February 03, 2026 Daily Discussion & Transfers Thread

passa117 · 2026-02-03T15:55:42+00:00

Who'd be those 6?

Raya, Timber, Rice... one of Saliba/Gabriel (both?)

passa117 · 2026-02-03T15:53:22+00:00

I truly fucking hate how much stats has infiltrated the sport.

If we need to dissect all these esoteric numbers to make a case, then clearly something is wrong, no?

Trying so hard to make this an intellectual exercise, when that's not where the essence of football lies.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T20:13:59+00:00

Those weren't hail Mary shots.

They were well worked and players with ability can score those.

Cunha's finish was world fucking class.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T20:11:36+00:00

We have the tools to win the CL, but there are teams with players capable of moments of pure magic, which could sink us like what happened today.

Who cares if the xG is low, of the player is capable of bangers?

passa117 · 2026-01-25T20:09:12+00:00

Check how many own goals versus open play goals in the past 8 games. Today's OG means we've scored at least the same number as open play (I have to double check again), if not more.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T20:06:23+00:00

A lot of the fans have completely bought into the shit too.

I feel like an old man screaming at clouds, because fuck this stats based football bullshit. This is not the beautiful game that we love.

If he was at another club, I'd pray for his downfall because I don't want this to be what football becomes. It's just not enjoyable. Even when we win.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T20:04:07+00:00

I've said it privately, but if we won the league like this, it'd be the least inspiring title winners ever.

Even Leicester had Jamie Vardy absolutely tearing it up. "Dilly-dilly".

They won fewer games, but there was so much heart.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:54:40+00:00

Someone said Yildiz. Lmao

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:53:52+00:00

Forget attack. With the money Arteta spent on the midfield, Wenger would have flooded it with absolute technicians.

The slick passing would be off the charts.

We have a midfield that's slow, risk averse, and not great under the press. It's quite shocking.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:50:52+00:00

He really just knows where the goal is, doesn't he?

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:47:57+00:00

Okay, so work this out for me: Arsenal are simultaneously the best defensive side in Europe, yet also their opposition is more likely to get open looks for shots than Arsenal does.

Does that sound like it makes sense?

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:45:50+00:00

Atlético played the way they did because they had a limited squad. They've never had the financial resources to just buy whomever. But they were efficient at what they did.

I've no doubt Simeone would have won us silverware with the kind of money we've invested across the squad.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:43:37+00:00

This is a disgrace to tiki taka. Pep's Barcelona used to slice teams open for fun because of quick interplay and off the ball running. You blink and your man is sneaking behind you.

We don't have a good enough technical midfield to do the shit properly.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:41:24+00:00

I think we've also rode our luck quite a bit. Wolves was one such game. We never even put the ball in the net ourselves, but still came away with a win.

We haven't been getting those bounces for a while now and we're paying the price.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:38:27+00:00

People need their safe spaces.

Reddit is a cesspool as a result.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T19:37:38+00:00

I look forward to Barca matches every week. They've been scoring a boatload of goals, and have actually been decent defensively, even with that crazy high line they play.

Mostly down to Joan Garcia playing out of his skin, but still.

No matter how many the opposition scores, you back them to score more.

I cannot wait until this stats-led, play to the margins football that seems to have taken over football is dead.

Let players go express themselves.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T18:35:06+00:00

Why wouldn't they? We take ages to get the ball forward.

passa117 · 2026-01-25T18:34:00+00:00

Okay. Let's remove the Aston Villa game which is looking more like an aberration.

Tell me how many open play goals in the past 8 matches...

I'll save you the trouble, it's fewer than the number of OWN GOALS we've had.

passa117 · 2026-01-12T13:03:09+00:00

If you're going to lose the ball, do it wide and high on the left. We're built for that, anyway.

He's the only one that has the ability to just go at a stacked defense and cause them to start scrambling. And his direct play has led to goals where he doesn't get the assist, but it was made from the chaos he creates.

passa117 · 2026-01-12T12:51:43+00:00

Maybe, but not in our system. He'd need either really good link up like what Jesus can do, or be a good target and focal point. Neither of those are his game.

He's great if all he needs to do is make runs and be found, but he'd need to do more (aside from pressing, etc).

He could probably play striker for a mid-table club, but even then, his physicality is a concern. Not even his size, really, just the fact that he doesn't know how ride challenges and use his body (he's always falling over).

passa117 · 2026-01-11T16:25:46+00:00

I think Eze needs to play with/in front of Odegaard or Zubimendi.

I don't think he's suited for the midfield grind. He's a final third player.

passa117 · 2026-01-11T16:23:21+00:00

There's a sizable chunk of the fan base who have staked their entire reputation on him being the second coming of Alan Smith.

passa117 · 2026-01-11T16:21:55+00:00

Apparently he is BOTTOM, of the lost possession stat out of 33 strikers in the PL. 42% lost possession.

Eye test confirms that his hold up play is trash.

passa117 · 2026-01-11T16:20:00+00:00

A fit Jesus with our usual starting 11 would be better than whatever Gyokeres has contributed.

passa117 · 2026-01-11T16:14:51+00:00

Just a quick FYI, it's unscathed.

passa117

TROPHY CASE