more senior players to offer more, hopefully.

When Nyoni went off, the midfield failed to function. Szobo is quality, but he is not a natural passer (I. e. breaking lines, quick decision making) he tends to dally on the ball and assess his options. He is also on the front foot a lot when pressing, eager to win back possession, which is great if a CAM with cover behind. But, as one of the 8's, he has to be smarter, and not leave gaps that can be so easily exploited.

It is so no wonder Wirtz improved when Nyoni entered the team, as Nyoni is mentally quite fast, recognises opportunities to break lines and get the ball up the pitch. Van Dijk trusts him a lot, and will seek him out when in possession of the ball. Wirtz trusts him too, and will find pockets of space to receive.

It is really important we don't overplay Nyoni, but, at this point, he offers far too much to be left out. If we don't bring in another astute passer in midfield, then Nyoni will be required.

02 Nov 2026 12:35:06
IF, and I'm not saying it is because I don't agree, but IF the choice is between Wirtz and Dom it's Dom all day, it's a no-brainer. Wirtz has zero end product. Dom was our best player by a country mile last season, his goal contributions increased by 50% after being moved from the 10 to an 8 so it's hard to argue he should be moved back to a 10, a position he was criticised for not producing enough in.

02 Nov 2026 14:31:31
I don't fully understand it, but what do I know? People talk about Wirtz like he's the next "Zidane", who needs more and more time to "adjust", for his team mates to "adjust" to him and for him to "adjust" to the "new" environment. Because moving from one European country to another is unimaginably difficult and probably very perilous at the same time. It's a wonder he's able to kick a ball during a match, at all. 😉

An "opportunistic signing" that basically hasn't worked out so far, as they may or may not. And just the remnants of a regime that didn't know its head from its posterior.

03 Nov 2026 10:42:34
Chewy, Dom has no end product either and even worse, cannot find a key pass to break the lines, takes too much touches before releasing the ball, lack the vision nor awareness to find holes in the oppo's defence etc., all of which Wirtz has shown to possess.

So no, Dom is not a no brainer because he is a no.10 without a single creative bone to his body. Wirtz is levels above him in this regard. He just needs to show it more consistently.

02 Nov 2026 11:13:18
I think our biggest problem to solve is potency up top.

The Iraola tactics yesterday (and in other games) have created numerous chances on the turn over.

If we had the attack of Klopp days we'd be smashing in 3-4 goals.

We just lack that ruthlessness we once had.

If/once this changes, I'll think we'll be a force and a half.

02 Nov 2026 12:00:43
It's a bit of that, but also we had very quick and direct passers in Hendo, Fab, Virg, Trent and Robbo. Bar Nyoni and Jacquet, we lack that at the moment. Araujo has shown some glimpses of it too. We have too many ball carriers and not enough quick passers.

02 Nov 2026 11:56:09
Arsenal started with Havertz upfront, some Random Ukranian guy on the left and a chelsea flop at right. don't tell me they are Blon Dor Winners. Our team with £300 mill worth players uptop should have smahed them yesterday.

02 Nov 2026 13:27:02
Tzolis is Greek.

02 Nov 2026 14:41:10
I'm struggling to understand what value your comment is adding to this thread Sonic?

I was highlighting that our attacking potency is an issue. That we create numerous fast break opportunities under AI, but don't capitalise?

03 Nov 2026 10:47:56
Sonic, and what did all those players do for Arsenal up top? Nothing.

Why? because their manager is essentially Tony Pulis with a billion pound squad where attackers are supposed to defend and not attack.

And don't try to tell me that their attack is better than ours because even their fans don't think so.

Also had Ali not do an "Ali", where would their goals have come from in open play playing 10 men at the back like Stoke in their prime?

Ah, I forgot, set pieces but wait, that's not open play so essentially, nothing.

Like @Full said, you are adding no value to this thread.

02 Nov 2026 10:59:17
I hate it when player falls to the ground or act like they've been shot with the slightest touch and wasn't looking forward to seeing Gabriel do his stuff yesterday. He didn't let us down with a blow to the face that would knock out the best heavyweight boxers, only he didn't get touched in his face, just a push in his chest.

