The Footie Thread

[Arthur Wedge]

I’d rather watch prime United under Ferguson than this Arsenal side. And as for Fergie Time, we had nothing like the added time there is in Premier League games these days!

I suppose it all depends on why you watch football, and my goal is to be entertained. And Arsenal, should they go on and win the title, will be instantly forgettable as a football team.

I’ll take watching Klopps football all day long , not a fan of the current way we play ,

The years we went toe to toe with City was superb

Same back in the days when United and Arsenal went at it under Ferguson and Wenger

Or when it was Newcastle and United

Even going back to the 80’s when Liverpool and Everton were going for it


People will remember those teams for the way they tried to play

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I’d rather watch prime United under Ferguson than this Arsenal side. And as for Fergie Time, we had nothing like the added time there is in Premier League games these days!

I suppose it all depends on why you watch football, and my goal is to be entertained. And Arsenal, should they go on and win the title, will be instantly forgettable as a football team.

I’m not saying they’re entertaining but I find it hilarious how bitter people come across towards them just because it’s not their team it’s kind of sad, because ultimately the football played is irrelevant points on the board matter, plus that boring side has scored the same goals as City and conceded less. What’s it they say about golf there’s no pictures on a scorecard, so exactly like a league table then

I think many of us have been critical of Arsenal for a long time. So if we continue, even if they do win something in the end, any criticism is unlikely to be due to bitterness. It is just consistency.

Criticism towards City, and Chelsea, had largely been due to randomness of those clubs getting a huge cash injection, before FFP rules (forgetting the 115 charges).

And Peps boring football label, for me, is simply down to very high possession, and wearing opponents and non Man City fans down. I think most are probably entertained by high risk, quick attacking football. But Pep is a brilliant coach and City have had immense players. Can't argue with that too much

Consistent bitterness from teams below them! Ok got it

Pep’s football is boring and so is Arteta ball I agree , but as above entertainment doesn’t win leagues points on the board do, so that’s all that matters. My team are playing dire football but as a fan all I care about is can we get promoted. Pretty sure Arsenal fans won’t care if they win everything 1-0 they won’t be the ones moaning but everyone else will. So who lives rent free in whose head then amongst top flite fans.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I’ll take watching Klopps football all day long , not a fan of the current way we play ,

The years we went toe to toe with City was superb

Same back in the days when United and Arsenal went at it under Ferguson and Wenger

Or when it was Newcastle and United

Even going back to the 80’s when Liverpool and Everton were going for it


People will remember those teams for the way they tried to play

And yet their fans for most of those teams you mentioned won’t get to remember winning any titles during that period with the exception of Utd and Arsenal. Guarantee every team mentioned there would swap that Gung ho mentality they had back then for a league title at the time.

Newcastle fans weren’t loving it when they bottled it but it’s ok they played nice football.

Football has evolved teams don’t play expansively anymore. Football on the whole at the top level without pretty much exception is boring and one dimensional.

 

[PaulMdj]

The game has moved on, we’ve had plenty of discussions about goalscorers or certain players that would or would not “fit in” in the current game.

A lot of our thoughts, feelings about current teams or our teams are based on our age and what we’ve experienced.

 

[PaulMdj]

There you go Bri, have faith

 

[Billysboots]

I’ll take watching Klopps football all day long , not a fan of the current way we play ,

The years we went toe to toe with City was superb

Same back in the days when United and Arsenal went at it under Ferguson and Wenger

Or when it was Newcastle and United

Even going back to the 80’s when Liverpool and Everton were going for it


People will remember those teams for the way they tried to play

I’ve likened Arsenal this season, tongue in cheek I will add, to watching special teams tactics in the NFL.

I get you need to find a way to unpick sides and win games in modern football, but the few seconds it took United to break from defence to score the winner last night embodies why I watch the game, and it is why I have been enjoying life under Carrick. It’s edge of the seat stuff, and a few seconds of that is worth 90 minutes of co-ordinated, training ground set piece tactics.

Arsenal were a cracking watch in the days of Bergkamp, Overmars, Wright and Co. I will maintain that, should this Arsenal side win the league, in twenty years those of us who are still drawing breath will not remember a single player in their current squad.

 

[Billysboots]

There you go Bri, have faith

Mrs BB now has a face like a spanked arse.

 

[Hobbit]

Surely not. Leicester have been beyond awful for weeks. The lovely Mrs BB is a fan and she’s been very depressed. Even my best jokes aren’t lightening her mood.

