26 Oct 2025 16:30:53
So for interest I looked up where we were after 9 games last season. Then we had 17 points and were 5th and the season before we had only 12 points and were 10th. This season we have 14 points and are 9th.
26 Oct 2025 16:49:05
JBS, two or three wins and it all looks very different. Of course the reverse is true, a couple of defeats and the atmosphere starts to turn toxic yet again!
26 Oct 2025 17:23:39
Completely agree Tom. A major purpose in posting these stats wasd to to make point that these are still early days and things could go either way!
I really do think we have suffered in recent seasons from not having a consistently reliable striker up top though Jackson was better suited to play this role in EPL perhaps than Pedro is. Obviously bad news that he was on way out as Delap injured and we can only hope that Delap return will help our cause plus possibly add another striker in January or hope recruit already signed from Strasbourg for the summer will be the real thing. Plus Palmer injury has robbed us of major source of assists and giols and LC one of someone who was developing into out best CB.
Will trust that fans appreciate these problems but they/ we may well think - and not completely without reason - that both the striker and CB positions needed reinforcing this last transfer window and that owners/ SDs to blame. That a mess was made in loaning out both Jackson and Guiu but also recalling Guiu not anough in terms of said strengthening up front. Though I would still like him to get more game time there in upcoming matches and whil Delap carefully reintroduced after his hamstring injury. To have based so much of our attacking threat on wingers meant we had to have a target man in the box -- a really robust Costa/ Drogba one and perhaps Delap can become something like that to fight with opposing CBs in the box - and Pedro not a classic one/ EPL classic one at least. PLus in LC absence we don't really have a CB who passes through the lines with the consistent quality needed to cause problems for opposing defenders this route.
26 Oct 2025 17:30:55
Arsenal will win this bang average league due to showing consistency just as Liverpool did last season. They have no style and rely on big lumps at set pieces to win the majority of their matches but as has been flagged up already the entertainment has been stiffled out of the game by all these diet pep coaches and only winning or certainly not losing counts.
JBS, we will be ok mate the longer the season goes on and we get these little niggling injuries to our players sorted out. That historic club world cup victory may of come at a price but that title "club world champions" will be ours to sing for at least 4 years and maybe longer if we do the Chelsea thing and win it again.
26 Oct 2025 17:37:13
PS but I hugely hope we don't end up lower than my range of 3rd to 7th. I'd be hugely happy if we finished higher of course!
26 Oct 2025 18:47:49
Greenaway, you’re right Arsenal will probably win a bang average league as did Liverpool last season but you haven’t considered where that leaves us. Let’s hope we make the top four in this bang average league. Haven’t you noticed Maresca is a prime Pep disciple: possession football and curtailing talented players from expressing themselves.
Whether people like it or not set pieces are important including long throws; you have to adapt when you are up against teams who are coming out to defend. I don’t remember anyone complaining about long throws when Ian Hutchinson’s long throw landed on Webb’s head to win the 1970 Cup final replay against Leeds.
26 Oct 2025 19:16:39
Set pieces, long throws, long balls and a low block are all legitimate tactics and something a team has to deal with through a season.
26 Oct 2025 19:41:44
Thanks JImbo for taking me back to that magic moment as a kid! And of course you are right.
26 Oct 2025 19:43:12
I'm certainly not complaining about the wimbledon approach to winning football matches Jimbo and good luck to Arsenal as it works for them. As for us, we will be fine once our players get over their niggles. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
26 Oct 2025 21:04:06
Greenaway, I’m not suggesting a Wimbledon approach but to be successful in the PL you can’t just stick to one way of playing . You have to adapt to your opponents and during the course of the match. Perhaps Liam should take some lessons from his Dad. You criticise Arsenal but most of the time this season our football has been predictable and boring.