In my opinion a VAR review and a yellow for cheating.
Having said that we have Macca who drives me mad, a wonderful player but loves to dive around the place but yesterday he was outdone by Havertz who falls with every challenge, that boy was almost needing an ambulance every 10 minutes!

02 Nov 2026 11:14:45
Havertz is the worst. He even wanted to contest that drop ball after a head injury. Horrible horrible player.

02 Nov 2026 11:55:39
Sorry but I think Macca took the prize for the worst playacting yesterday. Utterly embarrassing.

{Ed025's Note - the sad thing is Mikey it was thoroughly expected mate..

02 Nov 2026 12:05:46
Arsenal are absolutely maddening to watch. I was fuming all game watching them dive and flop. Lewis-Skelly came on for Guimaraes and his first action was to dive to win a foul. I was raging!

I know people are talking about the Isak penalty, but Tzolis had two hands on Gakpo in the box as well. Whether force was being applied or not, two hands on an opposition's waist is a foul.

Ultimately, the referees are rewarding them for it. So they feel validated.

{Ed025's Note - then again FPF you could say Liverpool got away with a few as well mate..especially Trey who got very lucky with a couple of poor challenges, of course you are only looking at the Arsenal ones as is your want, i thought the ref was ok even though the Isac one was deffo a pen but feel it was more down to VAR than the actual referee, its hard to have sympathy for you though when you have a prick like Macca taking the piss out of the ref with his constant cheating and play acting..sometimes you reap what you sow..

02 Nov 2026 13:30:02
Ed025 - nobody is asking for sympathy from an Everton fan :)

{Ed025's Note - good because you are not getting any mate.. :)

03 Nov 2026 10:54:51
Ed25, No player is getting sent off in a big game after 4 minutes of play so let's put that to the side.

And had Nyoni gotten a yellow there, he wouldn't do that again because he knows he is on a yellow hence, that would not have happened either so again, let's put that in the bin.

And you saying the ref was okay is just lazy. The ref was awful for both teams and even Freddie Ljunberg said, he found his perf. esp. in the second half to be "very poor" while former ref chief Keith Hackett said he was so poor that he would have benched him as a ref for 2 weeks.

As for Macca, you won't find me supporting his antics and that's well known. But that does not remove from the fact that the whole Arsenal team engage to time-wasting, cheating, flopping to the ground whenever the oppo does as much as walk by them because they have been doing it for years under Arteta.

Therefore, it shows they practice these antics and have it down to a T which is disgraceful.

Multiple things can be correct at the same time.

{Ed025's Note - Arsenal are experts at the dark arts Oli we all know that and as i said Gabriel was the first one to do it in the game, i would not listen to people like Hackett though mate he was one of the worst ever..

02 Nov 2026 09:54:39
Morning all,

First time at Anfield and the city for me in decades yesterday. Liverpool has come on in leaps and bounds as a city since the grim days of the late 80s. All of Liverpool should be proud and the hospitality and friendliness hasn't changed. Love it here.

On the game I think we were asleep for the first 15 and paid the price. We struggled to break down an organised defence and that is a problem we have for a few seasons even under Klopp and last season under Slot. On the players, the amount of running Wirtz does is crazy and I would say hurts his game second half. Barcola needs to trust his ability to take on his man more. Isak was a mystery to me. The three of these need to do better but I think they will if they can figure out how not to crowd each others space. Was impressed by Trey and while I understand the reason to replace him to go more attack minded I think we got worse when he departed. The rest were all ok to be fair. Some mistakes, some good moments but this was an hard game against a difficult opponent who know how to defend a lead. Atmosphere was amazing and how i remember it.

Give it time and patience I would say. Enjoy the ride. A bit like Klopp's early seasons there will be ups and downs. Stick together and we will get there.

YNWA.

02 Nov 2026 10:03:12
Well said Jon, instant success is not what happens in football and the ride there is always the best part.

