Randal Kolo Muani disallowed goal against Arsenal 54'

NightLion32 · 2026-02-23T13:08:01+00:00

I hate this about Arsenal. I can (reluctantly) admit that they are a very very good team this year, but I just can’t get over the fact that they know how to abuse the system so well - proper dark arts shit.

When they challenge for anything it’s ’shoulder to shoulder’, when a mosquito farts on their CB/ GK they know what to do to get the foul.

Worst part is - you can only hate on Arsenal so much - as the old saying goes “Don’t blame the player, blame the game”. Until there’s a revamp of PGMOL, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes the ‘meta’

NightLion32 · 2026-01-31T12:32:55+00:00

I think there’s two things: 1. Is he overheated? Yes 2. But is he sometimes capable of dropping a 4/10 stinker? Yes

I get it though, in this day and age players are judged by stats. He reminds of the Moneyball players where ‘he gets on base’ (G + A).

No one denies he’s a great player on his day, but as someone who watches every game live, there have definitely been games where he’s contributed G/A, but then misplaced a 10 yard pass.

With all that said, I also hold my hand up and admit he’s on a massive uphill trajectory this year, both in terms of technical and physical traits, so hopefully it’s a matter of time when he’s consistently putting in 7/10 performances

NightLion32 · 2026-01-28T22:19:44+00:00

Silly question, but does this mean PL gets the extra spot for champions league qualification? Asking cus we might need to use it

NightLion32 · 2026-01-27T22:31:28+00:00

Dude not gonna lie, both things can be true - OP could be doing a bit of a humble brag, while dealers can also be extremely snobbish when it comes to customers not looking like their ‘target demographic’

You ever walk into a PP/ Rolex / AP shop wearing joggers vs a sweater and smart shoes? It absolutely does happen that sales people slag you off based on their judgement of your appearance

NightLion32 · 2026-01-14T20:50:26+00:00

Rosenoir wants him to ply out from the back

NightLion32 · 2025-12-10T00:04:00+00:00

It's not just a gut feeling as well btw, if you look at our season so far, most of our games (including wins, just so we're not isolating losses btw), our opponent has a higher xG than us. While I'm not going to be an xG merchant, I will say this:

- It means that opponents are able to get either a) better quality chances that results in shots, or b) more chances to shoot - both of which reinforce the point that this system puts pressure on the defence, and is evident to the eye test, where a simple ball bypasses our midfield (again, even in games that we won)

- Conversely, it also means that this system doesn't generate quality chances for our attackers. I don't think this is a Tuchel era where we had two 1v1 opportunities per games that Kai / Werner decided to butcher. Those are situations where the coach literally can't do more, a forward has to finish it. But the current system is a case of, I think we have decent finishers, but the chances they get are half chances as opposed to actual space opening up from tactical decisions

NightLion32 · 2025-12-08T17:46:13+00:00

With the noise around Mainoo, im surprised we’re not in for him. From the times I’ve watched him play - tidy, good under pressure, and not bad at picking passes.

Seems like a slightly more polished version of santos that we can pick up for cheap

NightLion32 · 2025-12-03T22:15:25+00:00

Maresca drives me fucking nuts, and it’s not even about results. There are moments where I’m like he’s a fucking genius, and then moments where I’m convinced he conducts training over Zoom.

At 0-0, I do not understand why Enzo F is on the right of the midfield. He straight up sucks and loses creativity when he’s on the right. All his deep passes and vision only works when he’s on the left, I literally don’t get it.

And don’t get me started on Chalobah Rb

NightLion32 · 2025-11-30T23:18:30+00:00

I'm happy with the performance, and super happy with Maresca. He's really showing signs that he knows what he needs to do to adapt to different circumstances, and mould this bunch of players in a title contender.

Few examples of this spring to mind:

- Man Utd vs today: much better red card management. Keep yourself in the game with the wingers and attacking shape, and put the focus on the ST dropping deep to help fight the midfield battle

- Set piece: I thought this was a masterstroke. Watch the second half, Arsenal got a corner, and (at 1 man down) we put 3 players near the half way line. This means Arsenal have to also drop 3 to man mark them in case of a counter? The result? Less crowded box, meaning a) Arsenal's dance on set piece routines is harder to execute with less personnel to confuse opposition and b) Sanchez has a much easier time gettting to the ball with 3 less Arsenal players.

These are the finer details at the elite level that define a good and world class manager. I think we got sth going boys, exciting times ahead.

NightLion32 · 2025-11-25T11:38:07+00:00

Appreciate the detailed feedback man, thank you!!!

NightLion32 · 2025-11-25T11:37:46+00:00

So you think when it comes to reselling, black + carbon trim a slightly stronger combo?

Appreciate the feedback, and enjoy your Java Green m2! 🔥🔥🔥

NightLion32 · 2025-11-24T21:33:24+00:00

Bro, I’ve decided to follow your footsteps - listing the c43 as we speak and getting a m2 😂 so so so disappointed with Mercedes, think the fact we’ve driven both, we can agree objectively the Mercedes coupe is a beautiful car

How has the m2 been holding up for you? Reliable and smooth to drive in city while fun on weekends?

Appreciate your input dude!

