jooney-au.bsky.social
Son of Bonny, Appa to E&E, disciple of Arsene.
103 posts
41 followers
32 following
Active Commenter
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Elliot, intrigued by the Garcia goalkeeper discussion. Any chance he can be added to the list of scouting videos?
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Concrete
Advanced
Edging closer
đźš®
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Important. And hopefully ripples into Saliba re-signing as well.
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Yes they are, Shaun.
When can you start?
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Waiting for Isak has it's risks though, and frankly if we need best-in-class then I question our business elsewhere. Merino showed that smart movement + clean striking can work in our system; if either Gyokeres or Sesko can do that it should suffice and we can put the Isak $ elsewhere.
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Nice thread. Logic laid out well. Agree on LW and ST profiles. Dont think we need another DM on top of Zubi though. Cover there with rice + merino. Maximise dollars in the forward line / AM or get a right sided defender as Tomi not back for awhile. 3 players for 2 spots feels risky.
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Like the chart. I think this illustrates effectively why another right-sided defender is needed. Tomi unlikely to be back until deep into next season + Partey exit means no emergency RB option. Otherwise an injury to one of the three remaining moves us into novel solution territory for cover.
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Zubi, Rice and Merino would be our choices for DM - I think that’s fine. I would rather use an internal solution for a 4th option if needed (eg MLS) and invest the resources further up the pitch personally.
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If Inter go through and we win it all, then we would have overcome the current Spanish, French and Italian league winners to get our hands on our first ever CL cup. Definitely prefer that narrative (but have reservations about how we would face up against Inter).
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Am I hoping that spurs knock some points off Forest? I’ll never tell.
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It would be a glorious thing if Newcastle stumble about for the new few games and then have to come to our house in the penultimate match week to secure top five … but in a reversal of 21/22, it’s our turn to bury them.
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Not even taking a break for lunch? You workaholic.
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Just in time for Easter
He is risen.
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Don’t let them rob you of one of the few moments in life that give you unbridled joy.
Today was one of those days. Make the most of it.
COYG 🔴⚪
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Meanwhile, the same people want full licence to dump on the club, the manager and the players whenever we lose or draw or just don’t play well.
If people think they can make you engage with football on those completely asymmetric terms then they can take a hike.
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Don’t fall into the trap and think it’s only trophies that matter and are the only cause for joy and celebration.
There are just 4 trophies to contest over the course of a ~60g season.
Killjoys want us to only celebrate when we win one of them. That just gives us 4 games max to be truly happy.
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I’m trying to think of the last time we conceded three.
Luton away last year in the league?
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Big Gaby is the probably the best example of Mikel’s coaching making a player elite. His arc from when he entered the club to now is one of raw materials polished to a fine sheen.
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If anything it’s natures medicine.
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Injuries don’t matter Adam, the next in line is more than capable of picking up the slack.
This is why famously absolutely no one frets about which players to buy in a transfer window, because all players are equivalent in talent and capability.
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To what degree does our game model need to evolve next season - incremental, or substantial?
Basically, do we have the right system to win but missing key pieces; or have we been scouted and need to reimagine how we play.
Can’t wait to hear the pod!
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That home against Newcastle. If there’s one team that would do anything to derail us it’s them. We can’t let them best us four times in a season.
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Closer we get to the WHU game, the nervier I get. I trust the boys to assert control and create chances. It’s the finishing that’s the question. If Merino does it again then we got a trend baby.
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Encourage for our boys. Do the job against west ham and it’s down to 5.
Honestly if Villa didn’t have their key absences it would have been more of a contest. Sloppy passing game let them down.
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Finally answering the question of what happens when a stoppable force meets a movable object.
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The first real bit of quality in the game. Unreal composure from the young lad.
Excited what possibilities open up for the team when he can play along with Saka.
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… and we have one of them, if only he could get fit 🥺
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Please bring this form into the Emirates next month, Chelsea.