We will get top 4 and will keep improving as the season goes on.

02 Nov 2026 10:51:27
Barcola (apart from his hattrick game) hasn't looked any better than Rio. Both never take a man on and attacks just stall while they decide who to pass to, Barcloa is rapid apparently, when has he shown that in a one on one?

02 Nov 2026 10:53:10
3rd Anfield game for me this season where we've failed to score from open play.
I may have to ban myself 😬

I can still see the improvement and we're not that far off the top teams.

02 Nov 2026 09:45:40
Imagine if klopp had gotten this money instead of Ben davies and Ozan kabak. he would have won league titles every year.

02 Nov 2026 10:25:10
I disagree. Since the clubs had a lot more money to spend, we've not spent it well atall. Frimpong and Kerkez have been poor purchases. Kerkez may continue to improve and certainly improve in the final third but the money paid and expectation was a lot greater than what we're witnessing.
These 100 plus million players have nowhere near performed to their price tag.

Barcola has a lot to do to look a top player. I couldn't believe we sought him out and paid the money we did.
Midfield hasn't been addressed now in w years. The midfield needs a complete do over to transform the team. Macca should be moved on with Ryan. Dom has a lot to work on to be a starting CM.

02 Nov 2026 12:24:53
Your evidence doesn't create a case for an argument, Ron, Sonic's point is that we would have built a much better team under Klopp.

02 Nov 2026 19:03:47
I don't completely 'buy' that Klopp didn't have money (other than in the Covid season, which is when we bought Kabak and Davies, albeit maybe even then? ).

Some posts on here over the years, including IIRC from Ed002, said that Klopp was very loyal to his players and therefore didn't spend even when money was there.

Think about it, it's the same owners, Klopp was a top tier manager who won the CL and the EPL and competed with Cheaty over several seasons. If they are backing Slot and Iraola, it seems daft to suggest they didn't equally back Klopp.

On balance, I think it's the manager rather than the owners that made the decision to spend or not over his reign.

03 Nov 2026 10:59:59
Spot on, Zed. The whole "Klopp didn't have money to spend" was fugazi then and it is is fugazi now for the very reasons you posted. Ed02 (and 01) already broke all of this down a few years back as to how Klopp used to operate with the finances provided to him.

This is a lazy take among the fan base that has no basis in fact.

Oh and btw, the reason we had to loan Kabak and Davies was because Konate (then at RB Leipzig) was Klopp's no.1 target and of course, he was available so he just waited and made do with stop gaps. Klopp just waited for Konate like he did for VVD, something he had always done.

Notice that the season after, he was our first signing.

02 Nov 2026 09:21:19
So after yet another big game we are talking about decisions from the Ref/VAR.

We could speak for hours how inept they are but the thing that gets constantly ignored is players reactions and how they influence the decisions.

Isak, does exactly what football fans want. Doesn't go to ground, doesn't really protest yet is rewarded with nothing.

Then you have the polar opposite in Mac, goes to ground very theatrically, infers that he is playing up and Noni gets away Scott free! If he just raised it to the ref, I think he gets booked and walks.

The players are on a hiding to nothing, I can almost guarantee if isak goes down every man and his dog accuses him of buying it. If Mac stays up and doesn't make a big deal of the head movement pundits say he needs to be abit more 'cute'.

Then you have the Arsenal players buying free kicks left right and centre and getting exactly what they want.

Long story short it's almost impossible for a ref not to be influenced by a reaction. Player falls and grabs the ball, ref. immediately things it must be a foul. If a player doesn't complain they think 'oh nothing to see'.

The only way to fix it is VAR and the officials behind the screen being stronger. Give those decisions and players might start staying up. But continue to ignore it and we are going to get even more dark arts in the game.

Apologies for the ramblings, on my phone waiting for my car to be finished at the garage 😂.

02 Nov 2026 10:19:54
Can't argue with any of that.

02 Nov 2026 10:39:46
The officials make a rod for their own back. They complain about the players diving but then give every decision when they go down and don't give it when they stay on their feet.