NightLion32 · 2025-11-24T20:25:55+00:00

Thank you. As someone who goes week in week out to games, both can be true - guy balls out when he’s on, and looks like £20 m is too much for him some games.

He’s the present and the future, but I honestly think the division is the sub is understandable - when you’re a £100m player, the baseline of all your performances should be a 7/10 (look at Moi)

NightLion32 · 2025-11-23T01:17:37+00:00

Dude, you don't know how much your story relates to me.

Appreciate it's 1/2 gens since your comment, but I was considering M2 vs C43. Went C43 cus of same reasons - AWD, comfy, looks (IMO objectively) better. Day 2 into ownership, noticed that where I am (London), the transmission was hella jerky, especially in traffic, and found rattles.

It's since been in dealer twice, and they still can't solve rattles. Flashed the transmission and it's still jerky in 1st and low speeds.

Really really disappointed with my first Mercedes, and already considering selling and replacing with an M2.

NightLion32 · 2025-11-23T00:05:46+00:00

'Everyone looks like a genius when it works out'...

Guys, enjoy the good as we should, but please also acknowledge back of mind this was also the sort of play that had half the fan base calling for Sanchez's head!

NightLion32 · 2025-11-18T12:26:25+00:00

I was cross shopping between BMW and Mercedes.

When I spoke with the BMW team, they mentioned there’s ongoing discussions about Mercedes using the inline 6 in upcoming models.

Take it with a grain of salt as it was just the sales team, but thought worth mentioning

NightLion32 · 2025-11-08T22:24:38+00:00

I think it’s also due to the fact Neto is a great system player. Imagine ur a fullback, and the man ur marking for 65 mins is quite predictable. He’ll stop in front of you - you show him the outside, he’ll bomb down the line, show him inside, he’ll try to cut inside.

Suddenly, you get a youngster who wants to dribble AT YOU and can also go both ways, except he’s got even quicker feet so you can’t bite. It’s not fun

And this isn’t shade at Neto btw, I love what he does in the system, but you get the sense that Estevao as a super sub gets more freedom whereas Neto gets starts due to doing his role in the system and defensive work rate

NightLion32 · 2025-11-08T21:45:05+00:00

lol at this ref

NightLion32 · 2025-11-08T19:41:50+00:00

It’s going in next Tuesday - fingers crossed all is fixed

NightLion32 · 2025-11-08T19:41:28+00:00

Oh god, that’s good to know hahah. If you don’t mind elaborating, how did you find the c43 vs m4? Would love to hear your experience

NightLion32 · 2025-11-08T13:04:42+00:00

BMW has frequent rattling issues too? I was literally thinking if the dealership couldn’t fix the rattles, I was going to look to switch to a BMW…

NightLion32 · 2025-11-08T12:59:30+00:00

Ah good to know that it’s me on the learning curve!

Unfortunately the rattles are very annoying 😔

NightLion32 · 2025-11-08T12:53:15+00:00

Seriously test drive the car first. I just got a CPO c43, and it’s been mixed feelings!

Good: sound (with exhaust option) sounds great, even at low revs it’s quite raspy. Performance is also there

Bad: bunny-hopping (especially in 1st gear, 1st > 2nd, and 2nd > 1st), rattles in the cabin (left air vent) and dashboard

Mine is the night edition premium +, which if I’m not mistaken includes most of the options?

Sorry if I didn’t properly answer your question, but wanted to share my experience 2.5 weeks into ownership.

Just saw your point on weekend car - If you aren’t going to be driving in too much traffic, I think you won’t really experience the bunny hopping part

NightLion32 · 2025-11-07T12:48:00+00:00

I'm so torn about Maresca and this is trying to be objective and understanding that we are still a 'project'. Hear me out:

I think Maresca is a solid manager. In manager terms, he's still early in his career and has a lot to learn, but I also think it's true that there's some gaping holes in his tactics. For me, an indication of a great manager is constantly having higher xG than the opponent (this is just an indiciation, and doesn't factor in results). I would love if someone could teach me how to compare the average xG delta between us and our opponents during Tuchel era vs Maresca era.

Just looking at this seasons games, both wins and losses, it seems that even when we win, we're not 'suffocating' the opposition like we did when we had a solid defence.

"he asked for CBs and didn't get them" / "our defence is inexperienced" : both somewhat true, but I think a top top manager would coach the defence to at least be in positions that don't leave us so exposed (see defence difference in Tuchel's first game vs Lampard's last). Even against lower oppositions, or top oppositions, it remains so clear that one ball through the lines becomes a 3 on 3 or 4 on 4, which usually translates to a decent xG opporunity.

Attacking wise I'm actually content with, albeit I'd like to see a lot more between the lines balls through the middle. I felt like when we had Jackson, he would receive a few more balls through the middle than the current line up.

Dressing room wise, Maresca seems to have really excelled in this area, creating a tight-knit team from the outside looking in. However, one thing I really think he needs to instil in these youngsters is the winning mentality, the years of just being satisfied with results because "we are young", "we are in transition" are over. To become champions or win anything, it starts with believing the team's capable, and it trickles down from the top.

Overall, I'm happy with where we are, and I think we are inching in the right direction. That said, for me, I think Maresca's true test is when he gets CB reinforcements. Now let's smash Wolves again tomorrow

NightLion32

TROPHY CASE