Best not tell her Boro have equalised

 

[Pin-seeker]

I’ve likened Arsenal this season, tongue in cheek I will add, to watching special teams tactics in the NFL.

I get you need to find a way to unpick sides and win games in modern football, but the few seconds it took United to break from defence to score the winner last night embodies why I watch the game, and it is why I have been enjoying life under Carrick. It’s edge of the seat stuff, and a few seconds of that is worth 90 minutes of co-ordinated, training ground set piece tactics.

Arsenal were a cracking watch in the days of Bergkamp, Overmars, Wright and Co. I will maintain that, should this Arsenal side win the league, in twenty years those of us who are still drawing breath will not remember a single player in their current squad.

Saka wouldn’t get a look in,in the great Wenger teams.
SO overrated imo.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Mrs BB now has a face like a spanked arse.

Crack one of your jokes,what could go wrong?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

And yet their fans for most of those teams you mentioned won’t get to remember winning any titles during that period with the exception of Utd and Arsenal. Guarantee every team mentioned there would swap that Gung ho mentality they had back then for a league title at the time.

Newcastle fans weren’t loving it when they bottled it but it’s ok they played nice football.

Football has evolved teams don’t play expansively anymore. Football on the whole at the top level without pretty much exception is boring and one dimensional.

All those teams apart from Newcastle won titles and cups and CLs during those periods of battling other teams

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

The game has moved on, we’ve had plenty of discussions about goalscorers or certain players that would or would not “fit in” in the current game.

A lot of our thoughts, feelings about current teams or our teams are based on our age and what we’ve experienced.

And there we have the most balanced and sensible comment.

Plus we all view it through our own biases as fans. Utd fans won’t look at Arsenal and say they’re as good as they were under Fergie, Arsenal don’t look at Liverpool and say Klopp produced anything like Wenger in 2005. Hell even me as a Reading fan I’d die for football we had under Coppell and players like the mighty Dave Kitson. Football has changed,
You can’t play the way we did 20 years ago. My dad in the 90s used to moan his team don’t play half as good football as they did in the 70s. Nobody in sport tends to view the current era as good as bygone days.

But one thing I can guarantee if Arsenal win the league they won’t be the ones looking bitter or upset. But can say for certain every single Utd and Liverpool fan I know will moan about the worst team to win it and wouldn’t have happened if it was their team

 

[Billysboots]

ultimately the football played is irrelevant points on the board matter

No, no, no, no!

I may be a voice in the wilderness, and I get it’s all about opinions, but I just cannot agree that the football played is irrelevant. The type of football played is what it’s all about.

By the late 90’s, and I apologise if this sounds conceited because it absolutely isn’t my intention, but seeing United win largely unopposed was getting boring. Winning trophies was great, but it was becoming predictable. Thank Christ for that Arsenal side under Wenger, because they breathed life into an uncompetitive league. I wanted blood and thunder scraps for titles, not a procession.

The type of football is everything. If Man United had spent the best part of two decades winning trophies by playing dross, I’d be a rugby fan.

 

[Tashyboy]

Arteta is Pep's protige. He has taken all the boring bits from Pep's football (high possession) to Arsenal.

He has removed any hint of excitement Pep produced, lots of open play goals (excitement for their own fans anyway).

And replaced that with an even more boring tactic than high possession. Corner kicks.

He has basically tried to create a winning brand of football using the most boring styles of football one can think of. I mean, if he wins something, credit to him. But I doubt he will get too many plaudits. And Arsenal fans will have to continue being insecure about very few people actually respecting them

Am already not looking forward to the Carabao cup final

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

All those teams apart from Newcastle won titles and cups and CLs during those periods of battling other teams

And yet!! You’re having to go back to the 80s to give the Liverpool v Everton argument, my point stands you’re viewing through fan bias and historic football. So either your point is biased or outdated! Football has evolved you don’t have to like it but you do have to accept the team that’s found the way to win in the most boring era of football is the best team! League table doesn’t lie

 

[Arthur Wedge]

And yet!! You’re having to go back to the 80s to give the Liverpool v Everton argument, my point stands you’re viewing through fan bias and historic football. So either your point is biased or outdated! Football has evolved you don’t have to like it but you do have to accept the team that’s found the way to win in the most boring era of football is the best team! League table doesn’t lie

I was going through rivalries over the years that have produced great football as well as winning trophies-

It was only 3 seasons ago Pep and Klopp were going at it and the season was exciting

Pep himself saying it was the best time going up against Klopp

Right now and for the last two years there has been none of that sort of battle between teams

When they faced each other they didn’t sit back waiting for a set piece , they went at each other

A league table just shows the team that’s picked up the most points , it doesn’t show if a team has been one that will be remembered for the brand of football they played

Last seasons Slot team won’t be remembered , Artetas Arsenal won’t be remembered

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Saka wouldn’t get a look in,in the great Wenger teams.
SO overrated imo.

