GWT: EPL - Matchweek 6

[bluesfan94]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840443284294168617

What’s crazy is that Saka created 8 yesterday. A couple big performances this weekend.

The Arsenal fan in me would note that Saka was playing against 11

 

[Cloned]

Embarrassing from ManU.

Even Chelsea looks like they’ve recovered and are a top side again.

 

[hatterson]

Watched the first half, but couldn't bring myself to watch the second. Sure it was only 1-0 at half, so theoretically United could have stolen a point, but it was just an atrocious game to watch.

I'm pretty done with this team until ETH is gone. Every single week they come out and look disjointed. Basically every player on the pitch looks like they barely know what they're supposed to be doing, never mind knowing what their teammates are supposed to be doing in order to actually execute an attacking move.

The red seemed incredibly weak to me, but I can't even bring myself to get upset about it. They looked like trash before it and I'm sure they continued to look like trash after it.

 

[KJS14]

First time at the Emirates yesterday. You can thank me for bringing the vibes for the late win

 

[S E P H]

My thoughts on a super crazy and wild weekend.

- That was the first legitimate PK deserved for Gordon. He's always diving and throwing himself into players to get draws, so him actually getting a legit PK is pretty remarkable. I thought City was the better team, but thankfully Pep loves overthinking and playing Ederson. However, I understand that "boxing out" is a major form of defence everyone utilises, but I have seen so many weaker pens get called compared to that Walker challenge. That could've and should've been a pen.

- I keep reading about Dark Arts FC regarding Arsenal and we made it a lot harder on themselves. However, our set pieces are just unmatched at the moment. I thought clubs would eventually adjust considering how many goals we score from it, but the coach is a true revelation. It must be so hard to defend against Arsenal because they make it so tough for goalkeepers to go and grab the ball with all the bodies in the way. With that said, our home performance needs to get better, outside of United, it seems The Emirates is one of the places where a team can come in and steal something from any of the big six clubs. I do have a major issue with the Havertz goal, WTF was Jesus thinking? He has his head down the entire time with two players on him and he still decides to shoot it? Like, he made the worst play possible that it was so bad that it turned out to be a goal. Disastrous decision-making by him. Finally, extremely surprised that Calafiori was made a CB; his footwork, pace, and energy are so good that he could honestly be a #10. Makes perfect sense why Arteta brought him in as an LB and then CB combo.

- I gotta give some credit to Chelsea for getting the results, even if their schedule has been absurdly easy. They were losing to these types of clubs last season, but damn some of those goals in that match were so incredibly bad. Not even schoolboys would make those mistakes, both by Brighton as a club and Sanchez/Caicedo.

- Ndiaye is effin' amazing.

- Not worried about Wolves as of yet, but they need to start digging in and getting some results.

- Emilio has been allowing some really ghastly goals so far this season, making them drop points. Any thoughts on this @JPBolts ? Like that first Ipswitch goal should have been saved no questions asked.

- United is such a gift and I guarantee they will beat Porto to give ten Hag more wonderful faith by the front office. Not that I was going against them today, but seeing them get dominated at home put a smile on my face even if it was against the Spuds. Fernandes was definitely an orange card for me, but because he slips, I see it more as a yellow. That was not intended to be violent. It was beyond hilarious that the ref was telling Bruno to GTFO before VAR did the final cheque lol. That made my day on top of that due to the sheer incompetence of the refs. I think Dalot is #20 for United, yes? If so, he was absolutely shambolic tonight and that is a club with Casemiro on it lol.

- Where would the Spurs be without Kulusevski? He is by far away their second-best player after Son.

Watched the first half, but couldn't bring myself to watch the second. Sure it was only 1-0 at half, so theoretically United could have stolen a point, but it was just an atrocious game to watch.

You should've stayed for the United fans' faces at the end of the match, it was pretty brutal but amazing to watch.

Undeserved? Leicester’s goals were a deflection and a volley that Justin misses 999 times out of 1000 and Hermansen had the game of his life.

I fully agree, but every team gets beat by superb goals and random deflections all the time. We need to understand that deflections are a huge part of goals against for every team. Ask City and LFC fans in matches against us for the past couple of years. You gotta keep fighting through it and Arsenal did, but we should've scored four by the 80th-minute mark IMHO due to how much we dominated.

Is he?

He is by far and away their best player for the past two seasons. He's still a bit too cocky/punk attitude, but he should become an 80-90 million-pound winger for Real Madrid three seasons from now.

Gareth will be ironing his best waistcoat as we speak.

On NBC, they were declaring that Southgate would be the favourite with Tuchel as second. Not sure why they don't go after Zidane, he seems like a decent hire at this point in time. Southgate would be amazing, that would be better than this bald bloke who keeps making my day.

Give Erik more time and patience

That's why I keep hoping that United wins some matches to get them back in the belief zone. The more games he gets, the more we all benefit from being non-United fans lol.

First time at the Emirates yesterday. You can thank me for bringing the vibes for the late win

View attachment 910873

How did the place react after the Trossard goal?

 

[Jovavic]

Would be funny if Bournemouth wins tomorrow and knocks the mighty United down to 13th

 

[spintheblackcircle]

- Where would the Spurs be without Kulusevski? He is by far away their second-best player after Son.

 

[S E P H]

Meh, he can run fast and has good skills with the ball, but he's nothing special as a CB, which requires more important attributes in defending. Don't get me wrong, he's still a great signing, but not one I am deeply scared of as a fan of a rival club compared to facing van Dijk.

If I was going to rate Spurs players it would be...