How that wasn't given on Isak is a mystery to me. I mean, how blatant does it need to be before pulling someone back in the box as he's about to head the ball becomes a foul?

I said in a post the other day the refs are encouraging teams to cheat. They reward it. Arsenal go down under every contact and 9 out of 10 times will get the free kick. It enables them to control games by just not allowing it to flow and having as much time as possible with the ball not in play.

Then we get the pundits saying Isak should've gone down but in the same breath criticising Macca for doing exactly that.

I think we just have to embrace it because it's not going to change. It's not how I want to see football played but as long as the refs are enabling it we have to take advantage like everyone else does.

{Ed025's Note - dont compare Macca to any other player past or present in any form of the game RSO. the guy is a serial cheating little turd mate..

02 Nov 2026 10:50:07
Penalty and a red card for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity 100%. Changes the game massively. Absolute joke of a decision.

02 Nov 2026 12:12:51
I don't like the play acting at all, but Madueke took his forehead to Macca's. He was on a yellow already! By the letter of the law, he should have got another yellow and sent off.

Players have been going down for that contact for 20 years+. You might remember Darwin Nunez pushing his forehead on Anderson vs Palace on his home debut. The massive lad Anderson was on the floor holding his face like he'd been shot. Everyone said Darwin was stupid and deserved it. Madueke did exactly the same thing yesterday.

{Ed025's Note - dont try and justify what Macca did FPF it makes you look very silly mate, most of your posts are usually quite balanced but this one challenges that view to the hilt im afraid..

02 Nov 2026 13:25:10
Fly, maccas reaction was way over the top and exactly what we call others out for. What Noni did was silly and we have seen others go for it. But because of the theatrics it nullifies the incident.

Which is the whole problem, what reaction is too much and which is too little to highlight what was wrong?

Another example is Havertz yesterday on one of Nyoni's early tackles. Nyoni is late, but havertz goes down like he's been shot. The purpose is to get the player booked and heighten the refs attention to it.

Simply, they all play the game in order to try and gain an advantage and until refs are stronger it will only worsen. But we as fans can at least call it out even when it's our own. Otherwise nothing will change.

{Ed025's Note - the first one did catch his ankle WYred and must of hurt, the second one was a bit innocuous for me..

02 Nov 2026 13:53:19
In my opinion the PGMOL love this general debate because it shifts focus off of there poor officiating. Refs have more help now than ever before and it is well within there influence to catch blatant cheating, diving, play acting etc but they fail to act. In fact they reward such cheating by awarding soft penalties and giving red cards for what would have been described as 'handbags'. As it's topical look at Isak yesterday, clear pull back and penalty but refs avoided a decision because he didn't throw himself to the ground, pundits up and down the country are now saying 'why didn't he go down and force it', in my opinion Webb should come out and say that we got it wrong, we don't want players simulating to win pens and reinforce the message that the refs will give a penalty regardless.

Simultaneously I hope there comes a day when players get sent off for simulation, blatant simulation. Players being shoved in the chest and then holding there face, dropping to the floor with the brush of a forehead honestly it's embarrassing and this is all teams including our own! We need to bring the game back to what it was, a physical battle, I'm not advocating for bad tackles or endangering players but a bit of integrity. How often do we see 6 foot athletes have a hand brush there back when there trying to clear a ball and suddenly they drop to the floor because they 'felt contact', honestly it's so infuriating to watch .games gone!!

{Ed025's Note - absolutely spot on Dow-ney, both Gabriel and Macca were both guilty of it yesterday mate..

02 Nov 2026 13:54:53
Putting your head against another's is a foul and second yellow card. That is what Madueke did. You can't just change the rules when you feel like it.

Argentine Macca being theatric after 75 minutes of Arsenal players flopping and diving around all game shouldn't really surprise anyone.

The referees have shown they are willing to reward it.

We've lost between 4 and 8 points to massive officiating errors this season and we've only played 9 games. Don't complain when Liverpool players start playing dark arts from now.