The single most overrated player in modern football. Runs into a corner, turns inside passes backward but is lauded as “Star Boy”. Arsenal look better when he doesn’t play imo. He’s just an English Nicolas Pepe!

No, no, no, no!

I may be a voice in the wilderness, and I get it’s all about opinions, but I just cannot agree that the football played is irrelevant. The type of football played is what it’s all about.

By the late 90’s, and I apologise if this sounds conceited because it absolutely isn’t my intention, but seeing United win largely unopposed was getting boring. Winning trophies was great, but it was becoming predictable. Thank Christ for that Arsenal side under Wenger, because they breathed life into an uncompetitive league. I wanted blood and thunder scraps for titles, not a procession.

The type of football is everything. If Man United had spent the best part of two decades winning trophies by playing dross, I’d be a rugby fan.

Good job for you then they played dross for the last decade and didn’t win much then I guess that kept you more entertained and excited than rugby

Yes I know you’ve won a couple of cups but you can’t tell me Ten Haag did that playing good football cause I’ve watched his teams. West Ham wouldn’t have won the Europa without Moyes and his brand of boredom. The style doesn’t matter, points on the board do!

That’s akin to saying I’d rather have beautiful golf swing and no majors than have 1 major but swing like Furyk.

All that matters in golf and football is scores and points in the board that wins trophies not pretty styles! Trust me I’m a Reading fan and we have sod all trophies and play crap football!

 

[Tashyboy]

The irony of other former title winning fans bemoaning Arsenal if they win the league knowing we’ve had such things as Fergie time, Klopp and LiVARpool doing things but stating we wouldn’t do that, Chelsea who literally parks the bus all season to win under Mourinho. But nope it’s Arsenal who would be the worst winners and the Unbearables!

The hypocrisy and irony amongst football fans never ceases to make me chuckle.

I don’t get it, Ave always said one of my favourite teams winning a title was Leicester. I was at the game when they absolutely battered us with players that were hardly household names. Drinkwater, Morgan, Hugh, Fuchs, Simpson, Chillwell, Kante, Mahrez, Vardy, Albrighton and a few others. They played some really good football. And it narks me when that achievement from a 5000 to 1 odds won it and they are disrespected. Bottom line if you finish first at the end of a tough season you deserve it. Even the ones with an asterisk at the side

 

[nickjdavis]

Apart from the first 6 minutes perhaps I should have got on with the plastering.

Totally took foot off the accelerator, half the forwards dont look interested and Botman isnt switched on at the back and is the prime source of Quarabags attacking opportunities. Think there are players on the bench itching to have a go at the opposition defence. Barnes and Murphy seemingly stuck in 2nd gear down the wings.

I'd take Osula, who once more has offered nothing, off and stick Wissa up front and bring Gordon on down the left and tell Woltemade to get close to Wissa. Dan Burn playing the Pirlo role without the ball distribution skills of Pirlo is a bit odd.

I know the ties dead and buried but 50k folks have forked out a lot of money...need to see some entertainment in the 2nd half.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I was going through rivalries over the years that have produced great football as well as winning trophies-

It was only 3 seasons ago Pep and Klopp were going at it and the season was exciting

Pep himself saying it was the best time going up against Klopp

Right now and for the last two years there has been none of that sort of battle between teams

When they faced each other they didn’t sit back waiting for a set piece , they went at each other

Rivalries are irrelevant nobody is talking about rivalries. We’re discussing modern boring football compared to days of yore when everyone played with proper wingers, 4-4-2 and had a pop at each other. Nobody does that and so far Arsenal are winning because they’ve found a way to get results against the constant low block. The irony is if they bottled the season and City win with their brand of absolute boredom, fans won’t talk about City being boring and winning they’ll be lauded as Champions who found a way to win and Arsenal will be constantly talked about as boring and bottlers.

I refer to my original comment I find the hypocrisy and irony of all football fans comical.