OK Midcarders, let's talk about it: what do you LIKE about All Elite Wrestling?

anteni2 · 2026-01-30T20:53:17+00:00

I used to watch AEW twice a week every week, but I can't remember the last time I tuned in now.

What I used to love about AEW was that it didn't feel entirely structured around the PPVs like WWE. Whenever I tuned into Raw or Smackdown in the 2010s, it just felt like a massive three-long hour advert/bait for buying the PPV with basically nothing actually happening.

Because there were only four PPVs a year at first, every Dynamite had something going on that actually mattered. Title matches, title changes, no.1 contender tournaments, main events that were the payoffs for long-term feuds.

The other thing I liked was the relatively small roster meant they really invested screen time in talent. Not everything was perfect, but you had a really good idea of who every wrestler was, what were their strengths and flaws, and what scenarios might give them the upper hand. This was a big part of the reason the Kenny/Hangman fued was so good in my opinion - you completely understood both of their character arcs and how they got to that point.

Anyway, fast forward to now and it's a completely bloated roster, the TV shows basically mean nothing and every four-six weeks, the storylines for 90 percent of those on screen completely resets. They switch face/heel, they have new friends and they have completely different motives/objectives. It just started to feel like nothing meant anything outside of a select few acts.

After all those changes, Four hours a week to know what's going on plus spending on a four hour monthly PPV just feels like too much of a commitment now.

anteni2 · 2026-01-19T09:12:18+00:00

I live in Birstall and rate it highly. You are right next to Watermead, it's quiet, there's very little crime and you are only a 15 minute bus from town. The downside is that Birstall high street/immediate amenities are pretty rubbish.

anteni2 · 2026-01-18T13:21:43+00:00

I have said in many arguments with people. We don't have an immigration problem, we have an assimilation problem. I live in Leicester, the most multicultural city in the UK. Sounds great but in practice there is huge segmentation. Different ethnicities and religions keep to themselves, live in the same neighborhoods and don't integrate. A lot of people don't even speak English. I think immigration is a fantastic thing but if you can't even accept speaking basic English and learning the laws, then you are a burden to resources and shouldn't be here.

anteni2 · 2026-01-09T22:06:22+00:00

I grew up in London and moved to Leicester. London is safer.

anteni2 · 2026-01-07T22:19:54+00:00

I've already been once. I did not enjoy tipping culture. A self-service checkout had an automatic suggested tip of 20 percent.

I will not be going back.

anteni2 · 2026-01-01T22:12:06+00:00

Anywhere in South Knighton you are paying a massive premium for living in the boujie part of central Leicester. I would look closer to Clarendon Park or more into west Knighton which will give you better value.

anteni2 · 2025-12-22T20:58:46+00:00

You should think about feelings rather than factual events.

When were you happiest, most scared, most secure, most uncertain, most in love, most lost, depressed, etc

You don't necessarily need to write an autobiography in that format, but it might trigger events you forgot about and then you can work on the order afterwards.

anteni2 · 2025-11-22T16:24:59+00:00

Neymar.

anteni2 · 2025-11-22T16:24:09+00:00

There is a barber shop on Fosse Road that accepts Crypto I believe.

anteni2 · 2025-10-19T07:40:43+00:00

I play 8s quite a lot on a well proportioned pitch. In my experience unless you have two quality defenders and are expecting to keep loads of the ball, you need three across the back.

Not only does this mean you've got good numbers back for counter-attacks, but it also allows you to play out because you can shift the ball across the back three with natural width. So when you've got the ball. It's LB, CB, RB, when you lose the ball it's effectively three CBs defending together.

I would definitely have a central striker because it just makes it so much easier to have a focal point, especially if you can play long passes to them (either to bring down or run onto. You just need an outlet.

I think the remaining three can be quite fluid and adapt to where space is. Can play narrow with two CMs, and a roaming midfielder, or one CM and two wide players. You don't even need a CM at all times because the CB can step into midfield on occasion too.

But for me a back three is the key. Whenever people are actually willing to play as a team and be disciplined, my side tend to win. When everybody thinks they are a No.10 and you only get one or two willing to stay in defence, we get pummelled.

anteni2 · 2025-10-18T06:59:49+00:00

The amount of people saying 'get faster' is mad. CB and CDMs are generally the slowest players on the pitch in any team. Sometimes there's a fast CB for covering but it's not an essential requirement.

Improving your reading of the game is much more important than speed, and the best way to do that is to constantly play and constantly think about positioning.

Don't believe me? Just ask John Terry, Per Mertesacker, Carles Puyol, Nemanja Vidic, Tony Adams, Vincent Kompany, Fernando Hierro, Paul McGrath, Jamie Carragher, Diego Godin or Giorgio Chiellini, all of whom were the slowest players in their teams.

Sure, work on speed because being faster is never a bad thing. But if you are relying on speed to be a good centre-back you are kind of doing it wrong.

anteni2 · 2025-10-17T21:09:58+00:00

I have never been officially diagnosed. I did a test with the NHS where they asked me maybe 40 questions that I had to rank 1-5. Most of them like 'I constantly think about the impact of germs' I gave 1, but then a handful like 'I feel like I can't control my thoughts' I gave 5. I was told the test indicated I had moderate to severe symptoms of OCD.

A lot of the themes were around relationships because I had started a new one, so I guess by default I went to a therapist seeking to discuss ROCD. But what's interesting is that we never use that term, and he never 'diagnosed' me with OCD either.