{Ed025's Note - START playing at he dark arts???, you have been as guilty as anyone at it FPF..."people who live in glass houses" and all that mate..

03 Nov 2026 11:05:43
Macca is useless when he does these antics. Arsenal are the kings of it because it is what their managers want from them.

Both are facts and truths we can all agree on.

The whataboutism is just feckless at this point.

02 Nov 2026 09:00:26
Can we really argue that much about not n beating Arsenal
Yes the money paid means the results should happen quicker but it is what it is I think lfc are heading in the right direction

Just need to be far more potent up front turn and get the shot off on target more often.

02 Nov 2026 09:13:35
Dont get this "right direction" thing. so much was hyped around Adoni Irola and his training methods. We have a Goal difference of +3 while brighton is sitting at +16. It was said any manager would walk the league with this squad while slot was incharge. it looks like we would need at least two seasons to get anywhere near at the top.

02 Nov 2026 09:24:57
Sonic, you are saying what I was saying all last season and was repeatedly shot down on here.

02 Nov 2026 09:25:02
Every top team is paying money. Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and City have all paid enormous amounts of money through the years assembling their squads.

It does take time to get cohesion and alignment to new ideas at the highest levels. This is the Premier League. It is not just getting across one formation and basic idea. It's what to do if this happens, or that happens, or that happens or when to do this, how to do that times 1, 000. It's takes a long time to get your full plan across and the team being able to execute 100 percent.

I know people love to simplify everything. We are Liverpool and we should not accept anything less then a Premier League. It's fine to say standards must be met etc. but the reality is, we need to build towards that. I ll be first to get annoyed when we are not building towards that but there's already been marked improvement in many areas this season. Defence is far better, we are getting in many more dangerous situations.

It is true to say we are making many wrong decisions in the final third but that is improving also. Slowly.

You can look at the game yesterday and say we lost one nil without a shot on target. However we created a lot of dangerous situations. Attacked a lot. The team made many efforts to score goals and were not passive. Arsenal put their bodies on the line and made many last ditch tackles. Teams have been completely dominated by Arsenal and have gotten 3 or 4 shots on target. I prefer to not get dominated like we did. I'm not happy with the result but I just can't understand how anyone watches that game and thinks we are not heading in the right direction.

{Ed025's Note - not having a shot on target at home with half a £billion of attacking talent is not heading in the right direction Davey, i get you want to put a positive spin on things mate...but come on..

02 Nov 2026 09:38:34
Were we heading the wrong direction under Slot in his first season where he walked the league with Gravenbech and Szobozslai who most agree needs replacing @davey. A lot of people like Irola becasue of reasons unknown to me personally. hence this "right direction" thing, We absoultey got dominated by brighton the other week. was that also "Heading the right direction".

02 Nov 2026 09:40:36
Ha ha @Rome, seems we two are heding the "wrong direction".

02 Nov 2026 09:45:27
Good post, DS.
I'll add that we limited Arsenal, the champions, to three shots on target and easily had more shots than them.

02 Nov 2026 10:16:45
We played some good higher intensity attacking football yesterday and deserved a draw, but that's the fine margins.

It's a well balanced thread this though because Rome and others are right, the reason we didn't win the game was the failure of a few of the players, their decision making, their qualities ultimately. Iraola also got the substitution wrong.

The difficulty in the league as others have said is that quality and depth wins out over 38 games. Iraola is a good coach, but he isn't great, he isn't Klopp, not yet anyway. Our players aren't great, they're good or very good, but other teams in the top six have just as good or better, including the coaching and analytics.

With the money we've spent on attackers you'd expect at least one great player, like a Torres or Suarez in the new buys, but they're just not that good. There's no X factor with any of them, too predictable.

The challenge we've got is having spent all that cash on them we can't afford to go big again in attacking spend without offloading at least one of them. We can't have £250k a week players sitting on the bench. Same goes for Szob and Grav in the midfield. They don't seem effective at all in the positions they're playing if we want to win consistently at the highest level.

