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The 2022-2023 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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Off topic but did we all have a ROFL moment watching this other day on BBC.
I've always had a soft spot for The Gunners.
When we were hanging out in the lower leagues and on the brink of bankruptcy, I had to support a Prem team to have any football coverage and skin in the game, so became a Wengerball fan. They used to be the Barcelona of the UK and are starting to get back there...I enjoy seeing them succeed, but you're right - it has the whiff of Leicester about it. No billionaire Saudi/Qatari conglomerate bankrolling them, so ongoing success seems unlikely.
You're missing the biggest of them all: Maidstone vs Wrexham.
Wrexham are in for promotion this season.
That probably seals Kane and Conte's fate. And without Kane they will have to start all over.
Crazy that they have objectively not improved since Pochettino left by any relevant metric.
Like Arsenal, top 4 is not a trophy and somewhat pointless if you're not even challenging or upgrading your squad. At least Arsenal had the excuse of building the Emirates.
Levy as an owner whilst running a 'steady' ship, has failed his club on the pitch. Only winning a single trophy in 22 years of leadership.
Good luck to Spurs and its fans. They look set for a painful period in the wilderness.
Crazy that they have objectively not improved since Pochettino left by any relevant metric.
Like Arsenal, top 4 is not a trophy and somewhat pointless if you're not even challenging or upgrading your squad. At least Arsenal had the excuse of building the Emirates.
Levy as an owner whilst running a 'steady' ship, has failed his club on the pitch. Only winning a single trophy in 22 years of leadership.
Good luck to Spurs and its fans. They look set for a painful period in the wilderness.
I keep hoping the Wrexham matches are thrillers, so they have good content for their next season of Welcome to Wrexham. 🤣 Watching the first season it quickly became apparent that the strategy of spending big on two ringer strikers was producing goalfests, but equally, Wrexham can't defend to save their lives. Season 2 should be subtitled "the Search for a Star Center Back.'
Top 4 isn't a trophy, but qualifying for the UCL makes a big difference to a club's bottom line. As much as the Glazers don't want to spend money when they have United up for sale, surely doing what's necessary to secure a UCL berth for 2023 would only enhance the value of the club to prospective buyers?
I haven't watched Welcome to Wrexham yet. It's a shame that Sunderland 'Til I Die seemed to have died itself, but they may produce something about their playoff and promotion back to the Championship. Would've been nice to have them show Amad Diallo tearing up the league.
I haven't watched Welcome to Wrexham yet. It's a shame that Sunderland 'Til I Die seemed to have died itself, but they may produce something about their playoff and promotion back to the Championship. Would've been nice to have them show Amad Diallo tearing up the league.
Not all of the media; perhaps I am biased (and I support Arsenal), but, I think that we get a very good press - in fact, an exceptionally good press - from the Guardian.
As for the pundits, for some of them, it is very hard to break out of a mindset, or, or a particular set of assumptions.
The thing is, Arsenal have been quietly improving for the past few seasons under Mr Arteta, but the nature - and quality - of this improvement has only become more marked, and obvious, this season.
No, this is not Leicester; this is a quiet, but consistent, improvement and overhaul which has been underway for a number of seasons.
I have long thought that (serious) newly appointed managers need to be given at least two seasons - that is, four transfer windows - (plus, the support of the board) - before judgment can be fairly passed on what they are attempting to achieve.
Actually, I have always regretted the fact that Spurs failed to win anything under Pochettino.
Nevertheless, it is only fair to point out, that while Spurs didn't build a new stadium, or move to an already constructed new home, they did extend White Hart Lane quite considerably.
However, that model - of seeking to add to potential income (and also, in the process, hope to attract new, affluent supporters) by extending and increasing the size of, your stadium, so that it can hold more people, or supporters, (as @Lord Blackadder has already quite rightly pointed out, on a few occasions) has been superseded, firstly, by the oligarch model of club ownership, and now, more recently, by the "new" State model club ownership - whereby states, or, their proxies, or relatives - take over clubs, or take clubs into ownership.
The whole nature of the game has changed, and not just on the pitch.
Money > trophies for non-state clubs. They are looking for a return on investment. Once in the Premier League, the best way to make money is to finish as high as possible and ideal get into the CL year-on-year. So yes, even if the Glazers (or FSG) want to sell up, they need to keep the money taps flowing if they want the best sale price. Selling a club in 6th vs 4th could mean billions of dollars/pounds/euros difference....
The state club's priorities are the opposite in a way. Sports-washing is all about profile and reputation, and trophies build that more than anything else. How could a country really be serial human rights violators if they own a team playing beautiful football and winning trophies?
It sounds absurd, but it is clearly working, if the Newcastle fans dressing in mock Saudi traditional garb are any indication. But merely finishing fourth only matters to them at the beginning of a project. Once they get going it's all about trophies, not financial return.Sunderland Till I Die was excellent - I never finished the second season, I need to go back and watch that. It does sound like a third season is happening though.
Welcome to Wrexham is slickly produced, and with the owners both being actors they cop a lot of screen time. which is mostly fine, but the focus of the series is more divided between the playing staff, manager, ownership, and community of fans.
What a cracking game that was.
Burnley vs West Brom.
Beautiful free kick wins it for Burnley 2-1.
Burnley vs West Brom.
Beautiful free kick wins it for Burnley 2-1.
Brilliant.
The ...Wrexham show I'm not crazy about. Only because as much as I like ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney I hate that they didn't buy a team I like lol...
Also they feel have to do way too much explaining, I know, I know, plenty of American fans who have no clue how football works, but it gets old. so meh.
Well that didn’t happen. Looks like it’s the Europa conference league at this rate for Liverpool.
What a shame for one if the greedy six.
Nervous for our 6 pointer with Everton. Hopping Ings can make an instant impact.
It wasn’t really made for a British audience, so yes, you will find the explanations annoying. But it’s also not just about football. It’s also, perhaps unintentionally, a doco about the globalization of football in the UK.
Moyes setting the stage for his return to Everton right now. Managers always go down before owners, so Frank’s days are looking numbered. Not that that will solve Everton’s biggest problems.
Good to see Bowen back scoring. I feel a bit more positive now. Shame he didn’t manage his hat trick though.
A good result for the Hammers; you must be pleased (and relieved).
I sincerely hope that he doesn't survive.
However, I would also hope that West Ham do not fall for his doubtful charms, should they decide to sack Mr Moyes.
I’ll certainly enjoy MOTD this evening for sure!
Yes, I imagine that you will enjoy it; perhaps also partake of a Stella, while watching the match, or is that confined to trips with a boss?
lol neither. My boss doesn’t travel with me. I just carry his credit card!
I don’t drink at home anymore either. I might stretch to a hot chocolate though.