***Official*** English Football Season 2020-21

[duffer]

I've accepted him as being 'our Frank' but the shitshow is from top down tbh.

I'm hoping this is us bottoming out and next season is an improvement on whatever the hell this one was.

 

[Furball]

Difference is that Lampard was given £200m of new toys to play with and did nothing.

Arteta is reaping the whirlwind which was sewn by Emery. Although decisions like throwing millions at Willian on a 3 year deal are sketchy to say the least.

 

[sledger]

It's a bit difficult to assess how he's done overall really. I mean obviously it's not been great. And there have been some very questionable decisions, such as the Willian business etc. But he's been dealt a pretty terrible hand. The squad is for the most part absolute rubbish.

 

[duffer]

But he's been dealt a pretty terrible hand. The squad is for the most part absolute rubbish.

Which is why I thought the job was too big for him as a rookie manager tbh. A wily vet with lotsa cash would've had a tough time to sort this out.

The manager is the easy scapegoat and the fanbase is still expecting a lot, so I wouldn't be surprised if they cull Mik.

 

[sledger]

Yeah I expect he'll be sacked.

 

[Uppercut]

The meltdown over last night seems excessive to me. They weren't great but they were the better side against a stodgy team and could easily have won but didn't get the rub of the green. If they were planning on sticking with him beforehand then it shouldn't change anything.

 

[Pothas]

It is just because this was the one thing that could save their season isn't it?

 

[sledger]

Yeah I think yesterday was just a straw that broke the camel's back sort of thing for a lot of people

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah I mean I get that Arsenal fans can't be as cold about it as I am. I said when he took over that the short term would be painful because they'd botched their squad management, and for various reasons it's very hard for managers to weather that kind of spell. People love the idea of showing patience in the abstract, but can't handle what an entire year of playing badly feels like in practice. That might even apply to players as well as fans.

Could anyone really make a case that this squad is better than the ones at City, Liverpool, Spurs, Leicester, United, or Chelsea? If not, then par for Arsenal is 7th. 9th with a Europa semi-final is meh. Maybe Arteta's role was always going to be a kind of fall guy that lowered expectations for the manager after him.

 

[sledger]

Yeah I mean I wouldn't sack him personally. My preference would be for him to stay and be given another season. Just think it's looking unlikely.

 

[Uppercut]

Nah I think they'll keep him until next season. Hardly any clubs sack managers too early. If they start badly he might go around November time.

 

[sledger]

Nah I think they'll keep him until next season. Hardly any clubs sack managers too early. If they start badly he might go around November time.

Haha I hope you're right tbh (about the keeping him bit anyway, ideally the November sacking won't be necessary).

 

[Furball]

Could anyone really make a case that this squad is better than the ones at City, Liverpool, Spurs, Leicester, United, or Chelsea? If not, then par for Arsenal is 7th. 9th with a Europa semi-final is meh. Maybe Arteta's role was always going to be a kind of fall guy that lowered expectations for the manager after him.

This is the crux of the matter for me. When Arsenal were 'underachieving' 10 or so years ago by finishing 4th, they still had a squad full of players who would be coveted by bigger clubs - Fabregas, van Persie, Nasri, etc all ended up leaving for success elsewhere. Even 5 years ago there was Özil and Alexis who I'm sure most other clubs in the top 4 would have taken.

With the exception of Tierney, I'm struggling to think of an Arsenal player who would be looked at by a team above Arsenal as an obvious upgrade on their current options.

 

[sledger]

He might not be an upgrade necessarily, but most teams would have Saka in a heartbeat.

 

[Uppercut]

Nobody is coveting Tierney.

I'd definitely take Smith Rowe. The attack only became functional when he came into the side around Christmas and they miss him as much as anyone when he doesn't play. Textbook example of one of those crucial supporting act players we were talking about before.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Well, on the plus side, the U's are going up if they can draw with the already-relegated Grimsby.

And if Notlob or Morecambe don't win they're up even if they jib it completely.

 

[GIMH]

Fingers crossed Morecambe and Cambridge do it. So mad that we aren't in the mixer.

 

[duffer]

Tierney is great. Teams would snap up Saka, ESR and Martinelli if we're talking about young players. Partey would have many takers as well.

The rest are either too old or mediocre

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Kroenke is the one thing that needs to change. Doesn't matter who the manager is.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

50 years ago tomorrow Arsenal won their first ever double. For the first 90 odd years of the century that was a very rare achievement. Not overly relevant unless you're old enough to be contemplating life after death.