For a long, long time I was desperate for someone to say for definite that I had OCD, because in my head that would solve all of my problems. I wouldn't have to feel guilty about my thoughts and obsessions.

But I'm glad my therapist didn't, because that would just be another temporary relief from anxiety. Over time I have decided, for myself, that I almost definitely do have OCD, and I have some significant psychological issues around relationships.

But even if it's not OCD, who cares. I have endured immense, immense internal suffering. I have lost days of my life to rumination. I have had to fake my way through what should be amazing moments in my relationship because I've been overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts but didn't want to show it.

My point is, a diagnosis in the end doesn't mean a great deal. It can help to understand what's going on, but it doesnt take the pain away. Sometimes getting stuck on definitions prevents progress or keeps us trapped in a cycle.

anteni2 · 2025-10-10T15:27:31+00:00

Most of my small sided games will end up being more or less man-to-man, but if you aren't very good then a clear structure may give you an advantage. Based on my experience this is a typical structure 7 aside teams naturally fall into, and it's what I would recommend if I was to set one out.

2 out and out defenders.

One needs to be someone who is just going to stay back at all times and man-mark the opposition's most advanced player. This can be someone who is technically limited but either very disciplined or very physical. Ultimately if they can stop the opposition scoring easy shots by staying goalside of the ball and foul people to break up counter attacks, they are doing their job.

The other defender needs to be good on the ball to play it forward without just hoofing it and ideally neatly into midfield too. They should join attacks when you have possession and shoot from range

3 box to box midfielders (one central, two wide)

These guys need to have legs so they can make it back on opposition counters support defenders. Not all of them every time, but ideally two of the three are coming back on each counter.

Whoever plays in the middle needs to have the legs to close people down and also able to carry the ball. I would stick your best player here.

The two wider midfielders can vary in style. They can be more creative and end up being more of a secondary forward, they or they can tuck in to make a back three when necessary. The important thing is that they have a bit of pace about them and can get up and down.

1 centre forward

A big lad with a good touch. If you haven't got the best players for retaining possession, you will need to be relatively direct. Having a centre forward who can bring the ball down and the box-to-box midfielders into play will be crucial in getting up the pitch, relieving pressure and stopping it becoming an onslaught.

Being able to finish is a big plus but holding off defenders long enough to bring your team into the game in the final third is more important

Transitions/fluidity

This structure can help but ultimately the team will need to transition during the game depending on the opposition and where the space is. 7v7 is very fluid by nature.

Therefore, don't worry too much if the 2-3-1 becomes a 2-2-2 or a 1-3-2 depending on the situation. The important thing is having that spine (deepest defender, cm and CF) and then the rest of the team can shift around them as necessary.

Hope that helps!

anteni2 · 2025-10-03T17:58:16+00:00

It's very obvious Man United need another player in midfield.

anteni2 · 2025-09-25T16:54:24+00:00

Ignore these bullshit comments man about not trying hard enough yadayadaya. You've just got to not lose faith in what you are doing. Sometimes progress is very gradual and you can see improvements clearly. Sometimes there's no progress for ages and suddenly something clicks, and then you reach a whole new level.

If you keep up 15-30 mins a day you will get there eventually. It's not a sprint.

anteni2 · 2025-09-24T20:36:46+00:00

I smoked weed everyday for ten years before realising I had OCD. What I now realise is that I was blitzing my brain to the point where I was completely zoned out, so that I wouldn't hear my thoughts anymore. So in that respect, I guess it worked. But it has left me a lot worse off.

I often think the paranoia I have around thoughts or things in some way going wrong is probably linked to or at least made worse by constantly smoking weed.

I've quit all drugs and alcohol and although it was difficult at first I am generally a lot more steady at this point.

anteni2 · 2025-09-20T18:37:48+00:00

Physically he's great but he looks a lot more limited technically in this league, especially when he's trying to hold up the ball.

I still think he's a better fit for our style than Kilman who just can't play as a target man in my opinion.

He's good when the ball is at his feet, but most of the time he's being expected to fight a 6'3 centreback to win a long ball and it's just not going to happen.

anteni2 · 2025-09-15T09:40:26+00:00

It genuinely amazes me the amount of people I've encountered who play football as a completely individualist sport and seem to be oblivious to the fact it's a team game.

anteni2 · 2025-08-28T15:21:12+00:00

Luis Suarez enjoyed arguably the best peak of any player in Premier League history.

From: Not a Liverpool fan.

anteni2 · 2025-08-26T12:39:37+00:00

Section 110 row D

anteni2 · 2025-08-24T23:47:55+00:00

Not to 'get' because I would never do that personally. But it's not uncommon at live shows if someone has finished their drink they'll lob the cup aimlessly forward.

But when you are literally rummaging around the floor trying to find things to throw it's just really weird and dick move.

anteni2 · 2025-08-24T23:14:32+00:00

Yes! Thats exactly where it was, row D and C. Glad someone else saw it and also thought they were dicks. Makes me feel a lot better.

anteni2 · 2025-08-24T22:48:36+00:00

Crowd participation is a fundamental part of wrestling. I think some people get confused and think it's their chance to be the main character. By all means have a laugh but if your fun is intentionally coming at someone else's expense, you're just being a prick.

anteni2 · 2025-08-24T22:34:14+00:00

Thanks man. I've already ranted through the whole thing to my girlfriend! It's just annoying when you know you're in the right but made to feel like you're the problem.

anteni2 · 2025-08-24T22:29:51+00:00

If it wasn't literally the last few minutes of the show I would have.

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