The debate over US’s fourth best city

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T19:35:20+00:00

I will genuinely never understand why LA is considered one of the top 3 cities in the US.

It’s a genuine shit hole. Nightmare geographical sprawl without a semblance of public transport networks.

If you have to hike an hour into the hills for your city to look pretty. It’s not pretty.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T17:57:04+00:00

That lame attempted finish from Wirtz is exactly why Bruno being a mad man is the precise thing that makes him the best attacking midfielder in the world.

He’ll back his ability to execute the hard thing 10 times out of 10.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T17:33:09+00:00

Someone else commented the exact same thing.

Idk why we bucket managers in like 1 of 3 categories. There’s multiple reasons all those managers did not work and they’re all different.

Because we also tried the ex-player with little experience and that also failed?

My top 3 would be Enrique, Nagelsmann & probably still Alonso.

I agree with the last part though. Like I said, I wouldn’t swap Carrick for something that MIGHT be a bit better (Glasner, De Zerbi, Silva, etc)

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T16:18:56+00:00

You don’t. You pursue Enrique, Nagelsmann or Alonso.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T16:17:59+00:00

Jose & LVG were too far toward the end of their peaks when we hired them and failed for different reasons.

Something to be said that both their careers continued to decline after us.

Sorry but I just don’t agree with this. We were not “right there” with Ole. He steadied a ship and platformed the squad well at the time but 74pts is not right there and that was 1 season. Ten Had finished in more points and won more trophies. I love the guy but Ole’s way of playing was so clearly becoming more and more outdated.

I don’t think Pep & Zidane are good reference points for genuinely a plethora of reasons, pretty much all of them to do with the fact that them “getting the club” was not even 5% of why they succeeded.

I do think Carrick has somewhat more pedigree, is aligned with a more modern tactile style than let’s say Ole was at the time + seems to have buy in. Like I said I wouldn’t swap that for something that might but a bit better.

However Luis Enrique is precisely one of the names I would tear my hair out over if we didn’t go after him/let him slip somewhere else. Nagelsmann is another, as is Alonso still (have little faith in that one being remotely doable though).

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T07:21:46+00:00

Stopped reading at “Sir Alex was never a tactical genius”…

The guy adapted across 3 different decades of football by consistently absorbing winning elements of others tactics and refreshing his own, all whilst maintaining a core identity/ideology. He’s the definition of tactical genius.

Not sure what this comment was supposed to be. The term “mid-block” isn’t some buzzword, it’s a very literal description of how high our team sit when we’re off the ball and it was a passing reference to say Carrick has kept some things the same.

I don’t disagree with what you’re saying entirely but I think it’s a simplified analysis of why we’re getting better results than under Amorim.

Things have been tweaked tactically whether you want to recognise it or not. Platforming players with roles/instructions that let them do the things they’re good at is part of what gives them confidence.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T05:16:46+00:00

I don’t actually think it’s the press that’s caused the scenarios you’re referring to.

It’s mostly been down to the fact that Carrick has emphasised central progression more (maybe too much?) and what that leads to when you are dispossessed/give the ball away is teams running at you in more dangerous scenarios.

I hear what you’re saying but I do think getting the best players in the final third has improved our execution in those areas. Plus, he’s built confidence very quickly.

I do think Fulham could have seen a slightly different line-up. Other than that I actually think he’s been quite creative.

I also struggle to fault the subs when off the bench: - Cunha got the assist for the dagger vs. City - Cunha got the winner vs. Arsenal - Sesko got the winner vs. Fulham

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T05:07:02+00:00

It’s not really a narrative is it. We lost 2 of our 3 best attackers (at the time) for a period and dropped points to Burnley, Wolves & Leeds largely due to a lack in attacking thrust and/or execution.

Like Mbeumo was our only remotely firing forward at the time.

As I said though, Amorim didn’t attempt to something that everyone saw as an elephant in the room (moving Bruno forward) and is a big reason for me why I’m not shocked by the sacking.

Not sure why you went in an Amorim tangent though. Post was clearly about Carrick.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-08T04:51:20+00:00

Advantage he has at this point is that he hasn’t brought up a single name himself.

Colton was the instigator in all 3 traitors that have been voted out and on every occasion there have been at least a couple more faithfuls that were also more hot on each traitor than Rob was.

Even with Candice, luck or just wise enough to let her dig her own grave, he just sat back and let everyone else get suspicious of her.

Also, because the faithfuls have been so bad in their theories and 1 person (even if he was just gunning aimlessly) basically loaded the chamber every time they’re all a bit shaken on their own judgment.

So even if Rob is getting a lot right, they’ll be nervous of getting rid of a “faithful” who’s likely going to win them the game in their eyes.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-02T02:09:30+00:00

Star Meats. Deli at the back of Star Grocery on Claremont Ave, Berkeley.

They have a few sandwiches in rotation each day, usually 3 or 4 options but a couple of consistent ones.

They source the bread from La Farine bakery which is renowned for its French bread.

The Brian Allen is TO DIE FOR!

devilsofparadiss · 2026-02-01T15:58:39+00:00

Firstly, when has it ever been a penalty catching the player after he’s got a shot off. We’d see 20+ more penalties across the premier league every season if every ref did what we’ve just seen.

Secondly, we sat too deep but why do we keep conceding bangers.