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Spectrum of options exist between "right guy" and "do nothing". Club could have explored:
(1) Overseas loan
(2) Make Neto permanent, freeing EPL loan
(3) Recall loanee(s)
(4) Pivot to winger
1-3 above are relatively cheap and can't possibly break the summer spend.
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Feels like a false premise. Argument isn't a signing could cover for the missing, it's to support the remaining players. A band-aid doesn't cure a wound, but it does stop the bleeding.
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Ultimately there is stuff out of our control that we can't change (e.g. schedule, intl break games), but the controlables including squad numbers we didn't manage well. Board took on footballing risk re: squad health and lost out (2/2).
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Thanks. Of your three points, I would say (1) is in our control and we didnt act when we had the chance; (2) is driven by player availability; and (3) we can only speculate, but it's more likely driven by schedule rather than medical team effectiveness (i.e. the 9 games in Jan). (1/2)
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Not surprising given our high ball control and field tilt %. It’s not how much sprints but who sprints. In our model it’s the wingers who are tasked to track back, and for our forward to come top of D in key game states. And that’s where our injuries are (BS, GM, KH, GJ).
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It’s all about managing risk. You can’t eliminate it; just push it elsewhere. Club made the call to reduce exposure to financial risk in the transfer / loan market, but took on footballing risk instead. Two players now down since that decision, and Arteta + squad bear the inc load - it ain’t right.
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Don’t let the dissatisfaction extinguish your spirit, Elliot. I also see lots of no excuses big talk, but then rest easy knowing it’s posturing divorced from reality. Ask such a person which team has gone on to win the prem from a similar injury crisis and see if you get an answer.
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Gunnerblog once called Saliba and Gabriel “ice and fire” and it has stuck with me since.
We’ve gotta get that pen on the paper for big gabby.
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Need this guy back asap. Guys like Timber, Saliba and Gabriel need to get their feet up soon. Really disappointed he got back to fitness and then re-injured himself on international duty. Needs to prioritise his recovery and focus on Arsenal. We need him in the run in.
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Spurs xG higher than I thought it would be. Didn't feel they did anything threatening for the longest time after their goal. We did great to shut out the light for so long. Control matters!
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Can't help but notice that he is akin to Timber in profile. Just has those same properties - good on the ball, powerful defensively, can carry and dribble, squeeze out of tight spaces - so, so good. Can't wait to see what the future has in store for him. I'm sure Tuchel in the crowd also noticed ...
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The emergence of MLS and Nwaneri is exactly the intended model of the Academy. Integrate the crème de la crème into the first team; profit from the rest. It's so nice to see this working. Between the two of them we have saved a lot of $$$ chasing equivalents in the market. Well done Per and Mikel.
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Agreed. More than just confidence and quality - freshness is lacking. Kai is playing every minute of every game, every three days. Odegaard slowly regaining fitness after his injury. Timber looks busted. To keep playing at this intensity takes grit and we showed it tonight. Credit to MA and team.
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Dry January had no chance.
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Why do I get the sense that this picture needs to be accompanied with the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song?
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Given our need I wouldn’t discount him yet. Wouldn’t say no to a loan if we can whittle down Juve.
Then Use the funds on someone like a Nico W whom we know the manager wants and has plans for.
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So the data says he is comfortable in popping off a shot. Already that makes him stand out amongst our attackers. Map that over our game model where we expect to be in the final 3rd a lot and generate chances and I could argue that he’s going to have a better non-penalty xg to what he’s showing now
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This is dreamland stuff but something like the below could be doable to get capable attackers in the squad
Nico Williams buy €60m
Vlahovic loan
Viera recall
Yes theres impact with wages but that could be offset by a sale.
MA wants Nico, low risk on the other moves.
Doable?
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Forest are to Liverpool this season what Fulham were to us last season.
Our 3-0 dismantling of Forest at home keeps looking better and better.
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We have three full backs and three wingers out concurrently. Sorry but no amount of squad building is going to cater for this scenario.