Some big decisions ahead if we want to win anything big over the next few seasons. The silver lining is the city sanctions mean they're likely to be out of the picture, so domestically it's only really Arsenal that we're behind in terms of competing for silverware.

02 Nov 2026 10:17:02
I really hate the shot on target stat. I know that stats and lies are almost the same thing but the shots on target one has to be the largest one.

If in a game one teams shots 10 soft balls direct right into the goalkeeper hands, they will have 10 shots on target but zero with any danger.

Even XG is a better stat and that one also has it problems.

02 Nov 2026 10:36:33
A lot of posters on here have short memories and are behaving like spoilt brats.

02 Nov 2026 10:22:30
We are not the finished article ed25. I fully get that the team needs to improve in front of goal but Iraola has had a whole host of problems to contend with from last year and he is addressing them.

I thought it was a solid performance at this stage and certainly improvement. Macca has a guilt edge chance, we hit the crossbar, and there were many last ditch blocks.

Maybe we should have hit one no hoper from far out to break the stat but I think the team was just genuinely trying to get a goal instead.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

{Ed025's Note - i thought you were decent Davey but you have to be a lot better in the final third mate, dont get me wrong Arsenal were very good defensively but you have to be sharper in front of goal..

02 Nov 2026 10:08:15
Sonic, I've also said we are heading in the right direction. I say this from a point of view that we are better defensively and we look to attack quicker. However, there are still areas of concern, in my opinion, despite spending squillions in the transfer market. Areas of concern being the 3 players who we've spent in excess of 100 million pound on. In addition to a left back who has the intelligence of a sheep.

Going back to yesterday's game, I thought the substitutions made us worse. Szoboszlai contributed nothing, and moving forward I'm struggling to see how we accommodate both him and Wirtz in the same side. It really is a test of Iraola's tactical nous.

{Ed025's Note - thats a terrible thing to say about sheep Rome.. :)

02 Nov 2026 11:18:44
Sonic - i agree to a point about Slot not being the sole issue for our failings last year but to say that Brighton dominated us last week is utter nonsense.
Get the penalty yesterday for the pull on Isak and that changes the game when we were totally dominating for that period. Same can be said about Grav being sent off against City - it's small margins that have massive impacts on games!
We were good value yesterday for a deserved point & if Arsenal had gone home empty handed they'd have zero complaints with their shocking anti football mindset.
We've lost twice to two bloody good sides imo but there are definitely improvements which are clearly visible.

Onwards & upwards!

02 Nov 2026 11:38:03
I agree on that Ed. I'm not ignoring that the finishing and final third decision making needs work. It is not just bad lick. but I do think that piece will come because we are getting up there far more regularly now.

The team is out of practice from last season watching the team play around at the back.

Bradley and Wirtz are improving in many areas but the finishing is still leaving both down. They are snatching. But If they keep turning up in the positions, I'm hopeful it will turn around.

It was a frustrating one, but I ll take that performance for where we are at.

What we simply need to do now is win the next two winnable league games with a top standard and then we can move forward.

Also, I think Bradley Barcola is better on the right. I definitely would have started Gakpo left and Barcola right. Think Gakpo would have got one or two good opportunities cutting in given how much we got up there and he is a better finisher than Barcola. Barcola has been showing some decent stuff as a a setup man on the right.

02 Nov 2026 12:29:26
I'm not surprised you don't understand it Sonic, after all, you say we got absolutely dominated by Brighton when we won 2-0.

02 Nov 2026 12:26:54
Ed025, you are absolutely right. I sometimes post on here without any care for the feelings of others. Can I hereby use this platform to wholeheartedly apologise to the sheep community for any offence I may have caused.

May I also say, in fairness to Kerkez, whenever I've seen him on the bench, his crayoning is coming on a treat; he rarely goes over the lines.

{Ed025's Note - love it Rome..

03 Nov 2026 11:08:14
"I prefer to not get dominated like we did."

When did Arsenal dominate us, exactly?

Cos all I saw was a team defending with 10 men for it's dear life as soon as they scored, something West Brom of back in the day would have been proud of.