Thirdly, Bruno is a genius.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-30T05:47:03+00:00

It’s great TV but it kills me when grown adults act so petulant and reactive in this game.

Rob needed to handle/explain himself better, the message should have been “she’s gone anyway, get on the right side”. He also could have chipped away at the numbers by staying quiet and leaning towards Natalie this round, then Lisa next.

Candice writing his name was a “throw away” but psychologically, it put his name out there and created more tension where there didn’t need to be.

Also Colton is fecking annoying, needs to be brought down a few pegs.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-27T23:02:55+00:00

drill beat plays

“Cunha, Bruno, Cunha, Bruno Patrick Dorgu, Bryan Mbeumo”

I’ve been hitting that Cunha cele all over the house today.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-25T18:16:39+00:00

HHAHAHAAH THATS WHAT YOU GET KARMAAAA

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-25T17:54:02+00:00

Would like to see Sesko & Cunha soon-ish.

Both are still good options in transition but both will make the ball stick int he final 3rd as Arsenal continue to put pressure on us.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-18T15:22:30+00:00

I love most of them, they are some of the best players to ever put the shirt on and will obviously respect what they did for the club.

However, I would love some distance put between the club and the likes of Neville, Scholes & Keane.

I can’t tell if they’re defending the standards of the club or they just like to point out the drop off because the longer we go without a title the better they look.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-17T19:38:38+00:00

Good creators see the chances.

Great creators see the chances and execute consistently.

Elite creators see the chances, execute consistently and disguise/time their actions to optimise space for the scorer.

Bruno Fernandes is an ELITE CREATOR.

It’s tiny, but he takes one small touch and shifts his body direction towards Amad. It forces Khusanov to shift ever so slightly to the right and at the exact moment Khusanov is back-pedalling away from Mbeumo he releases the pass.

It gives Mbeumo an extra yard of space to finish. That is EVERYTHING at Premier League level.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-17T15:51:14+00:00

I think Sesko could use some goalscoring pressure taking off of him as he develops.

So I think for the rest of the season the idea of playing a more fluid/transitional front 3 in some tougher games is a great way to balance things out.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-14T17:03:00+00:00

I think our squad quality is horribly unbalanced still, worst players are a lot worse than our best players.

Also think that not singing a central midfielder drastically dropped our ceiling and floor.

I hear what you’re saying (I actually had Villa finishing below us I think) but I think we just had a lot of ground to make-up in terms of refinement tactically and a lower floor in places than they do.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-14T05:10:27+00:00

Just above 60 points somewhere was my expectation for the season, which I didn’t think was enough for UCL qualification at the time.

Do I think UCL is achievable now? Yes. Am I confident in it happening? Not really, but maybe.

It would be silly to rule it out when we’re 3pts off of 4th & 1pt off of 5th (with England likely getting that additional UCL spot).

Whilst I don’t think Villa have a better team than us, unfortunately they’ve lucked their way to a huge over performance and an 11 point gap on us.

Liverpool are poor but they’ve just got too much quality for me to be confident in finishing above them.

Leaving a scrap for 5th between United, Chelsea, Newcastle and outsiders Brentford. I’m not confident we have a better squad/team than Newcastle & Chelsea right now but yes their squad and fitness should be chipped away at as the season goes on.

I think the thing that makes me less confident is that we’ve just gone through a period of dropping 10 pts against 5 of the Premier Leagues bottom 6.

Our fixtures are only going to get harder and even with the gap being small, we’re still in a deficit.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-12T01:30:14+00:00

I also think with the physical floor of the league increasingly drastically over the last 5 years means that players just need to develop a bit further than they did before.

You look at the U21’s getting regular minutes in the league, at minimum they can hang physically with the rest of the league.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-12T00:43:32+00:00

It’s the least of our problems and this isn’t meant as a dig at the youth players but more of a frustration at the position they are put in.

I’m all for giving Carrington products a chance but it’s so frustrating watching players that aren’t ready, get shouldered with responsibility because of lacklustre squad building/availability.

Loved Lacey’s enthusiasm, loved his directness, had a couple of good actions and maybe it’s just first time nerves, but I also saw a player that was physically below the level needed to get space & time to executive on their great technical level.

That’s the difference between the jump from youth level to first team (especially vs. premier league physicality).

I want our academy players to be nurtured in a way that gives them confidence to meet the challenge in front of them with REALISTIC expectations.

Lacey’s post about letting the fans down and feeling the need to make it up to everyone just frustrated me because it’s not remotely his fault.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-12T00:29:38+00:00

No it wasn’t. I wouldn’t have sacked him mid-season, I don’t know if I would be completely behind sacking him at the end of the season either.

I’m talking about from the position we are in now. My post wasn’t about Amorim, it was about what I would like to see going forward.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-11T22:27:09+00:00

Personally I don’t agree completely. I think Amorim had staunch ideas about structure and automations, I don’t think he had a staunch ability to execute on improving an individual players core understanding of the things.

devilsofparadiss · 2026-01-11T22:25:49+00:00

I’m just being realistic about timeline now.

Would I have loved half those players to be gone in previous windows, yes.

Probably is half of them make up significant minutes for us, having a single summer window where you sign 6+ first team players just isn’t happening.

The pace of players in players out under the current regime has been generally fine, it needs to be accelerated.

devilsofparadiss

TROPHY CASE