23 Nov 2025 19:12:46
I am obviously happy that we getting results but I will stick with my 2nd-4th place finish prediction.
We now have two interesting games coming up against Barcelona and the gooners. As always team selection for us will be interesting.
Obviously PSG ran out deserved winners of last seasons PSG but for me I rated Barcelona as the best team in Europe. I can’t see us inverting a full back against them but I could see a midfield three off Santos, Caicedo and Enzo with Pedro playing up front.
The Gooners are the in form premiership team at the moment and I’m sure they will be most peoples favourites to beat us at The Bridge. Unfortunately I will not be able to get to the game. So I will be putting my ticket up for sale on the exchange site tomorrow morning.
24 Nov 2025 07:55:09
We are second with 23 points which is one position and one point betternthan after 12 games last season. But only 4 points separate us from Liverpool in 11th place on 18 points. So if we lose to Arsenal on Saturday we may well drop several places. So I will stick with my pre season prediction of 3rd to 7th but think we should all be hooeful of top 4 finish given the quality of our squad.
Might well see those three players in midfield on Saturday Tom and would certainly hope we can get more control in game than Spurs yesterday and Arsenal have to play their champions league game v Bayern - who have done much better thus far in the league stage if the competition than Barcelona - on Wednesday while we play on Tuesday. But yes AFC bound to be favourites with bookies and pundits for Saturday. But surely we can hope at least to match last seaons draw and perhaps even surprise them though am not v confident myself.
24 Nov 2025 10:20:04
Tom, we are doing ok mate and Maresca is working well with the young squad we have, we are 6 points off top spot and 5 points ahead of Liverpool and the season is not even a third of the way through so anything can still happen but we should be fine for top 4. Did anyone on this page tip us to win the league? no, they didn't, and as has been highlighted before Arsenal have spent way more money than ourselves over the last 5 years (NETT) and Artita has worked with his squad for 7 years now so they should win the league but let's try and stay in contention and when we unleash the Palmer and Estevao show later in the season expect fireworks.
We are currently the second highest scorers in the premier league and has anyone noticed just how assured Sanchez is looking in goal? another clean sheet last saturday. Barcelona tomorrow night will be a great atmosphere and I can't stand them following that Champions League match in 2009 and that ref named Overebo or something like that. That game was corrupt to the core.
24 Nov 2025 10:59:54
All very well said Greenaway.
I may now be in a small minority but am still slightly worried when Sanchez has ball at feet and/or being rushed in terms of distribution. His shot stopping when required (not ofte in recent matches) has been good and his command of area from crosses and set pieces much better and he is generally looking more assured - body lan guage better - than last EPL as you suggest.
Just a couple of moments at Burnley when he rushed some distributions amd made what might have been a dangerous mistake - not least when hitting Enzo on back of head - plus there was a bit of a miscommunication with TC - could have been TC's fault - that might have led to a Burnley penalty. Confidence obviously so key for keepers so longer RS is not at fault for a goal so his assurance should grow further.
24 Nov 2025 13:08:58
JBS, I may well be wrong but I have noticed that Sanchez is distributing the ball more quickly when it’s in his hands, either a throw or a kick. I assumed this was a tactical instruction.
24 Nov 2025 16:43:10
I think you're right Tom. This may be if over hurrying RS still makes some mistakes - eg v Burnley when doing this too quickly without ensuring own player not in the way - but not as often as when he was dawdling on ball and take more time decidng who to short-pass it to as per previous instructions.
But he has obviously for some time now ie late last season and in CWC also been given license to use long clearance and ideally to find pass to wings or own forwards.
25 Nov 2025 08:06:23
Utd look like a shower of s---, Spurs are even more spursy than ever, Liverpool I suspect will bounce back if they sack Slot who looks really stubborn and is the reason for their demise I suspect, City are a bit like us at the moment, too inconsistent to challenge for the title so Arsenal should win it by default really.
I said 3rd or 4th and will stick to that.