flibbertyjibber
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Well you never are either
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**Official** English Football Season 2023/24
- Thread starter Furball
- Start date
flibbertyjibber
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I rate the other one more. Far more
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
Neither are anything special tbh
The entire situation is unnecessary and has unsettled the defence.
flibbertyjibber
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Yeah but there is good and top 4 good which he isn't.
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
Both Ramsdale and Raya are 'top 4 good' behind that defence, the key factor here is that neither are world class or what I'd consider prem winning GK's. To be that you need to be dependable when those clutch moments arise and that means not costing your team points.
Raya looked really good at Brentford and I'm not sure what's gone wrong. Quite clearly he's now at a bigger club so maybe it's a pressure thing, or its just knowing Ramsdale is right behind him and making noise publicly with the fans on his side. Raya is the better of the two technically but mentally he's all at sea and I think it'll end up costing Arsenal points sooner or later. I'm not sure Arteta can now concede the signing was a mistake and throw Ramsdale back in, especially after what has played out in the papers.
I think Arteta will only have himself to blame if Arsenal don't win the title this season. It was predictable that City may have a down year after their squad turnover and what they achieved last season. Pep looks to be struggling to motivate them and find the right system without KDB and Stones. Arteta tinkering at GK was one poor decision but it was compounded by signing Havertz as a replacement for Xhaka, two very different profiles. That LCM is still a massive issue and its not immediately obvious what the solution is outside of a January signing.
However for me, the biggest mistake has been ostracizing Partey, who I think was their most important midfielder over the last 3 seasons. He messed him around in defence and then made it clear he wasn't in the best XI, now Partey seemingly wants out in January. Rice is a fantastic player and leader but his passing is nowhere near the level of Partey's and its apparent in their lack of fluidity going forward.
Although Rice is world class on the balance of things I'm not entirely convinced their current midfield is better than the Xhaka/Partey combination that had the right balance going both ways.
I'll give him credit for the Trossard signing though, he's a weapon and hugely important rotation option now.
They're a serious team are Arsenal but I think they need to put distance between themselves and City/Liverpool now while the other two aren't looking as good. If they don't get some sort of buffer before one of those sides starts picking up pace it'll be a very different looking race in the new year.
Molehill
Cricketer Of The Year
I'm not sure on what planet Raya is a better keeper than Ramsdale, but it ain't this one.
As for City, isn't this standard pre-Christmas form? That they're closer to the lead this year without KDB and Stones should be even more alarming for the competition. Pep knows how to get a team to peak from Feb onwards, I'd be surprised if it was close come May.
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
Easy to say when he's in poor form and had a couple bad games. As others have said he was very good for Brentford and the general consensus at the time of the signing was he was an upgrade on Ramsdale. It's certainly not a stretch to say he has more technical ability which was what I said anyway.
Probably. I think they're seriously missing the class and quality of Gundogan and they haven't replaced Mahrez. Could very well click once they get KDB and Stones back but its a thin squad that has already shown vulnerabilities. They had one experienced attacking option on the bench against Spurs. Might change in January with a signing or two, which is why I said they'll pick up pace in the new year.
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Niall
International Coach
Once Feb hits they will absolutely click and steam roll everyone. The infuriating thing about this inevitability is betting wise the prices are crap, something like 8/11 when they were odds against last year.
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Don't think it's as inevitable as y'all think. Squad is thinner than ever. Seriously, actually look at the benches Pep is putting out. I know I've been yelling about this for years and smooth-brains like Furball say dumb **** like "lol just spend 180m on a fullback in Jan hyuck hyuck" but it's very obvious now. Plus, they've actually had injuries unlike last season and the club rarely spends in January. Four in a row is a massive ask.
Don't think it's impossible but I would say it's far less likely than any of the previous three seasons. Liverpool should be favourites imo, actually have game changing players on the bench and seem renewed.
Don't think it's impossible but I would say it's far less likely than any of the previous three seasons. Liverpool should be favourites imo, actually have game changing players on the bench and seem renewed.
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
They need to stay in touch before Feb though, they're dropping too many points now and the other two sides will continue to push each other. In the past when they haven't won the league they've been out of the race relatively early. As DCYE says, they've got one attacking option on the bench that can change games and that's with only KDB out.Once Feb hits they will absolutely click and steam roll everyone. The infuriating thing about this inevitability is betting wise the prices are crap, something like 8/11 when they were odds against last year.
I think City are still comfortably favourites but they're looking suspect. Villa are absolutely battering them right now.
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
Fulham winning 5-0 was not on my bingo card.
They're a very solid team despite losing Mitrovic.
They're a very solid team despite losing Mitrovic.
flibbertyjibber
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Villa and Fulham have managers who have been sacked by other clubs in the Prem but are doing fantastic jobs now.
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
Absolutely battered here.
flibbertyjibber
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Villa been superb, dark horses for the title?
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
Pretty chuffed with that.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
I’ve not seen a lot of them this season but my Kopite friends don’t think they’ve played that well that often this season. Whether that’s a good or bad thing for Arse/City and I guess Villa is up to your interpretation I guess. I agree they’re the most likely champs.
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
I've watched about half their league games and they've been very "Barclays" at times but they're the most dangerous going forward by a mile and have depth now. Still a little suspect at the back but not sure it's going to cost them that many points in the end.