1. Son
------------- (little gap)
2. Kulusevski
-------------
-------------
------------- (sizeable gap)
-------------
3. van de Ven
-------------
4. Porro
-------------
-------------
-------------
-------------
5. Rest of the squad

 

[spintheblackcircle]

In this system, I'll take Romero and VDV over any two CB in the league. 2nd fewest goals allowed so far, 3rd fewest shots on target. Those 2 are their strength and I would take those 2 over anyone else on the club.

 

[Chimaera]

I think that’s a bit ridiculous. But they’re good. I would probably have them 3rd or 4th, but who knows. It’s fractional. Spurs and that aggressive high press makes it a different animal

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Spurs had one of the worst defenses in the league last year. A ton of that is due to the system leaving Romero and VdV crazy exposed because the fullbacks end up about 50 yards upfield. Romero and VdV are definitely a better pair than the GA stats would indicate. But you’ll have a hard time persuading me that a CB pairing that concedes like that is best in the division.

 

[S E P H]

In this system, I'll take Romero and VDV over any two CB in the league. 2nd fewest goals allowed so far, 3rd fewest shots on target. Those 2 are their strength and I would take those 2 over anyone else on the club.

Gabriel and Saliba is probably the best defensive back pairing in all of Europe and I can say that confidently without bias. There are better overall teams, but in terms of CB pairing, nobody comes close.

VDV definitely is a match made in heaven for Ange's system for sure. You lot should've bought Calafiori, he would be much better than the punk Romero.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Spurs had one of the worst defenses in the league last year. A ton of that is due to the system leaving Romero and VdV crazy exposed because the fullbacks end up about 50 yards upfield. Romero and VdV are definitely a better pair than the GA stats would indicate. But you’ll have a hard time persuading me that a CB pairing that concedes like that is best in the division.

That's asinine

They were 7th in goals allowed and when VDV and Romero were healthy they allowed less than 1 GA a match before VDV was injured.

Gabriel and Saliba is probably the best defensive back pairing in all of Europe and I can say that confidently without bias. There are better overall teams, but in terms of CB pairing, nobody comes close.

I would agree with that, but they wouldn't be in Spurs' system and Romero and VDV wouldn't be as good in Arsenal's. They are perfect fits.

 

[Power Man]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840443115594719442

 

[KJS14]

How did the place react after the Trossard goal?

Whole stadium was buzzing for most of the game. It really only died down a little bit between the 2nd Leicester goal and Nwaneri coming on. Then buzzing again for pretty much every half chance after Nwaneri came on (he was fantastic yesterday), and limbs were flying for the goals. The Trossard goal was on the opposite end of the pitch from me, so I was mostly reacting to the crowd seeing it on that one.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Spurs had one of the worst defenses in the league last year. A ton of that is due to the system leaving Romero and VdV crazy exposed because the fullbacks end up about 50 yards upfield. Romero and VdV are definitely a better pair than the GA stats would indicate. But you’ll have a hard time persuading me that a CB pairing that concedes like that is best in the division.

I really don't think Porro or Udogie are that much of an issue. Bentancur and Bissouma being bad at tracking back has been worse. And the defensive set-pieces of course.

 

[Jack Straw]

An argument can be made for vdV being the most important, at least the most irreplaceable, player on the team. Without Son obviously they lose something but they can compensate without changing tactics. If they lose Maddison for a spell, Kulusevski can do a lot of the same thing. But nobody can do what vdV does. Nobody else can provide that kind of safety net for Ange's high-wire act. Other guys may be better for other systems but in this system he's absolutely the guy you want.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

An argument can be made for vdV being the most important, at least the most irreplaceable, player on the team. Without Son obviously they lose something but they can compensate without changing tactics. If they lose Maddison for a spell, Kulusevski can do a lot of the same thing. But nobody can do what vdV does. Nobody else can provide that kind of safety net for Ange's high-wire act. Other guys may be better for other systems but in this system he's absolutely the guy you want.

Which is why I believe that Newcastle game would have a completely different result if he were fit. Last goal wouldn't happen at least.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

An argument can be made for vdV being the most important, at least the most irreplaceable, player on the team. Without Son obviously they lose something but they can compensate without changing tactics. If they lose Maddison for a spell, Kulusevski can do a lot of the same thing. But nobody can do what vdV does. Nobody else can provide that kind of safety net for Ange's high-wire act. Other guys may be better for other systems but in this system he's absolutely the guy you want.

100%

As mentioned, they are 3rd in goals scored and nobody has more than 2, they have coverage up front as a like-for-like.

But who is "like" VdV, right? Where is the other unicorn? LOL

 

[PanniniClaus]

Saints have turned up with no striker in the first 11.

I'll rephrase after the half. The Saints have not turned up and in no way shape or form do they look like a premier league team. Not a hint of it.

 

[al secord]

It's still September yet Arsenal fans are already in October form.

 

[Peen]

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

View attachment 911106

Wowzers.

 

[Venkman]

Who do you replace him with? Not that there aren’t better options out there, I just genuinely have not paid attention to managers of this level. My United fandom has been put into question with how hard this team is to watch so I’ve really only been paying attention to the MLS.

Ratcliffe met with Tuchel in the summer so maybe they revisit that. Rumours were Tuchel wanted some control over transfers. Also that he wanted a break.

Apparently they also considered Poch, McKenna, Frank, De Zerbi, Southgate.

Didn't see them linked with Amorim but he should be considered. Maybe Iraola too, I don't watch Bournemouth regularly but they look well coached whenever I've watched them.

 

[Jack Straw]

View attachment 911106

Harry Kane doing Harry Kane things.