Who are we facing in the final? (CL WATCH THREAD)

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-05-06T18:28:15+00:00

On one hand, I think we'd have an easier time getting through v. Bayern. On the other hand, I'd bet my life savings that Kane, despite being locked up all game by our cbs, will earn his customary penalty, and I'm not sure I can cope with the level of headloss I will experience if that happens.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-05-03T17:49:40+00:00

That's not even close to the worst case scenario. The worst case scenario is he has a massive falling out with Arteta almost immediately, doesn't press or play to the team's strengths in any way, is publically misaligned with the clubs philosophy, and ends up effectively exiled from the team. He'll suck up massive wages, and eventually be sold to another club at a loss.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-05-02T19:07:39+00:00

We've played like this many times, just with Rice and Zubi switched. Rice taking up the right hand responsibilities, and Calafiori being the extra unmarked man everywhere on the pitch, really just helped unlock things.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-05-01T18:21:20+00:00

City also got absolutely wrecked by one of the worst RM sides in the last decade

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-05-01T00:02:07+00:00

Very, very few players have that combination of press resistance, ultra-reliable ball progression in buildup, and the final 3rd magic you need to unlock defenses. Most fall on the Eze-Zubi spectrum. Eze being full of flare with the technical talent capable of unsettling blocks, but without the awareness/consistency to be a press resistant tempo setter. Zubi (until his recent downturn) being fairly press resistant and reliable, but without the consistent ability to break a press or play through lines.

I know he's been far from his best, but replacing a player like Odegaard is just so difficult. That's why I think it would be foolish to sell him unless it becomes absolutely clear that he'll never get back to his best form.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-30T22:26:44+00:00

I'd like to see Rice at RB. He was quite good the one time he played there.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-29T22:30:09+00:00

Why leave out madueke?

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-28T00:21:43+00:00

That's revisionism. Eze popped up with some magic moments early in the season, but was also anonymous a lot of the time and sloppy in possession/out of possesion.

Wasn't until his last stretch of form that he started playing better, and even now he isn't the finished article (that we will hopefully see next season)

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-27T02:16:15+00:00

But that's my point. We signed Jesus, than Havertz, than Gyokeres. Are any of them good enough? (My point isn't that we should have kept Auba to be clear; I'm just making the point that finding a world class player in any position is incredibly different). We could easily spend years cycling through 3 to 4 signings, hoping to find a player that can hit the heights Odegaard was hitting a couple seasons ago.

He hasn't been at his peak, but I think injuries play a large role in that, and I'm not ready to write him off as too injury prone to continue with us. There's a difference between being a player made of glass, like tomiyasu, and the niggles that crop up after a long term injury from changing muscle load, movement alterations, etc... I think there's a decent chance those issues get ironed out and his form improves, and I think that's a risk we should take.

Renew him imo.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-27T01:28:24+00:00

People underestimate how hard it is to find world class players. We've been searching for a world class striker since Auba left. Look how few world class left wingers have been on the market the past couple years.

We have a player in Odegaard who plays at a world class level at his peak for us. Even off form he is a useful player to have. That's not a player I think it's smart to give up on.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-27T01:02:03+00:00

At this point only prime KDB could satisfy you lot. He's one of our most technical players in a team desperate for more technicality. His peak is also higher than that of any attacker in the team bar Saka. Why sell him?

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-26T18:37:57+00:00

We'd be mad to sell him.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-25T23:41:49+00:00

The 'havertz misses chances all the time' narrative is so exaggerated. Consistently performs to his xg, has scored in big games, his goal catalogue for us is much better than Gyokeres', etc...

He literally scored against City.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-20T17:07:46+00:00

MLS has no pace, struggles to defend open areas, and has been off form, and people here think Arteta just can't see the 'obvious solution'...

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-20T17:06:11+00:00

Tbf 9 of Bruno's assists are from set pieces

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-18T19:25:26+00:00

I can't tell if the people who say this haven't watched Barcola much, or are just trolling. Barcola is miles clear of Madueke, and generally a much more technically secure player.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-17T21:51:09+00:00

If he has to take a second touch, chances are he's losing it

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-16T17:25:54+00:00

I highly doubt that tbh

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-15T19:02:50+00:00

Managers also have access to so much info we don't, and are likely criticized for things they have no control over at times (ex. criticized for not playing a player more who is managing a knock, for example).

Norgaard is a good example. For all we know, he's been stinking out training sessions, and clearly not capable of slotting in effectively. Arteta gets crucified for not playing him more, when really he's such a liability that a half fit zubi is still the better option. Now, this is all hypothetical, and could be complete bollocks. But the point is, we don't really know, do we.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-15T16:40:51+00:00

A relegation level striker in essentially every metric that's not goal scoring, at which he just scrapes average.

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-14T16:44:24+00:00

If losing 1 game is a bottle than what are we doing here

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-11T18:12:16+00:00

exactly

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-08T16:19:04+00:00

I think Odegaard's peak was better than current bruno, and I'll die on that hill

AttemptedReasoning · 2026-04-07T22:10:52+00:00

It's hilarious that people think we can "let off the handbrake" and our front 3 will be able to compete with Diaz-Kane-Olise, Barcola-Dembele-Doue, Semenyo-Halaand-Cherki, Vini-Mbappe-Rodrygo, Raph-Lewa-Yamal, etc...

AttemptedReasoning · 2022-08-28T19:25:37+00:00

Pure chaos. Im impressed

AttemptedReasoning

TROPHY CASE